Cocktails Anyone?

Cocktail time is....AWESOME!  I am not a huge drinker anymore, I feel like I got most of that out of my system during my years in Vegas plus, I am far to old to deal with hangovers,  I mean really, who has time for that!?  Having said that, I absolutely love the art of sitting with friends and family sharing a cocktail and chatting about life.  There is definitely an art to cocktailing properly and fortunately for me, my family has mastered it.  I do, however, have a tendency to get stuck in the cocktail rut, Jack and diet, Heineken or beer and that is really unfortunate.  There are amazing drinks out there and we need to make an effort to give each one their fair shot, well maybe not each one, but, we definitely need to try new things!  Here is something new you can try! I added vanilla bean to a more traditional recipe it almost gives it that lemon meringue pie taste.  This recipe is super easy, super good and absolutely approved for your next cocktail party!

 

Vanilla Bean Limoncello

By: Vanessa Madigan

 

 

 

Ingredients:
15 lemons, washed
2 750 milliliter bottles of Everclear, or a high proof vodka
4 cups sugar
10 cups water
2 vanilla beans, split

Directions:

• Peel your lemons, being careful not to remove the bitter, white pith.
• Place the lemon peels into a large 1 gallon bottle or jar and add 1 bottle of the everclear.  You will want to keep this in a cool, dark and dry place for about a month (30+ days).
• Once your 30 days is up, add the second bottle of everclear to the mixture.
• In a large sauce pan boil the sugar and 8 cups of the water, add your split vanilla beans to the water and sugar.  Once the pan is at a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium low and continue to stir constantly to dissolve the sugar allow the pot to simmer until all of the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Once the simple syrup is at room temperature add it to the alcohol mixture, definitely include the vanilla bean, and store it in a cool, dark and dry place for another 30+ days.
• After 30 days have passed remove your alcohol from its hiding spot and add the remaining 2 cups of water. Next, strain it through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or a coffee filter your alcohol mixture (to remove the lemon peel and vanilla bean) into your desired bottles for gifting or storing.  Your limoncello should keep for a couple of years in a cool place.  You can also store it in the freezer until you are ready to imbibe!