Sous Vide Limoncello with Meyer Lemons in a Mason Jar
Makes 5 cups
Ingredients
- 5 Meyer lemons (scrubbed (zest only))
- 2 cups 151-proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear (see notes for 190-proof or vodka))
- 2 cups Sugar
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Preheat a sous vide water bath to 135F (57C).
- Scrub the lemons under hot water and dry them.5 Meyer lemons
- Peel the yellow zest in strips with a vegetable peeler, leaving the white pith behind.
- Place the zest in a quart canning jar and add the grain alcohol, leaving ½ inch of headspace. Close the lid finger-tight.2 cups 151-proof grain alcohol
- Submerge the jar so the water reaches just below the lid. Cook 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, warm the sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until dissolved and clear. Cool completely.2 cups Sugar, 2 cups Water
- Remove the jar and cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, before opening. Open it away from any open flame.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, then a coffee filter if you want it clearer.
- Stir in the cooled syrup, bottle, and chill until ice cold.
Notes
- Syrup by spirit (the jar and timing stay the same):
- 151-proof Everclear: 2 cups sugar + 2 cups water. About 30% alcohol, about 5 cups. Store in the freezer.
- 190-proof Everclear (not sold in all states): 2½ cups sugar + 3 cups water, plus 1 to 2 extra lemons. About 30% alcohol, about 6 cups. Store in the freezer.
- 80-proof vodka: 1 cup sugar + 1 cup water. About 23% alcohol, about 3½ cups. Store in the refrigerator, since it can turn slushy in the freezer.
- Storage: Keep sealed bottles in the freezer (Everclear version) or refrigerator (vodka version). Best within 1 year; the lemon flavor slowly fades after that.
- Make ahead: Make it at least a few days before gifting so the flavor has time to mellow. [Confirm the rest time after your test batch.]
- Safety: High-proof alcohol is flammable. Keep it away from open flames and never heat it on the stove or in the microwave.
Copy/Paste and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright-protected. SavoringTheGood®