Message: | A dozen lemons or so, a bottle or two of vodka and some sugar, and you can make your own.
For 2 fifths of vodka, strip the zest from 12-15 lemons, trying to avoid the white pith. I use a wide style peeler for this. As you remove the strips, add them to a wide mouthed jar with a tight fitting lid. Add the vodka (or add the vodka first -- by the time you're done with the lemons, the vodka will already be pale yellow and lemon flavored). Cover and store for a month or so in a cool dark place.
Next step: make a simple syrup by bringing 3 cups of sugar and 1-1/2 cups water to a boil. Cool. Add enough of the syrup to the lemon vodka to bring it to the sweetness you like. (I don't like mine as sweet as the commercial stuff, so I don't add it all -- probably only about half). Now at this point you can drink it, but it benefits from sitting for another couple of weeks if you can stand it.
Final step is to strain and bottle. If you want it absolutely clear, strain through a couple of layers of cheesecloth a couple of times; otherwise a fine mesh sieve works. |