Limoncello, take 2

[wineforfun]

Baking extracts?? Don't get me started!!

haha
Thing with me is when I start doing something, it is full speed ahead.
So I started baking about a year ago. I make numerous types of cookies but my specialties are biscotti, bread and cakes/desserts. Everything is from scratch, no boxed mixes, etc.
Tried finding a coffee extract here in town and took forever, plus it was $8 for 2 oz. Leaving the store I had this thought about "hey, why can't I make my own", and with that, scoured the interweb and currently have almond, anise, lime and vanilla going.
Started drinking coffee a couple years ago and within two months of starting, I bought a roaster, green beans and now roast my own. Best coffee ever as it is fresh roasted and gets ground immediately before drinking. I make all pour over coffee, though I have an Aeropress, Turkish pot and French Press.
Then came along Kraffty(Mike) and his cello. Soooooo, now I have that going.

 

[cmason1957]

How the heck do you not know what you used in your own recipe? You just dont want to give up your secret! LOL.. Or maybe its a low grade vodka? lol... Il probably go to binnys today for my batch... i was just trying to get other input as to using lower grade vs higher grade vodka...

Oh I'm sure it was lower grade. I doubt my daughter sprung for anything great. How did I not know, I just didn't pay attention beyond, Vodka, 1.75 l. I figured it didn't matter.

 

[Stevelaz]

Made one of each!

 

[ibglowin]

Mine is in the extraction phase! You sure get a funny look when you ask the clerk behind the counter at the liquor store for the half gallon of Everclear!

 

[CheerfulHeart]

I wish half-gallons of Everclear could be purchased in California. Every so often there are rumors the state legislature is going to ban Everclear as a poison. So far that has not happened but about every two years or so I buy a case or two to have on hand if it is does. You get strange looks for that too...

 

[Boatboy24]

I'm going to mix up a batch today. @Kraffty: what did you do with the 40 lemons after you zested them - a huge batch of lemonade?

 

[Kraffty]

Hey Jim, I juice them and freeze them in 4 cup disposable containers. Use for lemonade and I'm hoping to finally make a batch of skeeter pee using my own lemon juice.
Mike

 

[Kraffty]

@stevelaz what's the difference between the two, different vodkas or vodka and ever clear? Great idea to test side by side.
Mike

 

[ibglowin]

We ended up squeezing them and then pouring the juice into ice trays (with silicon covers) and then freezing the juice. We can now pop a few cubes as needed for cooking purposes or pop an entire tray and make lemonade, lemon water.....

I'm going to mix up a batch today. @Kraffty: what did you do with the 40 lemons after you zested them - a huge batch of lemonade?

 

[joeswine]

Zesting for flavor and fun

or this ..................easier method

 

[Stevelaz]

@stevelaz what's the difference between the two, different vodkas or vodka and ever clear? Great idea to test side by side.
Mike

The difference of the 2 is that one is made with lemon and the other with orange...

 

[Boatboy24]

It has begun.

 

[Kraffty]

Have the stock prices for everclear risen with the run on the stuff caused by all the limoncello makers?
Mike

 

[ibglowin]

My half gallon of Everclear was $45 w/o tax. Tax brought it up to ~$48.50 IIRC. They wanted ~$20 for the 750ml bottle so saved a few bucks by buying in bulk I spose.

 

[wineforfun]

haha
Great point Mike. Luckily us new limoncello makers are located all over the US and not in just one area.
I get my 750's of Everclear for $17.99 + tax.

 

[ibglowin]

Mine was actually purchased on an indian reservation liquor store about 15 miles down the road from me. We don't have any "real" liquor stores in town. Our local grocery store Smith's (Kroger) has a fully stocked liquor dept but they don't carry Everclear. Sadly I knew I could purchase it down the road on the "rez" as they say....

Its a nice enough store on the highway back towards Santa fe but I am always saddened when I enter/exit as as everyone knows the highest rates of alcoholism/DUI is within tribes and tribal members. IIRC we have 7 Northern NM tribes in our area and each one has their own casino and their own package liquor store. Probably 75% of the customers in the store were native american.

They finally closed down all the drive up windows about 15 years ago. Would you believe (once upon a time) you could pull up to a side window and buy alcohol, mixers and a styrofoam cup with ice and then drive right down the road......

haha
Great point Mike. Luckily us new limoncello makers are located all over the US and not in just one area.
I get my 750's of Everclear for $17.99 + tax.

 

[Stevelaz]

All this talk about everclear is tempting me to get some and do a batch with that to see how it compares to the ones i got going now with vodka. Like i said before the one i had that was very very good was made with vodka...

 

[CheerfulHeart]

I added the simple syrup yesterday to the double batch I made with Everclear and vodka. It will need some time to mellow a bit but the sample I tried has really good flavor.

 

[Boatboy24]

I removed the peel and filtered mine some time ago, but have yet to dilute with the simple syrup. I have a couple of quarts of nicely yellow colored, lemon flavored grain alcohol right now.

 

[geek]

Leave it for July 4 and the fireworks