Place 1 cup of long grain white or brown rice in a colander. Rinse until the water runs clear.
Place the rinsed rice and cinnamon stick in a blender. I used a bullet style blender. Blend to break up the rice and cinnamon stick. The cinnamon stick did not break down in my blender, so I removed it and added ground cinnamon.
Place the ground rice and cinnamon in 4 cups of water. Let sit for at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours. I put mine in the fridge to sit.
Drain the rice water mixture through three layers of cheesecloth to remove the rice and any large pieces of cinnamon.
Add the vanilla, milk, and sugar or other sweetener. You can use your homemade vanilla extract for its superior flavor, but keep in mind that you will be adding vodka to the recipe. It’s a small amount, but it’s something to keep in mind.I keep a small bottle of store bought vanilla extract on hand for uncooked recipes like this one.Serve over ice. Add a cinnamon stick or sprinkle with additional ground cinnamon for garnish if desired.