How to Make Homemade Limoncello (2024)

FAQs

How is limoncello made from scratch? ›

Limoncello is made by steeping lemon zest (peels) in highly concentrated ethanol or vodka until oil is released, then mixing the resulting yellow liquid with simple syrup. Its alcohol content varies — especially among homemade varieties — but is usually measured somewhere in the 25-30% range.

Homemade limoncello doesn't last as long as its store-bought counterpart. Stored in an airtight container, it should last in the refrigerator for up to three months or in the freezer for up to one year.

1) A one gallon glass jar with a screw-on lid: You can get on at Amazon through that link or Home Goods is a good place to get these locally for a reasonable price. You can get smaller ones for smaller batches but I wouldn't recommend it unless space is really THAT tight for you.

Variation: Adding Lemon Juice

This will make the finished beverage more cloudy, while at the same time adding a sour note to the sweet, boozy lemon liqueur. The more juice you add, the more sour the finished liquid will become. We couldn't decide which method we liked better—so we did both!

Sfoodie pointed out that the ban dated back to “a Prohibition-era law banned bars from creating infusions, allowing the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to ticket barkeeps for serving sangria, limoncello, and fruit-flavored tequilas — basically any drink where a bar has altered the alcohol content ...

The high alcohol content of limoncello generally inhibits the growth of bacteria, making them unlikely to flourish. However, improper storage or contamination during the manufacturing process can potentially lead to the growth of bacteria. It is therefore important to follow proper hygiene and storage practices.

Can Limoncello Go Bad or Expire? You should generally try to consume limoncello within 2 years of creating or opening it. Limoncello only contains 4 ingredients, 2 of which are preservatives. So, it will never “go bad” like milk would but it does lose its lemon scent and flavor over time.

How much sugar is in Limoncello? 1 1,5 fl oz of Limoncello contains 5 g of sugar.

Limoncello has about a 30% alcohol content so while it may jump start your digestive enzymes, it will also get you DRUNK.

This said, 80 proof vodka is also fine to use — it's also easier to find and less expensive than 100 proof. If you use 80 proof vodka, you won't need to add as much sugar syrup after infusing the vodka.

How do you sterilize jars for limoncello? ›

Place bottles and metal lids on an oven tray. Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove while still hot. Alternatively, place bottles and plastic lids in the dishwasher on the hottest cycle.

The entire mixture is suggested for this batch, but do not be afraid to put a little more or less to get your desired sweetness. Then fill your bottles and refrigerate. Aging your Limoncello is a great thing to allow it to mellow a bit. It would be great if you could age it for a few months if you have the time.

A bottle at the liquor store will run $20 to $35. Making your own costs even more: Traditional homemade limoncello recipes, like our favorite from The New York Times (arkansasonline.com/215limoncello/) take weeks to make and can cost you $45 or more depending on your preferred vodka.

The most important thing is to have as little pith [ the white stuff under the lemon peel ] as possible. Too much will make your limoncello bitter – drinkable but bitter. You can use a zester, vegetable peeler or an intensely sharp knife.

When bitters were more commonly used as a medicinal treatment, they often were to aid in issues with stomach pains or other digestive issues. Lemon oil is a carminative, which is why limoncello is categorized as a digestif liqueur—it aids in digestion, especially after diving into a big meal (see more on this below).

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur made with lemon zest, sugar, and neutral alcohol (usually vodka). It's the second most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari. While it's most strongly associated with the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri, it's made all over Italy by large and small producers.

Limoncello has about a 30% alcohol content so while it may jump start your digestive enzymes, it will also get you DRUNK.

How the Pros Make Limoncello. First, to start the fermentation process, lemon zest is added to either vodka or grappa, a grape-based alcoholic beverage of Italian origin. After letting the mixture sit in a cold, dark room for a given number of days, simple syrup is added.

2- Don't get any pith in the mix

Pith is that white stuff under the peel… you know, that stuff that so annoyingly remains on ranges after you peel them, no matter how hard you try to peel it off!? (Thank you, Cuties clementines, I love you for making peeling so easy!) Anyway, pith… pith is not your friend.