I have no idea why but lately I was thinking I want to make some Limoncello. While this was on my mind, I was talking to a friend who I know has a recipe for the stuff so I asked her to send it along. I see lemon grating in my near future.
When I was looking at the recipe, there was a line that had to do with the simple syrup instructions. It says, exactly like this: DO NOT STIR. Now I have made simple syrup before. We were on a bit of a Mojito kick this summer and I made quite a bit of simple syrup. I always stirred it. I wonder if there could be a reason it said this. Maybe the entire batch of simple syrup would explode if you stirred it. Maybe the technique for Limoncello is different.
I decided to research this. I searched for Limoncello recipes. I didn’t see anything about not stirring. Not a word. I did, however, see all sorts of things involving what type of vodka to use in the recipe. Some called for just ordinary vodka. Some called for grain alcohol that was oh, 500 proof. (Fine. I do know it only goes up to 200.)
In NY, far as I know, the really high proof stuff is illegal. We decided to take a run to the liqueur store this afternoon to see what they had. I figured I’d go with a 50/50 mix of whatever the highest proof vodka was and the normal 80 proof one. This is what I saw:
I never saw anything beyond 151 before so I was pretty surprised to see this. Naturally I grabbed it. After we got it home, I was looking at the bottle and on the back, I saw something I had never seen before. There was a warning label. Not the usual one about drinking when you’re pregnant, etc. No. This one said something like, “Caution! Do not drink this straight out of the bottle. You must dillute it with something. Otherwise it will just light you on fire from the inside out. No human can drink this stuff straight. It may even kill you.”
Well maybe it wasn’t worded quite like that. I suspect my little Limoncello experiment is going to prove real interesting.
If I get around to making it this week, it should be ready in about a month. I will report back after I’ve made it and tested it. Maybe even post the recipe, if you’re real lucky.
Grab a camera and try it, I want to see if flames shoot out of your mouth.
Never heard of limoncello…we almost baptists lead a pretty sheltered life.
I must live in a cave or something…i’ve never heard of the stuff. Please make it and report back as soon as possible…oh and pictures are a must
Limoncello is an Italian invention – a concoction made from vodka, lemon rind & simple syrup. It’s stored in the freezer, at least by real Italians. Other people, like that Southerner who gave me the recipe, keep it in the refrigerator. I guess that would make it more of a summer drink. It used to be hard to find around here. Our local store switched brands & I don’t like the one they carry now. We never heard of the stuff until fairly recently but my family out in CA has been drinking it for years & makes it. One of them made it with lime, too. I wasn’t too crazy about that one.
I have read before that one shouldn’t stir the simple syrup and I’ve tried it both ways. I can’t tell the difference personally.
So did you make it yet? I had never heard of limoncello until a few years back (probably more than I care to remember) when Danny DeVito was talking about it fondly on some morning talk show. I really need to try it; I like everything else Italian–including YOU!
–so I’m thinking I’d like it.
I just may be a maverick and stir that simple syrup!
Haven’t made it just yet. Got my vodka on Saturday. Got my mother of all mason jars yesterday. Might not get a chance to buy the lemons until Monday but then I will post a photo of the nice little lemon rinds soaking in the vodka in my giant mason jar.