If you like to try various sweet alcoholic drinks, then berry and fruit liqueurs are for sure one of the favorite items on your list. They combine a pleasant sweetness with a light bitterness and have a thick, sometimes viscous consistency. But what if you try to make liquor yourself, for example, with a refreshing lemon flavor? This drink has its own name and homeland. This is an Italian limoncello. At home, everyone can do it.
From the history of lemon liquor
The history of this drink has not been fully disclosed. Some argue that they began to cook it in ancient times, when they began to grow lemon trees. Others believe that this liquor is quite young and totals only about 150 years. Someone generally ascribes the authorship of the recipe to their ancestors. First, they made limoncello at home for their family and next of kin. And only in 1991 its production was put on stream. In Sorrento, the Mass brothers factory was built, whose family had been preparing this liquor for their own consumption for many years. Now the process has taken on an industrial scale. Today, limoncello liquor is sold all over the world, however, its price is quite high. Learning how to make this drink at home will save you money and become a welcome guest at any party.
We cook limoncello on our own
It is important to carefully choose the main component - lemons. They should be ripe, juicy, with a smooth and smooth peel. Wash 10 medium-sized lemons well and remove the zest from them. Fold it in a glass bottle or jar and fill it with alcohol (half a liter). Cover and leave for 7-10 days, shaking the jar daily so that the liquid does not stagnate. Then you can move on to the next part of making limoncello at home. To do this, you need to boil a syrup of 500 grams of sugar and 650 milliliters of water to get a uniform dense mass. Mix strained lemon tincture with syrup and leave for another 5 days in a cool place. Now your homemade liquor is finally ready.
Limoncello in cocktails
Citrus Mix
Serve liquor taken in chilled (in the freezer) high glasses. Some drink it just like that, but you can make delicious cocktails with limoncello. Here are a couple of simple recipes. Pour ice into a cocktail glass, then pour 50 grams of limoncello, 20 grams of lime juice and 150 grams of orange juice in layers. Let's call this drink "Citrus Mix".
"Yellow Fairy"
The next cocktail is known as the Yellow Fairy. In an ice shaker, mix 60 grams of gin, 30 grams of limoncello, 10 grams of absinthe and a couple drops of bitter. Shake well until all components are completely cooled and pour into pre-frozen cocktail glasses through a filter. Garnish with lemon peel.
"Lemon champagne"
The third recipe is very festive, as it includes champagne. Mint leaves, a quarter cup of limoncello, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a zest of one lemon, beat in a blender for several seconds and squeeze. Dip the glasses first in lemon juice and then in sugar to serve a smoothly cocktail. Distribute the mixture into two glasses, and add the rest of the champagne. Serve chilled.
By learning to make limoncello at home, you will greatly expand the alcohol list of your parties. Invite guests to try pure lemon liquor, and then all together experiment with cocktails based on it. Have fun!