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Classic Italian Limoncello

Featured in Sip & Savor: Refreshing Homemade Drinks.

This Italian limoncello brings the bright, sunny taste of lemons in every sip. Lemon peels are steeped in strong Everclear alcohol for weeks, creating an intense, citrusy infusion. Add honey for a mellow twist or sugar for a classic sweetness. Great for after meals or gifting, this chilled drink is always a hit. Store your bottles in the freezer for the best experience and serve ice cold for the freshest taste.

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Updated on Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:36:14 GMT
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Classic Italian Limoncello | linacooks.com

Make your own taste of Southern Italy at home with this True Italian Lemon Liqueur! By soaking lemon rinds in strong alcohol for four weeks, you'll create a zingy, sweet drink that balances citrus kick with just the right sweetness. Check out these steps to whip up a real Italian delight that's perfect to give as gifts or enjoy after your meals.

What You'll Need

  • Lemons: 10 juicy, premium lemons. They'll give you the zest and juice needed for those lively citrus notes in your homemade drink.
  • Everclear (or strong alcohol): 1 liter. This neutral-tasting, high-proof spirit works best to pull out all those amazing lemon oils and scents.
  • Natural Honey (or Sugar): 1 ½ cups honey or 2 cups sugar. Honey creates a deeper, richer sweetness with darker color, while sugar makes a more traditional, lighter-colored drink.

How To Make It

Step 1: Wash Your Lemons
For waxed lemons, give them a good scrub using warm water, something slightly abrasive, and a touch of dish soap to get rid of that waxy coating. Make sure to rinse them really well.
Step 2: Remove the Peels
Gently take off just the yellow part of the lemon skin, staying away from the white pith underneath which tastes bitter. Go for thin yellow strips that'll give your alcohol that bright lemony flavor.
Step 3: Set Up Your Mix
Drop the peels into a big glass container, then slice all lemons in half. Squeeze out their juice and add it to your container, but watch out for seeds.
Step 4: Pour in the Alcohol
Empty the whole bottle of Everclear (or whatever strong alcohol you're using) over your lemon peels and juice. Close the container tight and give it a good shake to combine everything.
Step 5: Wait for 4 Weeks
Keep the mixture at room temp for a month, making sure to shake the jar once daily to help the lemon flavors blend with the alcohol.
Step 6: Filter and Add Sweetness
When the month is up, pour the lemon mix through cheesecloth into a fresh container to get rid of the peels. Mix in your honey or sugar based on what you like, and stir until it's completely dissolved.
Step 7: Let the Mixture Rest
Close up the jar and leave it alone for another week so the flavors can really come together for a smoother taste.
Step 8: Put in Bottles and Freeze
Pour your finished drink into smaller bottles for easy storage and stick them in the freezer. Let them chill for at least 1-2 days before you drink any.

How to Serve and Store

  • Always serve your lemon liqueur super cold straight from the freezer for the best taste - don't worry, the alcohol keeps it from turning into a solid block.
  • Most Italians drink this after dinner as a digestive aid, sipping it slowly to enjoy the flavor.
  • Keep it in your freezer for best taste and longer shelf life, and use small bottles so it's easy to pour.
  • Your homemade drink makes an awesome present, especially when you put it in pretty bottles with nice labels.

Expert Chef Advice

  • Giada De Laurentiis says you should peel lemons very carefully to stay away from the bitter white part, which can mess up the taste.
  • Mario Batali thinks you should let your mixture sit for at least four weeks to get the fullest flavor, plus shake it every day so everything mixes evenly.
  • Lidia Bastianich likes using organic lemons whenever possible because their peels don't have chemicals or wax coatings.

Different Ways to Make It

  • Swap honey for agave nectar if you want a different kind of sweetness, or try flavored honey for extra complexity.
  • Throw in some fresh herbs like basil or rosemary while it's infusing to create your own special herbal version.
  • Put a tiny bit of vanilla extract into the finished drink for a smooth, mellow undertone that goes really well with the lemon flavor.

Italian Limoncello

Craft a refreshing Italian limoncello using lemon peels, Everclear, and a touch of honey or sugar. Great as a treat after meals or as a thoughtful homemade gift.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Beverages

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Italian

Yield: 1 liter

Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 liter of Everclear or another strong, high-proof alcohol.
02 10 lemons, make sure to zest and juice them.
03 1 ½ cups of organic honey—or swap it with 2 cups of sugar if you prefer.

Instructions

Step 01

If there’s wax on the lemons, scrub it off using warm water, soap, and something slightly rough like a sponge.

Step 02

Use a peeler to take off the lemon skins. Don’t include the bitter white part underneath—just the yellow outer layer.

Step 03

Place the peels inside a big jar, then cut your lemons in half, squeeze out the juice, and remove any seeds. Add the juice to the jar.

Step 04

Pour the Everclear on top of the peels and juice in the jar. Close it up tightly and give it a good shake to mix things together.

Step 05

Leave the jar alone for 4 weeks. Shake it every day to keep everything blending well.

Step 06

After 4 weeks, strain out the lemon peels by pouring the mix through cheesecloth over a clean jar.

Step 07

Stir in honey or sugar, seal the jar again, and shake it up so it blends. Let it sit another 7 days.

Step 08

After the week’s up, divide the limoncello into smaller bottles and chill it in the freezer for a couple of days before serving cold.

Notes

  1. Homemade limoncello is a great choice for a classy after-meal treat or a fun DIY gift.
  2. Using honey makes the limoncello look and taste naturally richer, while sugar keeps things more traditional.
  3. Store it in the freezer—its high alcohol level stops it from freezing solid and keeps it always ready to enjoy cold.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 85
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
  • Protein: ~