Does anyone have any recipes for homemade liqueurs such as limoncello or amaretto?

Question

Something that uses vodka or whiskey as a base. Do these recipes need an airlock or will a glass gallon jug with a top be sufficient? How long will they take? Thanks.

Answer 1

Italian Limoncello
15 lemons*
2 bottles (750 ml) 100-proof vodka**
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

* Choose thick-skinned lemons because they are easier to zest.

** Use 100-proof vodka, which has less flavor than a lower proof one. Also the high alcohol level will ensure that the limoncello will not turn to ice in the freezer.

Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any reside of pesticides or wax; pat the lemons dry.

Carefully zest the lemons with a zester or vegetable peeler so there is no white pith on the peel. NOTE: Use only the outer part of the rind. The pith, the white part underneath the rind, is too bitter and would spoil your limoncello
Step One:
In a large glass jar (1-gallon jar), add one bottle of vodka; add the lemon zest as it is zested. Cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for at least (10) ten days and up to (40) days in a cool dark place. The longer it rests, the better the taste will be. (There is no need to stir - all you have to do is wait.) As the limoncello sits, the vodka slowly take on the flavor and rich yellow color of the lemon zest.

Step Two:
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water; cook until thickened, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Let the syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture. Add to the Limoncello mixture from Step One. Add the additional bottle of vodka. Allow to rest for another 10 to 40 days.

Step Three:
After the rest period, strain and bottle: discarding the lemon zest. Keep in the freezer until ready to serve.

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Amaretto recipe

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar 2 cups of inexpensive vodka
1 cup water 2 tablespoons almond extract
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Directions
Combine water, white sugar and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until boiling and all sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let mixture cool down for 10 - 20 minutes. Pour in vodka, almond and vanilla extracts. Mix well and store in a sealed bottle.

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A sterilized glass gallon/liter jug with a good screwtop is best because you can get a good tight seal. I have made a number of sweet liquors and have found that an air dried sterilized glass vessel is always the best. Good luck!

Answer 2

Here you go,
Limonchello:

thick skinned lemons
2 (750 ml) bottles 100% proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

Wash the lemons well with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or wax.
Pat the lemons dry.
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the lemons.
If you do get some of the pith with the zest, carefully scrape it away with the tip of a knife.
Fill the jar with one bottle of the vodka and the zest.
Cover the jar and let it sit forty days at room temperature in a dark cabinet.
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, bring it to a boil and cook until thickened, about five minutes.
Let the syrup cool before adding it to the limoncello mixture, along with the other bottle of vodka.
Cover and return to the cupboard for another 40 days.
Strain the limoncello into bottles and discard the lemon zest.
Store them in a cupboard or the freezer.

Answer 3

we used to make limoncello at work....

Limoncello
2 bottles vodka
zest of 30 lemons
Place in container, wrap and let sit at room temp for 10 days.
After first 10 days add:
6 cups sugar
8 cups h2o
Boil water with sugar till dissolved. Let cool and add to the lemon vodka along with 2 more bottles vodka and let sit another 10 days. Strain and chill.

Answer 4

Swiss Miss has a Premiere Cocoa collection that has an Amaretto flavored one that I enjoy. I've also seen a Land O' Lakes version in the grocery store too. I like just the regular cocoa mix with some peppermint schnapps in mine on a cold winter's night. I'm sure you could do the same with Amaretto too.

Answer 5

I make my dad liquers every year for Christmas..I start at least two months ahead to let the ingredents sit...during the summer with all the fresh fruit I take apricots and add them to apricot brandy and put it away in the dark closet well sealed till christmas..it comes out great..I also take lemons and add them to vodka with a cup of sugar and a sprig of mint and put that away same as the other...delicious...I also take a cheap blackberry brandy and add fresh blackberries to it and do the same, then strain it and put in a decortive bottle for gifts..you can go to yahoo and type in recipes for alcohlic drinks and get all kinds of recipes...hope it helps.

Answer 6

Homemade coffee liquor

2 c. brown sugar
2 c. white sugar
4 c. water
2 oz. instant coffee
1 qt. vodka
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Dissolve sugars in water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add instant coffee. Cool. Add vanilla bean and vodka. Store for 1 month in an air-tight jar.

Homemade Amaretto

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups water
4 cups vodka
1/4 cup almond extract
4 tsp. vanilla extract

-Dissolve sugars in water in a pan over medium heat.
-Heat until boiling and all sugar is dissolved.
-Remove from heat and allow to cool.
-Add vodka, almond extract, and vanilla.
-Store in a sealed decorative bottle.

Plus here are some pointers for developing your own recipes - http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Homemade-Liqueurs/Detail.aspx