Early Infusions - Limoncello batch #1 & Candy Cane Vodka

Limoncello Batch #1

So, like I said I started my first batch of limoncello in the winter of 2008. It did not get done in time for Christmas presents or holiday parties, but it was finished in time for the 2009 legislative session, so it still served its purpose.

I lost the sheet of paper with the original recipe on it, but this is basically what it involved:

• Peel 20 lemons and mix those lemon peels with a big ol' jug of cheap russian vodka** (1.75 Liters) in a glass jar.

• Let the lemon peels and vodka sit for 45 days stirring every couple of days

• On day 45, remove the lemon peels from the vodka and strain out and particles. Then make a simple syrup consisting of 4 cups of sugar in 4 cups of boiling water. Let the syrup cool and mix it in with the lemon vodka.

• Let the lemon vodka sit with the simple syrup for another 45 days.

• The limoncello is ready! Put it into glass bottles or other containers. Mix it with seltzer water for a limoncello spritzer, or store in the freezer and sip the liquor straight on a nice, warm, summer day. We actually saved the lemon juice from the 20 lemons we used for the peels and made them into ice cubes, which we mix in with our limoncello spritzers.
  

So that was it; that was the first batch. It wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Honestly I was glad I hadn't given it away as Christmas presents as it was too sweet and the flavor was off a bit. We have been sipping this batch down for about 6 months now and are almost out. Next batch will have a much smaller amount of simple syrup...we'll see what happens!

**Note: throughout this blog, I will almost always use vodka for my limoncello. I have red that stronger grain alcohols, like Everclear are recommended. However, thanks to the rules and regulations of the Washington Liquor Control Board you cannot get Everclear in Washington State. So until I can make it over the border to Idaho, vodka will have to do.

Candy Cane Vodka

Despite the fact that I didn't finish the limoncello in time for Christmas presents, I didn't want to completely disappoint my friends, so I made a batch of candy cane vodka. While this infusion is very VERY sticky, it was delicious and festive and fun to make.

How to do it:

• Mix 750 mL of cheap Russian vodka with 1 package of candy canes (unwrapped please).

• Let it sit and the candy canes will dissolve.

• When candy canes are completely dissolved (about an hour), the infusion is ready to drink! The vodka is neither red or white like the two characteristic colors of a candy cane. Rather it is a bright pink.

I'm sure you can think of several drinks to make with this, but what we did was one shot of candy cane vodka mixed with 2 shots of Godiva Chocolate Liquor in a martini shaker with ice. Shake it and pour into a martini glass. Fabulous holiday drink.

At another holiday party the same year, my step-sister, Dena, had heard of my delicious concoction and so we made another batch (same recipe). However, this time we mixed it with creme de cacao (white chocolate flavor) and some half and half cream. This tasted even better than the Godiva Chocolate liquor and the nice creamy pinkish-white color was more appetizing than the sticky brown. Delicious holiday treats.

NOTE: do not garnish the chocolate candy cane martini with a cute little candy cane...the cute little candy cane will start to dissolve and quickly ends up being an icky sticky nightmare.

The Beginnings of Infusion Confusion

In the Spring of 2001 I ventured to the lovely seaside town of Sorrento in Italy. Truly one of the most beautiful places I've visited. And that is where I first tasted the sweet nectar called 'limoncello'. A sweet lemon liquor that when sipped on the balcony overlooking the Gulf of Naples makes you experience true bliss. Ok, I was 21...I didn't exactly sip it, but you get the general idea. It was sweet and syrupy but crisp and refreshing. I was in love. In love with Italy, in love with limoncello, in love with seeing the world. Ahhh, good times.



After 3 glorious weeks traveling around Italy, I returned to London and then later returned to the good old USA. But still, memories of that delicious elixir popped into my mind from time to time and I would start to salivate. Wishing to re-capture my Italian experience, I started searching for limoncello here in the States. What I found was either too expensive or it tasted like lemonade mixed with rubbing alcohol. Not exactly reminiscent of my Mediterannean memories. Then I met someone who on a whim had decided to make his own limoncello. And thus an idea and a hobby was born.

However, I procrastinated.

And procrastinated.

Then, last summer Becca introduced me to the glorious cocktail that is a mixture of blueberry vodka, club soda and lime juice. Mmmmmmm. However, blueberry vodka is not the cheapest liquor and it's pretty easy to kick it back. So, I started thinking why not make the darn stuff myself with nice, cheap Russian vodka.


But again, I procrastinated.

Then, something clicked. Something changed. Something made me get off my duff and pick up this hobby I had been thinking about for a couple of years now. And what was this 'something' you ask???

I was broke.

I was broke and it was Christmas and I wanted to make something fun and different for my friends and family. What better gift than homemade limoncello? How awesome is that? So I started reading and researching and then I started my first batch of limoncello.

One slight issue. Do any of you know how long it takes to make limoncello? Not exactly something that infuses overnight (like some of my later libations). So it was not in the stars to give homemade limoncello as Christmas presents, but at least I got started. Expect some yummy sippings come this December though! I've finally got my act together.

And thus began infusion confusion in Seattle.