Limoncello

Besides wonderful wine and amaretto, Sicilians are famous for limoncello, a powerful and delicious liquer made from lemons. It just so happens that lemons grow abundantly in Sicily! Many people make their own. Some of my friends and I hope to try our hand at it soon, since it sounds like great fun and we LOVE to drink it. We got this recipe from the wife of a former administrator here at the high school. I can tell you from firsthand experience, that this is great stuff:

Limoncello

1 liter of pure alcohol (Alcool Puro 95*)
1 Kg. of sugar
1 1/2 liters of water (for rinsing)
12 lemons (just the rind--not the white part or it will be bitter)

Put the liter of alcohol and lemon peel in an air-tight jar and place in a dark place for 10-12 days.

After 10-12 days, make a syrup of one liter of water and 1 Kg. of sugar, heating until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.

Drain liquid (alcohol) from lemon peels and reserve. Pour into the sugar water syrup. Take the remaining half liter of water and rinse lemon peels. Add that water to the syrup mixture. Mix well. Pour into bottles and close.

(thanks to Michelle Groomes)


Refrigerate. Serve icy cold and be prepared to be bowled over.