Limoncello is a vibrantly colored digestif that goes down easy on a hot summer's day. Although the sweet liqueur is most often served chilled in a shot glass, it is meant to be sipped slowly after your meal.
Although easy to make, limoncello has a complicated — and contested — history. Some people believe that Italian monks first made the spirit as early as the Middle Ages; others credit Southern Italian fishermen who were thought to drink it upon returning to shore to warm themselves and fight off colds. But most accounts attribute its creation to Maria Antonia Farace, who reportedly lived on a small island off Italy's southern coast in the early 1900s. One of Farace's descendants registered a small limoncello brand with Federvini, an Italian trade group, in 1988, using her original recipe.
You can use any kind of organic lemon to make your own limoncello. (You'll want to avoid fruit that has been treated with pesticides or other unwanted chemicals because you'll be using the lemon peels to make the elixir.) Note that the spirit needs to sit for at least two weeks before you indulge in a cool glass.
You can also experiment with other citrus fruits: By following the same process, you can make 'cellos from limes, grapefruits, oranges — the list goes on. Whatever you decide to use, you'll have a lot of leftover peeled fruit, and that provides its own culinary opportunities. You could squeeze your lemons into a lemonade or stick with the Italian theme and make granita, a Sicilian water ice.
The following recipe is one that my family, which hails from Palermo, has perfected for years, and is based on different formulas and notes taken by diligent relatives.
Salute!
Homemade Limoncello
3 cups 100 proof vodka (the higher quality, the smoother your 'cello will be)
1 cup 190 proof Everclear
12 to 18 lemons (the more lemons you use, the stronger your lemon flavor will be)
2 cups sugar
Pour the vodka and Everclear into a large mason jar.
Using a very sharp vegetable peeler, remove the peels of your lemons. Take care to avoid any pith on your peels. The thinner your peels, the better. (You can remove any piths from your peels using a small spoon or paring knife.)
Add the peels to the alcohol mixture, and make sure they are fully submerged. Seal and allow to sit in a cool place for at least five days and up to a month. The longer you let this mixture sit, the stronger the lemon flavor will be.
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and 2 cups water to a boil. Stir frequently until all the sugar has dissolved. Simmer mixture for 5 to 8 minutes and let cool.
Seal in a glass container and store.
Once your alcohol and lemon peel mixture has sat for at least five days, remove the lemon peels by straining them through cheesecloth and a conical sieve, and save the solution.
Keep the lemon peels in the cheesecloth and use your hands to squeeze any excess liquid from the peels.
Repeat the straining process until the solution is clear and all particles are removed.
In small increments, add the simple syrup to your lemon-infused alcohol mixture. Mix well before adding more simple syrup and taste. (Add too much sugar and you'll dilute the citrus taste; add too little and the lemon will be overpowering.)
If the alcohol level is overwhelming, add a small amount of water and mix well. Taste after each adjustment. Once your spirit tastes to your liking, store in the refrigerator overnight and taste again.
If you're satisfied with your limoncello, seal and store in the freezer for at least one week before serving.
Makes about 2 ½ (750 mL) bottles.