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Limoncello

Author:

Vincenzo

Updated:

16th Mar, 2026

290 Comments

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How to Make Limoncello

Limoncello is a beloved Italian liqueur that has gained worldwide fame for its tangy, refreshing taste. Made using just three simple ingredients. My Nonna’s family recipe will transport you to the sunny Mediterranean coast with just one sip.

Moreover, the intense citrus flavor of fresh lemons blends perfectly with the sweetness of sugar and the kick of alcohol. Additionally, resulting in a delightful explosion of taste in your mouth.

Whether you enjoy it on its own, as an after-dinner digestif, or mixed into a refreshing cocktail. Lastly, limoncello is a must-try for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life.

Watch Limoncello video recipe:

Limoncello | Nonna making the best limoncello in the world Italian Homemade Recipe

limoncello recipe

Nonna’s Top Tips To Make Limoncello

NOT the white part

Firstly, make sure you only peel the skin without getting the white part of the lemon.

20 days

Soak your lemons for 20 days in order for the Limoncello to be bold yellow in colour and full of flavour.

Store your Limoncello

You can either put one bottle of limoncello in the fridge and store the other ones in a dry cool place. It depends on you!

Limoncello

Print Recipe
4.89 from 59 votes
Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 150

Equipment

  • Strainer
  • pot
  • Big Jar with sealed tap

Ingredients

  • 9 Organic Lemon, This is a must
  • 1 L Grain alcohol (95% ABV / 190 proof), You can use 100% pure vodka but it won’t taste the same
  • 1.5 L Water
  • 700 grams White sugar
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Peel 9 organic lemons. Make sure you only peel the skin without getting the white part of the lemon.
  • Place the lemon skins in a big jar and add grain (pure) alcohol. Seal the jar and let it infuse for approx 20 days.
  • The lemons need to soak in this liquid for 20 days in order for the Limoncello to be bold yellow in colour and full of flavour.
  • Bring 1.5 litres of water to a boil and add 700 grams of white sugar.
  • When the water cools add the marinated yellow alcohol to the water using a strainer so the lemon skins don’t go into the limoncello.
  • Put a glass of water into the jar, mix it around and add it to the mix. This will get the most flavour out of the lemon mix for the limoncello to be full of bold flavour.
  • Now mix the limoncello really well for a couple of minutes.
  • With 1.5lt of water and 1lt of grain alcohol you should be able to get almost 3lt of limoncello.
  • Fill up empty glass bottles with the limoncello.
  • Put one bottle of limoncello in the fridge and store the other ones in a dry cool place.
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’sPlate….Enjoy!

Video

Author: Vincenzo’s Plate

How to serve Limoncello

  • Serve the Limoncello in small glasses. Some Italians enjoy to drink it in a cold glass. To do this, place the glass in the freezer for about 20minutes before you drink the limoncello.

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Recipe Rating




290 responses

  1. pauline toby
    August 12, 2026

    can I use vodka instead of a glass of water to rinse the jar

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 12, 2026

      Ciao Pauline! You can rinse the jar with a small amount of vodka instead of water, but it will make the limoncello slightly stronger and may alter the final balance.
      I recommend using water as nonna has advised because the infusion already contains 95% grain alcohol, and the water helps dilute it to a smoother drinking strength.
      I hope you find this helpful!

      Reply
  2. Limonadamcello
    August 14, 2026

    5 stars
    I’m on day 19 of the soak. Cant wait!
    For best results does the water/sugar need to cool down to room temp?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 17, 2026

      Ciao my friend! You’re almost there!
      Yes, for the best result, let the sugar syrup cool completely to room temperature before adding the lemon-infused alcohol.
      If it is still hot, some of the alcohol can evaporate and the beautiful lemon flavour may be affected.
      Enjoy your limoncello, salute! 🥂

      Reply
  3. Sarah Chisholm
    August 15, 2026

    5 stars
    Hi Vincenzo and Nona,
    Thank you for this amazing recipe. The best limoncello I’ve ever had. My bf and I made some last year and tried other flavours too. Lime and raspberry. Both good, but the lemon is our favourite.
    New batches are on there way. We’re never getting store bought limoncello again.
    Grazie mille

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 17, 2026

      Ciao Sarah! Nonna would be super happy to read this beautiful comment! 😊
      I’m so glad her limoncello is the best you’ve ever had, and I love that you experimented with lime and raspberry too.
      No more store-bought limoncello for you! Grazie mille, and enjoy your new batches. Salute! 🥂

      Reply
  4. Noah
    September 5, 2026

    5 stars
    Delicious limoncello

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 7, 2026

      Grazie mille Noah! Nothing beats a little glass of homemade limoncello served ice-cold after a beautiful meal. Salute! 🍋

      Reply
  5. Emily
    September 7, 2026

    Looking forward to making Nonna’s beautiful limoncello and gifting it to family for a Christmas present ahead of our family vacation to Italy in June!

    Does the alcohol/lemon skin infuse on the counter or should it be in the fridge/freezer for 20 days?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 8, 2026

      Ciao Emily! What a beautiful Christmas gift, especially before your family vacation to Italy!

      Keep the sealed jar of alcohol and lemon peels at room temperature for the 20-day infusion.
      Place it in a cool, dark spot away from direct sunlight and heat. There is no need to refrigerate or freeze it during this stage.

      Once your limoncello is finished and bottled, you can store it in the refrigerator or a cool, dry place.
      I hope your family loves it. Salute! 🥂

      Reply
  6. Jean C
    September 8, 2026

    5 stars
    This is delicious! I’m not a drinker but sipping a small glass brings sunshine anytime of the year. Just bottled my second batch. First batch enjoyed at a wedding recently.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 8, 2026

      Ciao Jean! I love how you described it as sunshine at any time of the year, because it truly is! ☀️
      WOW! Fantastic that your first batch was enjoyed at such a special celebration.
      Congratulations on your second batch! 🥂

      Reply
  7. Lucy Caddell
    September 9, 2026

    I can’t wait to make this, do i need to sterilise the jar and bottles before use and how long can i store it for. I want to give it as christmas gifts

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 9, 2026

      Ciao Lucy! Yes, I recommend sterilizing the jar and glass bottles before use, especially if you are making the limoncello as Christmas gifts.
      Make sure they are completely clean, dry and fitted with airtight lids.

      Once bottled, store the limoncello in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator.
      When prepared with the 95% grain alcohol specified in the recipe and stored correctly, it should keep well for at least one year, although the beautiful lemon flavor is best within 6–12 months.

      It will make a wonderful Christmas gift! 🎄

      Reply
  8. Zach Brearley
    September 13, 2026

    Hi, ive just made this with vodka , how much water/ sugar would you recommend?
    Next time ill be doing it with grain alcohol!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 14, 2026

      Ciao Zach! It depends on the quantity and alcohol percentage of the vodka you used.
      Although standard vodka contains less alcohol than the 95% grain alcohol in Nonna’s recipe, its distinctive taste can be more noticeable in the finished limoncello because it does not extract the lemon oils as intensely.

      If you used 1 liter of standard 40% vodka, do not add the full 1.5 liters of water from the original recipe because the limoncello will become too diluted.
      I recommend making a syrup with approximately 200–250 ml of water and 300 g of sugar. Let it cool completely before gradually mixing it with the infused vodka.

      Taste as you add the syrup because you may prefer it slightly stronger or sweeter.
      If your vodka has a different alcohol percentage, let me know the ABV and how much you used, and I can help you adjust the quantities more precisely.

      Next time, the 95% grain alcohol will extract much more color and flavor from those beautiful lemon peels! 🍋

      Reply
  9. Mary VerLee
    September 14, 2026

    4 stars
    I’ve made this several times and love it. However the last 2 times it seemed “thicker and more menthol” tasting. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 14, 2026

      Ciao Mary! I’m so happy you have made it several times and loved it!
      If the last two batches tasted thicker and slightly menthol-like, they may have contained more lemon oil than usual.
      This can happen if you used larger lemons, removed thicker pieces of peel or left them infusing longer.

      The thickness may also come from using slightly less water, boiling the sugar syrup for too long or serving the limoncello colder than before.
      Limoncello naturally contains tiny droplets of extracted lemon oil, which influence its texture and flavor.

      Next time, peel only a very thin layer of the yellow skin, avoid the white pith, infuse for approximately 20 days and measure the water and sugar carefully.
      Letting the finished limoncello rest for a week or two may also help the flavors become more balanced.

      Reply
  10. Peter
    September 18, 2026

    Hiya,
    I am about to add the sugar and water (simple syrup) to my 3 litres of (one litre of 96% grain spirit and 2 litres of 50% abv Vodka and 36 infused lemons. What ratio of water and sugar would you recommend ?. Also can you recommend where to purchase 96% grain spirit in England as it’s nearly impossible to find.
    Looking forward to your reply
    Best wishes
    Peter

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 18, 2026

      Ciao Peter, You have made a very impressive batch of limoncello!

      Because you used one liter of 96% grain spirit and two liters of 50% vodka, your infusion contains approximately 1.96 liters of pure alcohol.
      To bring it close to the strength and sweetness of Nonna’s recipe, I recommend making your syrup with approximately 2.4 liters of water and 1.1 kilograms of sugar.

      However, do not feel that you must add all the syrup at once.
      Allow it to cool completely, then add most of it to the infused alcohol and taste a small sample.
      You can gradually add the rest until you are happy with the balance.
      With 36 lemons, your infusion should have a very intense lemon flavor, so it may handle the full amount beautifully.

      For the grain spirit, try searching for Spirytus Rektyfikowany at Polish supermarkets or specialist Polish alcohol retailers.
      I found a UK retailer called Wódka Company selling a food-grade 95% rectified grain spirit, which is perfectly suitable.
      https://wodkacompany.com/products/rectified-spirit-duch-puszczy-spirytus-rektyfikowany-spozywczy-50cl-95?

      Availability and delivery locations may change, so please check with the retailer directly.
      Most importantly, only use food-grade alcohol intended for consumption, never laboratory or denatured alcohol.

      Good luck with this enormous batch, and please let me know how it turns out! Salute!

      Reply
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