A couple of days ago I got the hankering to make some Limoncello. I’m not sure really where this urge came from – I did enjoy a tiny glass of it at Coco’s Cantina recently, so maybe there. Anyway, I researched the recipe – learning it takes 80 days to cure. Coincidence 1: It’s about 80 days until my birthday and the beginning of summer. We need nice things to drink in the summer. Coincidence 2: This weekend I was gifted a large shopping bag of organic lemons…
So tonight I got started, completing part 1! I have to fess up, zesting is tiresome. I did 20 lemons and felt like I got very little zest for my money. It’s going to be great though. Stay tuned for the results…
LIMONCELLO
Ingredients
17-20 organic lemons
2 bottles (750 ml) of 100-proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water
Part 1 : day 1, aka what I did today
- Wash the lemons thoroughly with hot water and a brush. We don’t want any nasties!
- Zest lemons carefully ensuring there is no white pithy parts on the peel. The white bit is rind and will make your Limoncello bitter.
- Put zest into a glass jar and cover with one bottle of vodka. Close the lid tightly and hang on baby, we have forty days to wait. We can interrupt it at day 10, but the longer we wait, the more the vodka will take on the flavour and colour of the lemon.
Part 2 : day 40
- In a large pot, combine the sugar and water; cook until thickened, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
- Let the sugar syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture. Add the additional bottle of vodka (I used Stil brand because it’s what I had on hand, you can also use grain alcohol). Allow to rest in a dark, cool place for another 40 days.
Part 3 : day 80
- After the incubation period, strain the mixture using coffee filters or similar.
- Bottle your Limoncello, discarding the lemon zest. A big bottle for you, or several little bottles to share the love – your decision!
- Keep in the freezer until ready to serve.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Would the zests still be full of booze? Would it be… wrong… to eat… them??
As I understand it, yes, they would be full of booze. However I think they lose their flavour & colour? Maybe we could use them as part of another cocktail recipe?
Ice, zest => Blender
+ Mint… white rum… ginger beer!
This sounds amazing! I wouldn’t want to have to wait so long to try it though! It looks great too.
BTW I tagged you in a blog award over on my blog if you want to stop by and have a wee look :)
Stel xx
just discovered your blog. enjoying the beautiful photos :D
I love limoncello, so a homemade version sounds great. It should be wonderful for your bday!
Wonderful idea, I can’t wait to hear how it turned out! I got the urge to soak blackberries in vodka in my pantry for a few months last year, culminating in a nice housewarming drink for right after I moved to my current place. I’ll have to live vicariously through you ;)
Ooh. I’m currently making quince brandy, which I think is just about at the end of its 6-week incubation, but homemade limoncello would be pretty wild too. Stil is a pretty nice base vodka to use – hope it turns out well! :)
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