Recipe Archives->Drinks->Liqueurs

Homemade Liqueurs

The common way to make a homemade liqueur is to infuse flavorings
in a distilled product and add sugar. The most common distilled
spirits are vodka, brandy, and grain alcohol (but if you use this,
try to make it with extracts and triple your aging). Others, like
rum and whiskey can be used however, and can not be ruled out.
Fruits, nuts, extracts, and coffee are some of the ingredients used
to steep in the spirits. After the mellow aging of the flavorings,
the makings must be strained if fruit or nuts are used. Simple
syrup is then usually added. Colorings or glycerin may also be
added. The result is bottled and put away to age to it's perfection.


Flavorings

Amaretto        Almonds
Ananas          Pineapple & Vanilla
Anisette        Anise Seed
Apricot         Apricots
Banana          Bananas
Benedictine     Angelica
Cacao           Cacao beans & Vanilla
Cafe            Coffee
Cassis          Black Currants
Cherry or       Cerise Cherries
Drambuie        Herbs & Honey 
Framboise       Rasberries
Frangelico      Hazelnuts
Grand Marnier   Oranges 
Kahlua          Coffee
Maraschino      Maraschino Cherries
Menthe          Peppermint
Midori          Melons
Parfait Amour   Lemon & Vanilla 
Peach           Peaches
Peppermint      Peppermint
Pernod          Anise & Herbs
Sambucca        Licorice
Triple Sec      Oranges 


Glass containers are the best for steeping. Quart canning jars can
be used for small batches, and gallon jars for larger. For straining,
you'll need cheesecloth or a jellybag. Coffee filters can be used
for the final filtration, giving you the clearest liqueur, and a
lesson in patience.

Antique bottles can be costly, but very nice. Always sterlize your
bottles. Corking is recommended for bottles without tops.

4 cups sugar
4 cups water

Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved.
Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Stir in:
4 cups vodka
4 cups brandy
1 bottle of almond extract

Bottle and let sit in a dark place for 2 to 3 months.

Printable version: liqueurs.txt.