Limoncello is an easy drink to make at home

Limoncello is a great introduction to the warm weather and now you can make your own delicious version at home without too much fuss.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of Spirytus (76% alc)

• 5 lemons

• 1 cup sugar + 1 cup distilled water for a simple syrup

• 750 ml distilled water to blend with the spirit

Instructions

Using the cheapest iodized salt, wet lemons and rub them vigorously with the salt to remove dirt, pesticides and any waxy coatings and rinse.

Using a sharp peeler take off ONLY the yellow part of the lemon peel. Avoid any white parts as that’s where all the bitterness lies. To be clear, you do not use the juice of the lemon.

Add the peelings to a one litre jar and fill with Spirytus. In my case, I use an Alkemista infusion vesse,l which was given to me by a friend and has seen much use over the years. I highly recommend one if this is what you’re into.

Let sit for two weeks, turning your vessel to mix every few days. Filter out the peels.

Simmer one cup of water and add one cup of sugar for a simple syrup and let cool.  I like my limoncello less sweet and therefore use only 3/4 cup of sugar to the same amount of water.

Add the simple syrup and 750 ml of distilled water to the lemon spirit and watch your gorgeous new creation turn cloudy, as essential lemon oils are reacting to the presence of water. If you like a little less alcohol in your final product, add 1 litre of distilled water rather than 750 mi. 

For a variety of fine limoncello cocktails, click here. Enjoy your summer!