BillyVance 34 #1 September 6, 2008 My wife and I have been planning on this for the last few months ever since our bottle of Limoncello from Christmas went empty. My dad is friends with an Italian man who ran an Italian restaurant with his family that was my parent's favorite place until it closed when the owner of the property sold it. The Italians are well known for their lemon tree farms and the Limoncello that's made from the lemons. He made his own batches and offered them as after-dinner drinks, and they were awesome. After the restaurant closed, he continued to make his own Limoncello, and gave bottles out to friends as gifts. So Dad got one for me. So... we bought the needed equipment - a big glass fermenting jar, electric peeler, vodka, and a giant batch of lemons, 50 of them. This morning we started the process of peeling them and then scraping off the white underlayer. You never want that stuff in the fermenting process, only the yellow skin/rind. The white stuff will give the drink a bitter taste, when it is supposed to be very sweet. We got through 28 lemons in a little over 3 hours and our hands couldn't take any more. Gonna finish the rest tomorrow and then store the jar filled with vodka and peels in the below-counter cabinet to soak for a month. At that time, we'll boil a batch of sugar and water into a syrupy mix and add that in the jar. Mix it all up, and when it's cooled to room temperature, fill a few bottles up and store in the freezer for 2 or 3 more weeks, and it'll be ready then. Pictures.... 1361: Before starting (that bowl held 20 lemons, there were 30 more out of view). 1362: Second lemon being peeled. 1363: First peels in the jar. 1364: Up close view of the peeler in progress. 1365: Nearly half of the batch of lemon peels done."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #2 September 6, 2008 Couple more pictures: 1366: What the fuck do I do with these peeled lemons? Lemonade!!! 1367: After the first bottle of vodka is poured. I had to reach in with kitchen scissors and cut the peels up in shorter lengths so they would be completely under vodka."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #3 September 6, 2008 If I was doing that I'd of used Armadale or chopin Vodka an not the cheap stuffJust kiddin Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #4 September 6, 2008 WHy not just ferment the lemons and then distill them see what you can make of it?Divot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladydyver 0 #5 September 6, 2008 we love lemoncello....drink it all of the time with some vodka on the rocks DPH # 2 "I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~ I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #6 September 7, 2008 I made some awhile back, its great stuff! The stronger the booze, the better. If you can get your hands on everclear it is the best. Also, I can second you stating you don't want any of the white stuff, it will mess up a whole batch. I made some with limes once too, it was also very good. From what I can tell, it is preferable to not add any sugar until a month or 2 after you start the batch, and then let it sit for another month or 2. That way the alcohol isn't diluted at all. Right now I have a batch of japanese plum wine (sorta) that is similar to how you make the limoncello, it just uses whole plums instead. Its gunna take 3 years to be totally finished though! Its a good thing I made 5 gallons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #7 September 7, 2008 Well, I finished the rest of the lemons and poured the rest of the vodka in. Marked the date on a strip of tape and slapped it on there. It's going into the cabinet before I go to bed. I'll revisit this thread a month from now. Yeah, the recipe did say I could use everclear and it is available at the nearest ABC (state liquor store), But this is just our first time. If I don't like it, I'll try Everclear or a better brand of vodka next time. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingJ 0 #8 September 7, 2008 Anyone ever tried making a combo lemon/lime version? Any reason to expect it would come out worse than lemons alone?Killing threads since 2004. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #9 September 7, 2008 mmmmmmmmmmm....I had lemoncello tonight Deeeeeeeelicious! _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #10 September 7, 2008 I just finished making a batch. I had it fermementing four about 4-5 weeks. now its just sitting in the fridge.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #11 September 7, 2008 Us too. And we love the cool little collector's bottles it comes in in Italy. Some are cute, some are pretty . . . umm . . . Hot! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #12 September 7, 2008 I'll send you the recipe I used when I get a chance to. Meanwhile, my hands are sore after mashing the pulp and juice out of 50 goddamn lemons into a big bowl, without a clue as to what to do with it! Any ideas??? I still have to strain the pulp and seeds out, but I will probably freeze the juice until I'm ready to do something with it. Meanwhile, a couple more pictures... 1369 - big bowl of lemon juice/pulp. 1370 - resting spot for the next month of the limoncello batch. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #13 September 7, 2008 You are lucky you have access to everclear! If I send you some money will you ship me some? I was told that the stronger the alcohol, the more oil will be dissolved out of the peal, giving a fresher and more lemon taste to it. I have never tried it with it, but was told limoncello from italy was made with it. As for your lemon juice, I found this recipe for lemonade that has good reviews. I'm sure you could always spike it a little bit as well! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Lemonade-Ever/Detail.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #14 September 7, 2008 You live in San Francisco? That's a long way. Is there not any stores that sell Everclear in your area?"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #15 September 8, 2008 No, in california by law the maximum alcohol content available is 151 proof, so bacardi 151, which is a flavored rum (no good for limoncello). I think the strongest vodka is 100 proof. When I was in new orleans they had this stuff called diesel which was 190 proof, I tried to bring some back but security went into my bag and confiscated it. I know nevada has everclear available but even that is a bit of a drive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #16 September 8, 2008 Quote No, in california by law the maximum alcohol content available is 151 proof Huh... go figure... The law here in Alabama is that beers must not go above a specific alcohol content. I'd rather have your law than this one. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #17 September 8, 2008 I certainly enjoy some of the IPAs we have around here, they pack a punch. However, my wingloading is suffering! When I was at mardi gras there was a store that sold only blended drinks, like margaritas and dacaris. They used everclear, and I think it was responsible for some serious memory damage. At least I think it was......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #18 October 24, 2008 How the hell is that batch going? Its gotta be done by now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #19 October 24, 2008 With any luck he forgot all about it and it's been sitting in a dark cool place all this time. Billy let me know how yours came out, and which recipe you used. I used this oneMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #20 October 25, 2008 Quote With any luck he forgot all about it and it's been sitting in a dark cool place all this time. Billy let me know how yours came out, and which recipe you used. I used this one I haven't forgotten about it. I bought the package of sugar last week and had been meaning to start the next phase. I'll try to get that started this Sunday. I did look into the jar and the rinds appear to have lost their color, which is what leaving it in vodka for several weeks was supposed to do, so it's ready... "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #21 November 13, 2008 Well, the bottling is done! Holy shit, that was a big batch. 7 liquor bottles filled from as big as 750 ml to 300 ml or whatever it was, with enough leftover to fill a small Kerr jar! Just perfect! I was going to take a picture and post it, but I can't find the goddamn camera. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #22 November 13, 2008 Did you drink some? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #23 November 14, 2008 Quote Did you drink some? I did a taste test. I'm not sure yet if it's as good as the Italians do it. Let's wait after the bottle's been in the freezer for a week before I try it again. But boy, that lemony smell permeated the entire kitchen during the bottling process. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladydyver 0 #24 November 14, 2008 Quote Well, the bottling is done! Holy shit, that was a big batch. 7 liquor bottles filled from as big as 750 ml to 300 ml or whatever it was, with enough leftover to fill a small Kerr jar! Just perfect! I was going to take a picture and post it, but I can't find the goddamn camera. We are going to do ours in split batches to see how it turns out. ---I am about 10 days from bottling the first batch (that means it will have been fermenting for 6 weeks) ----what the hell did you do with all of the lemons? I have fresh squeezed lemon juice coming out of my ears. I finally froze a bunch of it.DPH # 2 "I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~ I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sky722 0 #25 November 14, 2008 Quote I'll send you the recipe I used when I get a chance to. Meanwhile, my hands are sore after mashing the pulp and juice out of 50 goddamn lemons into a big bowl, without a clue as to what to do with it! Quote Any ideas??? I still have to strain the pulp and seeds out, but I will probably freeze the juice until I'm ready to do something with it. Quote Take some of the lemon juice and add jack daniels to it, then you will have "hard lemonade"...Then I would take the rest of it and put it in the freezer for later, you can always use it later for mixed drinks Meanwhile, a couple more pictures... 1369 - big bowl of lemon juice/pulp. 1370 - resting spot for the next month of the limoncello batch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
