Citronlikör italien limoncello
Hem / Mat, Dryck & Näring / Citronlikör italien limoncello
The answer will be the quantity of sugar syrup you need to get the perfect liquor.
If you’ve used pure 190 Proof Alcohol (95% vol) your simple syrup quantity will be equal to the one given in this recipe.
Your last option for alcohol is regular vodka, if that's the only thing you can get. Let the syrup to simmer until boiling.
As a rule of a thumb all fruit should be ORGANIC, untreated and all peels, be it lemon peels, orange peels or mandarine peels should be trimmed well removing all the white pith.
HOW TO STORE
Limoncello can be stored in the basement or in a cool dark place in the pantry.
I use a vegetable peeler or a small sharp knife, whichever gives me cleaner, long strips without pulling off too much of the white part of the lemon.
Alcohol Options: The Stronger, the Better?
Traditional limoncello is made with pure grain alcohol, which is usually around 190 proof. Commercially available Limoncello varies from 30% to 35% or 60-70 Proof.
Infuse with orange or grapefruit zest for a citrus medley liqueur that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
However you spin it, this homemade limoncello recipe is a joyful way to bottle up sunshine—and share it with the people you love.
PrintTraditional Italian Limoncello Recipe
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Discover how to make a Traditional Italian Limoncello Recipe at home using fresh lemons, vodka, and simple syrup.
If you happen to cut any white pith together with yellow zest, just trim off any white spots with a sharp knife.
Let it sit for another week. It's especially important if you're using vodka to make Limoncello and not high proof grain alcohol.
With high proof pure grain alcohol you can get away even if you set and forget your lemon infused alcohol and still produce an excellent Limoncello.
Prepare Sugar Syrup
The day when you're ready to make and bottle Limoncello prepare the sugar syrup, also known as simple syrup.
- Mix water and sugar in the saucepan.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
Variations and Substitutions
Limoncello is a classic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with it.
All calculations below make 33-34% vol or 66-68 Proof Limoncello of moderate sweetness
How To Make Limoncello With Everclear 151 Proof Alcohol (75.5% abv)
Quantities when using 750 ml bottle:
- 750 ml 151 Proof Alcohol
- 9 lemons
- 900 ml (about 3 ¾ cups) sugar syrup made with 440 g sugar (2 cups) + 720 ml water (3 cups).
This recipe makes about 1650 milliliters of Limoncello or 55 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill 3 (17oz) bottles or 6 (8oz) bottles.
Quantities when using 1 l (1000) ml bottle:
- 1 litre 151 Proof Alcohol
- 12 lemons
- 1200 ml (about 5 cups) sugar syrup made with 580 grams sugar + 960 ml water (4 cups).
This recipe makes about 2200 milliliters of Limoncello or 74 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill 4 (17oz) bottles or 9 (8oz) bottles.
Quantities when using 1.75 litre bottle:
- 1.75 litre 151 Proof Alcohol
- 21 lemons
- 2100 ml (about 8 ¾ cups) sugar syrup made with 1015 grams sugar + 1680 ml water (7 cups).
This recipe makes about 3,85 liters of Limoncello or 130 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill 7 (17oz) bottles or 16 (8oz) bottles.
How To Make Limoncello With Vodka 90 Proof (45% abv)
Ingredients for 750 ml bottle:
- 750 ml 90 Proof Vodka
- 9 lemons
- 240 ml (about 1 cup) sugar syrup made with 260 g sugar (1 cup + 2 tbsp) + 125 ml water (½ cup).
This recipe makes about 990 milliliters of Limoncello or 33.4 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill almost 2 (17oz) bottles or 4 (8oz) bottles.
Ingredients for 1 l (1000 ml) bottle:
- 1 litre 90 Proof Vodka
- 12 lemons
- 320 ml (about 1 ⅓ cup) sugar syrup made with 345 grams sugar + 165 ml water.
This recipe makes about 1320 milliliters of Limoncello or 44 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill 2.5 (17oz) bottles or 5 (8oz) bottles.
Ingredients for 1.75 litre bottle:
- 1.75 litre 90 Proof Vodka
- 21 lemons
- 560 ml (about 2 ⅓ cups) sugar syrup made with 600 grams sugar + 290 ml water.
This recipe makes about 2310 milliliters of Limoncello or 78 fluid onces.
This quantity will fill 4.5 (17oz) bottles or 9 almost 10 (8oz) bottles
Top Tips For Making Limoncello With Vodka
While you can adjust sugar syrup amount and do all the right calculations to make Limoncello using vodka, there's still a problem.
This will extract the most flavor and essential oils.
- I'll give you an example.
1 liter of water weights 1000 grams
1 liter of 190 Proof (95%) alcohol weights 790 grams. No Problem! Below you'll find how to make Limoncello with vodka and lower proof alcohol. - Water and white sugar to make sugar syrup.
Tools You'll Need
- Small sharp knife.
- Vegetable peeler - optional but highly recommended.
- Big glass jar.
Use as needed to make Salmon Carpaccio, to make Italian Fruit Salad and even whenever you clean and cook fresh artichokes.
Can I Use Other Types Of Sugar?
Technically you can use other types of sugar and sweeteners but it's not recommended.
All sweeteners like corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, blue agave syrup and even brown sugar will impact the taste of the final product, sometimes not in a pleasant way.
You want the best lemons you can find, preferably organic, unwaxed, and vibrant yellow. A cute decorative bottle with a label or ribbon turns your kitchen hobby into the perfect homemade gift.
Bonus: your friends and family will think you’re a genius.
Pour the bottle of Everclear over the lemon peels and juice in the jar, seal tightly, and shake well to mix.
Give the jar a gentle swirl every couple of days—you’ll notice the liquid slowly turning a vibrant yellow.
When your infusion is ready, prepare a simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water until fully dissolved.