Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and this year I wanted to give my mom something handmade and useful that she might actually like! As much as she said that my macaroni necklaces were her favorite present ever, I now suspect that she wasn’t exactly telling the truth. So this May 8th, instead of dried flowers or edible jewelry I’m giving my mom something every woman loves — booze!
Limoncello is a bright and refreshing Italian liqueur traditionally served as the end of a meal, but I enjoy sipping on this chilled delight anytime of the day. Last summer I discovered how incredibly easy this delightful refreshment was to make at home and have always had a bottled waiting in the freezer ever since (much to my boyfriend’s chagrin).
Tools
- empty bottle (we rounded up some vintage favorites from Etsy below)
- peeler
- funnel
Materials
- vodka (we used Our/Seattle vodka, but any kind will work)
- 10-12 lemons
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons rose sugar (optional)
Start by peeling your lemons. Get comfortable, this can take quite a while. Next, use a sharp pairing knife to remove as much as the pith (the white inside layer) from the peels as you can.
Next, fill your empty bottle with your lemon peels. Don’t worry if you have to twist or bend them to get them to fit — we’re after their flavor, so releasing the extra oils actually helps.
Now for the fun part! Carefully pour your vodka over the lemon peels, using the funnel.
Make a quick simple syrup on the stovetop by bring your water and sugar to a boil and stirring until completely dissolved. Allow to cool completely and add to the bottle. Top off with vodka and close tightly.
Shake, shake, shake it up! Let your limoncello stand at room temperature overnight and strain, or for a stronger lemony flavor, give it to your mother with all the beautiful lemon peels inside and let her choose how long she wants to let it sit before enjoying.
As promised, here’s a few of our favorite vintage glass bottles:
Project by Gwen McKenzie for Jojotastic.
Art direction by Jojotastic.
Photography by Meghan Klein.
Leave a comment and let us know what you think of this homemade limoncello tutorial! And if you make a batch, be sure to post a photo and tag @jojotastic on Instagram so we can see.
