HELP!! I am making Limoncello. Do I need to drain the alcohol off the lemon peel before putting

[brooksie]

sugar water in? I have read different recipes some say yes some say no. I know many of you have made it what do you suggest?

 

[marilynfl]

Hi Brooksie, yes...if the peels have been in the alcohol for the specified time

Then all of the essential oils have been distilled. i used using dampened coffee filters to remove mine.

Now you,ll add the sugar and let it sit again.

 

[brooksie]

Thanks Marilyn, I just added the sugar and it turned cloudy. Will it clear?

 

[marilynfl]

Did you use simple syrup? Vodka will give an opaque liquid. Grain gave me a golden clear liquid.

 

[brooksie]

I used Everclear.

 

[marilynfl]

Yep, that's what I used. Can't remember the effect immediately after adding the syrup, but

after the second 40 day wait, mine was golden and clear.

I was a bit disappointed because I actaully wanted the lemony-colored version and this looked more like a golden brandy. But the taste was amazing.

I tried a shorter version the following year (3 weeks versus 80 days) and used a single bottle of vodka. That one ended up more yellow and opaque. Visual was better, but the taste wasn't as smooth.

 

[michael-in-phoenix]

I've used Everclear, and I can't remember ANYTHING afterwards!

 

[marilynfl]

Ha! Perfect retort.

 

[traca]

If I remember right, you'll want to strain it through a cheesecloth at the end of the cure. That

will clear it up. You may need to strain it a few times. I opted to skip this step. I kept the bottle in the freezer and the cloudiness contributed to the "frostiness" effect. Or at least that's what I told myself. smileys/smile.gif No one ever said, "What?! You didn't strain it? No thanks..." That bottle was polished off in no time!