Hilton Head Limoncello
istock/Fotografie Mahieu
I have been making limoncello for years, and find this recipe is always a crowd pleaser. Whether on its own or as part of a cocktail, the sweet, bright, lemony flavors are a delight for the palate.
10 large very ripe Meyer lemons (I like the skins to take on a slight orange tint, with no green areas before harvest.)
1 (750-ml) bottle Grey Goose vodka
3 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups caster sugar
Part 1: Using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips (You can use the lemons for something else). Using a small sharp knife, scrape away the white pith from the lemon peels; discard the pith. Place the lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 10 -14 days at room temperature, away from light.
Part 2: When the maceration period ends, make a syrup to blend in. Stir the water and caster sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour the sugar syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand away from light at room temperature overnight. Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard the peels.
Part 3: Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. (Alternately, I store it in the freezer where it will keep for a long time, up to several years.)
Drink! When you are ready to drink the limoncello, take the bottle out of the freezer about half an hour ahead of time. It will only be partially frozen because the alcohol does not freeze as easily as the water content. To obtain the right concentration of flavors and alcohol, you need to thaw it enough so that you can mix the two portions. We usually shake it. It’s OK if it’s a little slushy because it is very good when it is really cold. We have not noticed any problems with refreezing the unused portion.
(This is an adaptation of an original recipe by Giada de Laurentis.)