What you need:
-17 lemons scrubbed very clean… preferably organic because they have no wax on the outside.
My husband used a combination of Eureka and Meyer Lemons)
-2 bottles of Everclear alcohol
(190 proof alcohol)
-Brita Water filter pitcher
(dedicated, you will never want to use it for water again)
-1 large glass jar or container
(able to hold at least 3 liters of liquid)
-small bottles for bottling
(We used small champagne bottles we found at a local home brew store.)
Directions:
1) take only the best zest (yellow part of rind only, none of the white/pith) of 17 lemons. Set aside
2) Filter 2 bottles of Everclear alcohol (190 proof) through the dedicated Brita water filter. You can
save filter to use for making other cordials or more Limoncello.
Run the Everclear through the filter 4 times.
3) Combine lemon zest and filtered Everclear into the clean glass container & cover with lid.
4) In a cool dark place, soak the lemon zest in the Everclear for 90 days shaking every few days.
5) After 90 days, filter the Everclear mixture (liquid) through a coffee filter into a new glass
container. Replace the coffee filter as it clogs.
6) While filtering, make a simple syrup out of 5 1/2 cups of water and 3 1/2 cups of cane sugar.
Cool the simple syrup to room temperature.
7) Add cooled simple syrup mix to the Everclear mixture. Mix well.
8) Clean & sanitize the glass bottles you will be using for gift giving.
9) Fill the jars with the Limoncello and cork/cap
10) Store in freezer for at least one week before drinking… Serve at freezer temperature into
cordial glasses.
This recipe made about 2 liters of Limoncello. It comes in at about a 35-40% alcohol content. Although it’s strong, it is traditional.
