| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 8 days 48 min |
| Prep: | 45 min |
| Inactive: | 8 days |
| Cook: | 3 min |
| Yield: | approximately 36 ounces |
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 8 days 48 min |
| Prep: | 45 min |
| Inactive: | 8 days |
| Cook: | 3 min |
| Yield: | approximately 36 ounces |
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lemons, about 8 to 10
- 750 ml vodka, 100 proof
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup sugar
Instructions
- Carefully remove the zest from the lemons using a microplane or rasp grater, being careful not to remove any of the white pith. Reserve the lemons to make lemonade or squeeze and freeze the juice for later use.
- Put the lemon zest into a lidded glass container that is at least 2-quarts in size. Pour the vodka over the zest, and let sit in a cool dark place for 7 days.
- After 7 days, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer lined with muslin or several layers of cheesecloth and return the vodka to the container.
- Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan set over high heat and cook, stirring continually, until the sugar is completely dissolved, approximately 3 minutes. Once completely cool, add the sugar syrup to the vodka, and stir to combine.
- Cover and put the container in the freezer for at least 4 hours. Limoncello can be stored in the freezer for up to a year.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 401 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 26 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 401 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 26 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Reviews
I make this also with limes (“limecello”?), and oranges (“oracello”?). All three are awesome.
Tip: when done zesting, nuke your citrus for a bit to warm them up – you’ll get a better yield of juice.
Made this and its awesome. Haven’t tried limes, but tried bitter oranges and wonderfulness. (IMO normal oranges will not work well, but the bitter oranges that get used to make things like triple sec and organsa will work well).
There’s nothing like a sip of this ice cold Limoncello and a porch swing on a hot summer day! This will be my third batch. I try to make this annually but couldn’t squeeze one in last year and missed having it. With any infusion, using at least 100 proof vodka is required or it just won’t pull out the flavors correctly. I love Alton’s recipe as it is, but I might try a touch more simple syrup as it’s a tad strong for She Who Must be Obeyed.
Has anyone tried this with limes instead of lemons? There was a review by someone that made it with half lemons and half limes and said it was good but I am wondering if just lime would still work without adjusting any the amount of sugar, water or vodka.
The recipes sounds good, but I was wondering why most other recipes use a lot more sugar.
EverClear is key, but you must add more simple syrup because of the 190 proof alcohol content. After visiting Italy, I got hooked on homemade lemoncello. I made one batch about 2 months ago — and just started a second – double batch. Great holiday gift with some homemade fig jam!
Very good, just be careful with the Alcohol you use.. cause it can become a small nuclear reactor. PHEW!
Ever Clear is definitely best, but if illegal in your state: buy the cheapest vodka and put it through a water filtration pitcher (i.e. Brita once or twice. Use only non-waxed and dyed lemons. I you don’t live in a citrus growing state, your best bet is probably the organic food store.
I first tried this with cheap vodka; I didn’t want to waste my money if the results weren’t good. However, it was fantastic. Even with the crappy vodka. The next time I used Smirnoff, and it was fabulous. I read one review where Grey Goose wasn’t too good. I would advoid imported vodka. By law, any vodka produced in the U.S. must be tasteless (harsh alchohol taste of cheap vodkas doesn’t count). However, many European distillers subtly flavor their premium vodkas. I would use Everclear, but it’s illegal in my state, so I cannot procure any without a long car drive, and at $3.86 per gallon for gasoline, that would make this recipe not very cost-effective.
Nice but I make mine with 1.5L generic 100 proof vodka with the zest of 6 lemons and 6 limes plus the juice of 1 lemon for 6 weeks in a cool dark room. The syrup is 6 cups sugar with 3 cups water. Unbelievable! Have also made this with fresh raspberries but would suggest to cut the sugar down as it can be too sweet.