Limoncello

By Maudie30

A sweet Italian Lemon Liqueur. It takes 80 days to make, but its worth the wait. Also nice to put in pretty bottles to give as gifts.

Ingredients

• 15 thick skinned lemons
• 2 bottles of a good vodka (750 ml each) or 190 proof grain alcohol
• 4 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 cups water if you use vodka OR 8 cups water if you use grain alcohol

Preparation

Step 1

Wash the lemons in hot water before you start - you are using the peel.
With a vegetable peeler, remove the peel. Then with a sharp knife, scrape any pith from the inside of the peel.

Put the peel in a 4 quart mason jar with a lid. (only use glass)
Add 1 bottle of Vodka to the peelings, stir. Cover the jar, date it and put it in a dark area or cabinet at room temperature for 40 days.

After 40 days, mix the water and sugar together in a pot and boil for 5 minutes, remove from heat let it cool completely in the pot, (about 10-20 minutes).

Add the lemon vodka mixture to the sugar water, stir. Add the second bottle of vodka or remaining grain alcohol. Stir.
Pour back into a glass container, cover, date it and put in back in a cabinet or dark area at room temperature for 40 more days.

Now you can strain the mixture to remove the lemon peel and discard them.

Pour the limoncello into clean unused bottles with caps or decorative corked bottles.
Store the bottles in the pantry.

I keep one in the freezer, this is awesome ice cold!

Makes about 3 quarts