Australian Politics Forum - Homemade Limoncello :)

Sophia

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Homemade Limoncello :)
Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:35am

Some things to make in life are just pleasant!

Many recipes call for this pure grain alcohol nearly 100% and there’s no such thing in Oz. So I had to use 40% vodka.
Well let’s see in 3 weeks now it’s done.
I used 9 organic lemons, washed and dried, then peeled thinly trying to avoid the white pith as much as possible.
Love the smell of lemons!
Then 700ml vodka, seal it with tight fitting lid, swish it around. And in the dark walk in pantry it goes.

Hopefully I didn’t muck it up.

Later I do the sugar and water to add.

For now, I have 9 naked lemons… will have to make lemon drink for next few days

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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #1 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 7:22am Only way to get the 99% alcohol—home distillation. Stills are legal or are they? In my shop I had stills on display in my windows. Cops visited twice, once after the break and enter and once to warn me about drug dealers buying gear for making meths. No interest in my stills in either case.
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Bobby.

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #2 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 7:45am

Jovial Monk wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 7:22am:

Only way to get the 99% alcohol—home distillation.

Stills are legal or are they? In my shop I had stills on display in my windows. Cops visited twice, once after the break and enter and once to warn me about drug dealers buying gear for making meths. No interest in my stills in either case.

It's very dangerous to use a still as you could get methanol in the mixture which is highly poisonous.

Methanol's boiling point is approximately 64.7 °C, while ethanol's boiling point is about 78.4 °C.

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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 51474 Gender:	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #3 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 8:38am Captain Obvious speaks.
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Leroy

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #4 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:56am

Hey Sophia, I made some limoncello a few years back. My FIL was given 8 litres 96% alcohol by a mate and didn't know what to do with it. Because he is Italian I told him I would make some limoncello with his lemons.

I peeled the lemons (5 per litre from memory)making sure I removed all the pith and added them to the alcohol and put it in the cupboard and left it for six months.

I then added several bottles of vodka and sugar (can't remember how much sugar) and used filtered water to bring it down to 50-60 proof and put it back in the cupboard for another 6 months.

I gave him a bottle after that he he was amazed at how good it was claiming it to the best he had ever drank. I gave him a few more bottles and he loved using it at meals telling everyone how it was his lemons. The limoncello lasted us about 3 years and I got plenty of requests for more.

Only last year I bought a still of a mate and mode my own alcohol and have infused orange peel from my trees, It 180 proof but the orange flavor is intense. I'm leaving it for 6-8 months and I will look to add some flavor like strawberry and bring the proof down to about 70.

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Sophia

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #5 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:08pm

Leroy wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:56am:

Hey Sophia, I made some limoncello a few years back. My FIL was given 8 litres 96% alcohol by a mate and didn't know what to do with it. Because he is Italian I told him I would make some limoncello with his lemons.

I peeled the lemons (5 per litre from memory)making sure I removed all the pith and added them to the alcohol and put it in the cupboard and left it for six months.

I then added several bottles of vodka and sugar (can't remember how much sugar) and used filtered water to bring it down to 50-60 proof and put it back in the cupboard for another 6 months.

I gave him a bottle after that he he was amazed at how good it was claiming it to the best he had ever drank. I gave him a few more bottles and he loved using it at meals telling everyone how it was his lemons. The limoncello lasted us about 3 years and I got plenty of requests for more.

Only last year I bought a still of a mate and mode my own alcohol and have infused orange peel from my trees, It 180 proof but the orange flavor is intense. I'm leaving it for 6-8 months and I will look to add some flavor like strawberry and bring the proof down to about 70.

OMG Leroy! Where do you live! Grin

I want some of that 96% alcohol!!! Are you in Oz or overseas?
But since I only have a 40% vodka I’m hoping it will be good. I love limoncello!

It’s the only alcohol I can drink without any affect as any other alcohol after just one glass makes me feel like I’m in the twilight zone!
Anyhow in 3 weeks I will see how the vodka with peels are going to taste once I put the sugar/water in.
At least my lemons are organic from my own lemon tree.

What did you and fil do with peeled lemons after?

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Leroy

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #6 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:17pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:08pm:

Leroy wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:56am:

Hey Sophia, I made some limoncello a few years back. My FIL was given 8 litres 96% alcohol by a mate and didn't know what to do with it. Because he is Italian I told him I would make some limoncello with his lemons.

I peeled the lemons (5 per litre from memory)making sure I removed all the pith and added them to the alcohol and put it in the cupboard and left it for six months.

I then added several bottles of vodka and sugar (can't remember how much sugar) and used filtered water to bring it down to 50-60 proof and put it back in the cupboard for another 6 months.

I gave him a bottle after that he he was amazed at how good it was claiming it to the best he had ever drank. I gave him a few more bottles and he loved using it at meals telling everyone how it was his lemons. The limoncello lasted us about 3 years and I got plenty of requests for more.

Only last year I bought a still of a mate and mode my own alcohol and have infused orange peel from my trees, It 180 proof but the orange flavor is intense. I'm leaving it for 6-8 months and I will look to add some flavor like strawberry and bring the proof down to about 70.

OMG Leroy! Where do you live! Grin

I want some of that 96% alcohol!!! Are you in Oz or overseas?
But since I only have a 40% vodka I’m hoping it will be good. I love limoncello!

It’s the only alcohol I can drink without any affect as any other alcohol after just one glass makes me feel like I’m in the twilight zone!
Anyhow in 3 weeks I will see how the vodka with peels are going to taste once I put the sugar/water in.
At least my lemons are organic from my own lemon tree.

What did you and fil do with peeled lemons after?

Make another batch but leave that batch in a dark cupboard until next year, believe me you will taste the difference, so much smoother.

Just disposed of the peeled lemons, we have an abundance of citrus fruit, I have two lemon trees (eureka and lemonade) three orange trees (navel, velencia and blood) and he has about seven orange and three lemon trees.

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Setanta

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #7 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:23pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:08pm:

Leroy wrote on Sep 5^th, 2025 at 11:56am:

Hey Sophia, I made some limoncello a few years back. My FIL was given 8 litres 96% alcohol by a mate and didn't know what to do with it. Because he is Italian I told him I would make some limoncello with his lemons.

I peeled the lemons (5 per litre from memory)making sure I removed all the pith and added them to the alcohol and put it in the cupboard and left it for six months.

I then added several bottles of vodka and sugar (can't remember how much sugar) and used filtered water to bring it down to 50-60 proof and put it back in the cupboard for another 6 months.

I gave him a bottle after that he he was amazed at how good it was claiming it to the best he had ever drank. I gave him a few more bottles and he loved using it at meals telling everyone how it was his lemons. The limoncello lasted us about 3 years and I got plenty of requests for more.

Only last year I bought a still of a mate and mode my own alcohol and have infused orange peel from my trees, It 180 proof but the orange flavor is intense. I'm leaving it for 6-8 months and I will look to add some flavor like strawberry and bring the proof down to about 70.

OMG Leroy! Where do you live! Grin

I want some of that 96% alcohol!!! Are you in Oz or overseas?
But since I only have a 40% vodka I’m hoping it will be good. I love limoncello!

It’s the only alcohol I can drink without any affect as any other alcohol after just one glass makes me feel like I’m in the twilight zone!
Anyhow in 3 weeks I will see how the vodka with peels are going to taste once I put the sugar/water in.
At least my lemons are organic from my own lemon tree.

What did you and fil do with peeled lemons after?

Explore Pure Alcohol for Cocktails and Limoncello

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Sophia Gold Member Offline Posts: 9702	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #8 - Sep 6^th, 2025 at 12:55pm Aaahh good stuff Set! I will most definitely look into that
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Sophia

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #9 - Dec 18^th, 2025 at 2:11pm

Well…. Tah dum! Nearly 4 months later with lemon peel steeping in vodka, I finally made it last night, adding the sugared water (after boiling and cooling down).
Strained it and put in bottles.
It tastes good.
But I honestly thought it would be a cloudy yellow, it looks clear yellow instead.
After reading a lot of people’s experiences it seems mine is in the average.
An agent came by to visit and I gave her some as her dad makes limoncello also. She said it looks and tastes exactly like what her dad makes.

So here’s my end result ….. in a nice bottle.

Cheers big ears

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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 56772 Gender:	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #10 - Dec 18^th, 2025 at 8:18pm Sophia's gonna get plastered!!
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Sophia

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Re: Homemade Limoncello :)
Reply #11 - Mar 18^th, 2026 at 12:46pm

OMG! I just made a gluten free limoncello cake and it’s to die for!
A recipe from the Amalfi coast….
Basic butter, powdered sugar, limoncello, then 3 egg yolks. Grate skin of 3 lemons into it.
Beat egg whites with pinch salt, till stiff then gently fold into batter.
Add almond flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and 1 tbsp corn flour. Gently fold in.
Get a springform pan, line with butter then almond flour, shake out excess flour.
Bake 180 deg for 45 mins.
Note: I just put in what I felt with amounts of butter, sugar and flour.

At this rate I need to make more limoncello!! My lemon tree a bit scarce and lemons in supermarket are expensive!

The aroma of lemon through house is like a summer holiday along the coast!

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Milton Friedman

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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 56772 Gender:	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #12 - Mar 18^th, 2026 at 1:18pm But is it moist?
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Sophia Gold Member Offline Posts: 9702	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #13 - Mar 18^th, 2026 at 1:27pm Jasin wrote on Mar 18^th, 2026 at 1:18pm: But is it moist? Aahh my lil grasshopper….you see, the only place that word is good…is with cakes! And yes, beautifully moist it is
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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 56772 Gender:	Re: Homemade Limoncello :) Reply #14 - Mar 18^th, 2026 at 3:37pm I feel like Brucey at the smell of blood when it comes to moist cake.
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