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Post by txdirtdawg on Nov 11, 2012 19:58:41 GMT -5
Well, started a shot at limoncello today. I peeled 12 of my Meyer lemons today being careful not to include any of the white pith (which makes things bitter). That took a while as the Meyer has a very thin outer layer. It is also said to be the closest to the lemons they use for the real stuff out of Europe.
I dumped the peels into a 1 gallon glass jar that has a screw lid. I then poured a 750 ml bottle of Diesel which is a grain alcohol like Everclear, but is a little cheaper. I then put the lid on the jar and put it in a cabinet for darkness.
Tomorrow I'll peel another 12 lemons and add to the jar. I'll then pour a 750 ml bottle of Vodka into the jar.
Then the jar will set for about 3 weeks. Then I'll add a sugar/water syrup and let the jar sit for another couple weeks to a month. Then bottle.
This is my first attemp at limoncello, so we'll see how it turns out. Look forward to the tasting!
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Post by w8n4dave on Nov 11, 2012 21:18:51 GMT -5
Never heard of Everclear or Diesel hmmmmm whats the real names?? Sounds dangerous lol
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Post by txdirtdawg on Nov 11, 2012 22:41:25 GMT -5
W8in, Everclear and Diesel are the product names. They are both grain alcohol. I think they are both 190 proof. The higher alcohol content helps to extract more flavor from the lemon skins.
Lol. Yeah, both products carry a warning not to get near open flames and the Everclear also carries a warning that it is not intended to be drunk pure. It is intended for combining with non-alchoholic mixes (such as fruit juices, etc.)
I have never tried moonshine, but I suspect these are the closest you can legally buy to white lightning.
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Post by w8n4dave on Nov 12, 2012 8:55:11 GMT -5
Wow!! I thought Everclear was water LOL ... Yea thats way over my head I think But interesting none the less
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Post by catgrass on Nov 15, 2012 9:27:55 GMT -5
Have you ever heard of Jello-shots, W8? They're usually made with Everclear. The WORST hangover you can ever have...excluding Tequila!
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Post by w8n4dave on Nov 15, 2012 10:00:38 GMT -5
Yes I have had jello shots b4, 1ce And will never do it again, every time I drink alcohol I get sick, doesn't have to be very much just a couple of Jello shots made me sick..... My body cannot tolerate alcohol , I can drink a couple of beers and thats it!! And it has to be Miller Lite beer , any other beer makes me sick!! Tequila will send me over the edge faster than lightening , as soon as I have a sip I puke!! No matter what kind or how its mixed... I just don't drink alcohol , people try to make me light drinks and the same thing, so I come to the conclusion a long time ago I cannot do it!! So my friends know better than to try to get me drinking ..... I don't know if it is an allergy to alcohol or what but it doesn't set in my tummy long... Funny because both my parents drank like fish!! My dad was a whisky drinker and my mom loved her Vodka .... She drank screw drivers, or what ever the one with v8, at least she drank healthy alcohol LOL
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Post by catgrass on Nov 15, 2012 16:04:10 GMT -5
2 jello shots is a lot! If you don't drink at all, yeah, it probably would make you sick! I guess, in a way, you are lucky that you can't tolerate alcohol. Don't have to worry about all the troubles that come with it. Me, I got to have my booze sometimes! At least, now, the older I get-my drinking is pretty much limited to wine. An occasional fruity drink during the summer during get-togethers, and an ICE COLD beer after mowing the grass. I miss my rum and cokes, though, but the doc said 'LEAVE THE HARD STUFF ALONE!'
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Post by w8n4dave on Nov 15, 2012 21:18:07 GMT -5
Yes I can have 1 glass of wine also I don't usually like wine, but a friend of mine gave me a glass one time, she called it Michigan wine, it was really good!! But yea 1 glass that week was enuf. I think it is good to leave the hard stuff alone, and with the way my parents drank I am way better off not tolerating it ohhh and I like the wine coolers I can drink those, My friend calls them college wine but hey I can drink a few of those and I am fine ..... Leave the hard stuff alone!! hehehehe!!
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Post by garrett on Nov 18, 2012 20:06:56 GMT -5
veeeeeeeeeeeeeery inturesting..........smiles
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Nov 26, 2012 17:34:47 GMT -5
I remember seeing moonshine in jars in a store in FL. It had warnings not to smoke near the open bottle. I suggest leaving that stuff to people who make their living as Firebreathers, LOL
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Post by garrett on Dec 20, 2012 20:27:08 GMT -5
so what's the status of dem lemons?
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Post by txdirtdawg on Jul 23, 2013 16:55:23 GMT -5
My time frame changed just a tad on the limoncello. Last week I strained the liquor off of the lemon. Then I added the simple syrup. I then bottled into 750 ml bottles, producing 4 and a partial bottles. I don't have a hydrometer for liquors/liqueurs yet, so I can't test the proof of the finished product. However, the lemon scent is strong. The lemon flavor is medium and the fumes running up the nose are plentiful. Definite item to be served by the thimble-ful. I believe letting it sit in the bottles for a time will improve the smoothness and flavor.
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Post by garrett on Jul 28, 2013 0:44:29 GMT -5
get er done dawg!
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Post by txdirtdawg on Jul 30, 2013 11:54:32 GMT -5
Well, I found some "split" sized bottles at the brew shop, so I rebottled some of the limoncello as some test samples. Out of 3 samples, I've rec'd reports on 2 at this time.
#1 - sampler had not tried limoncello before. Said it is very strong. Sampler is going to experiment with adding some more simple syrup to sweeten it a bit. Otherwise, liked it.
#2 - sampler is a bit of a foodie and knows their spirits. Returned a sample of a commercial limoncello imported from Italy and runs around $20 a bottle. This was from their private stock. Commercial sample was returned with a wrinkled nose and comment that "I like yours better."
My wife and I sampled the commercial product.
The scent had a bit of a chemical smell to it, compared to the homemade product that had a fresh lemon smell to it. The scent was weaker in the commercial product.
The taste of lemon was weaker in the commercial product than in the homemade. The commercial also had a bit of an off flavor to us. I suspect, but do not know, that the commercial product used a lemon oil to make the product. I also suspect that the lemon oil was extracted using a steam/heat process and may be extracting some of the off flavors from that process.
The commercial product was sweeter than the homemade. That is simply adding more simple syrup to the product. Also the alcohol fume experience was absent in the commercial product.
I am very pleased with my first shot-in-the-dark attempt at making the limoncello. I may experiment with adding a touch more simple syrup to see what the result is. Definitely something I'll have to do a re-run of when the next crop comes in. I will have to figure out a way to get the lemon rind off the pith easier. Mechanically with a knife is a tedious process. Especially if I make a larger batch.
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