Limoncello? Grain Alcohol?

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:07:16 -0400, Goomba38 <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does anyone
else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one is
better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

This is where I got my method, Goomba.
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=40048&hl=

Read a bit down the page, and you will come to the method I use, from
Katie Loeb. She also has the distinction of having her recipe used
by the Los Angeles Times.

This is a long thread, but good ideas in it.

Christine

"Goomba38" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it is
time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does anyone else
here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one is
better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

Here is what I have been told is consumate recipe for Limoncello.

From: Blake Olson

Limoncello

beverages, alcoholic

15 ea. lemons; zested
2 fifths grain alcohol; or 100 proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

Mixing instructions:

Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any reside of
pesticides or wax. Carefully zest the lemons with a zester or vegetable
peeler so there is no white pith on the peel.

In a 1-gallon glass jar, add one fifth alcohol or vodka and the lemon zest.
Cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for at least 10 days, and up
to 40 days in a cool dark place. -- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar
and water and cook until thickened, appx. 5 to 7 minutes. Let the syrup cool
before adding it to the limoncello mixture. Add the additional fifth. Allow
to rest for another 10 to 40 days. -- After the rest period, strain and
bottle, discarding the lemon zest. Keep in the freezer until ready to serve.

Creator/contributor's comments: Remember that the longer the zest and vodka
mix rests, the better the taste will be.

Blake

Chris Marksberry said:

Here is what I have been told is consumate recipe for Limoncello.

From: Blake Olson

Limoncello

beverages, alcoholic

15 ea. lemons; zested
2 fifths grain alcohol; or 100 proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

Thank you 🙂
I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and half vodka? I
ask because I've got this bottle of grain alcohol, but I keep reading
people saying they prefer vodka....?

Goomba38 <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Chris Marksberry said:

Here is what I have been told is consumate recipe for
Limoncello.

From: Blake Olson

Limoncello

beverages, alcoholic

15 ea. lemons; zested
2 fifths grain alcohol; or 100 proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

Thank you 🙂
I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and half
vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of grain alcohol,
but I keep reading people saying they prefer vodka....?

Try it. :-)

Let us know how it turns out.

Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link she gave?
Quite nice reading from
"KatieLoeb post Apr 1 2004, 10:30 AM"

sandi said:

Quoted message said:

I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and half
vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of grain alcohol,
but I keep reading people saying they prefer vodka....?

Try it. :-)

Let us know how it turns out.

Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link she gave?
Quite nice reading from
"KatieLoeb post Apr 1 2004, 10:30 AM"

I did. And most of the posts there talk about vodka being less harsh
than the grain alcohol. But I guess I can try both. Maybe half batches!
Oooh...great test. I'll report back. Gotta go buy some vodka tomorrow
and the lemons.

Goomba38 <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

sandi said:

Quoted message said:

I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and
half vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of grain
alcohol, but I keep reading people saying they prefer
vodka....?

Try it. :-)

Let us know how it turns out.

Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link she
gave? Quite nice reading from
"KatieLoeb post Apr 1 2004, 10:30 AM"

I did. And most of the posts there talk about vodka being less
harsh than the grain alcohol. But I guess I can try both.
Maybe half batches! Oooh...great test. I'll report back. Gotta
go buy some vodka tomorrow and the lemons.

And 2 limes. ;-) That's the secret I read.

Goomba38 said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does
anyone else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one
is better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

Am I incorrect in assuming that grain alcohol is a form of vodka?
Originally vodka was made with potatoes, but from what I understand only the
high end ones are, anymore. I was also told that cheaper whiskeys are made
with part vodka or grain alcohol. Someone I know who has a still tried to
explain all of this to me, so I'm only repeating what I was told; I never
tried to research it. Any clues, anyone?

kili

"Goomba38" <[email hidden]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it is
time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does anyone else
here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one is
better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

The woman in my town with the reputation for making the best wrote the
recipe out for me because I was unhappy with the others. If you would like
it, I'll be happy to post it.
--
http://www.judithgreenwood.com

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Am I incorrect in assuming that grain alcohol is a form of vodka?
Originally vodka was made with potatoes, but from what I understand only
the high end ones are, anymore. I was also told that cheaper whiskeys are
made with part vodka or grain alcohol. Someone I know who has a still
tried to explain all of this to me, so I'm only repeating what I was told;
I never tried to research it. Any clues, anyone?

Most distilled liquors starts out as grain alcohol. Vodkas is still made
from potatoes in Poland (Luksosowa brand) but they use grain also in most
places. Bourbon required a percentage of corn, Scotches is smoked with
peat, etc. Grain alcohols is pretty much pure alcohol as distilled and
after, the process can make it into something else. Gin is essentially
flavored vodka. Cheap whiskey is aged in barrels , but for shorter times
that good whiskey

Pretty much comes down to using what is plentiful in your region.

Edwin Pawlowski said:

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Am I incorrect in assuming that grain alcohol is a form of vodka?
Originally vodka was made with potatoes, but from what I understand
only the high end ones are, anymore. I was also told that cheaper
whiskeys are made with part vodka or grain alcohol. Someone I know
who has a still tried to explain all of this to me, so I'm only
repeating what I was told; I never tried to research it. Any clues,
anyone?

Most distilled liquors starts out as grain alcohol. Vodkas is still
made from potatoes in Poland (Luksosowa brand) but they use grain
also in most places. Bourbon required a percentage of corn, Scotches
is smoked with peat, etc. Grain alcohols is pretty much pure alcohol
as distilled and after, the process can make it into something else. Gin
is essentially flavored vodka. Cheap whiskey is aged in barrels
, but for shorter times that good whiskey

Pretty much comes down to using what is plentiful in your region.

Thanks for the explanation, Edwin. :~)

kili

Christine Dabney said:

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:07:16 -0400, Goomba38 <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does anyone
else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one is
better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

This is where I got my method, Goomba.
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=40048&hl=

Read a bit down the page, and you will come to the method I use, from
Katie Loeb. She also has the distinction of having her recipe used
by the Los Angeles Times.

This is a long thread, but good ideas in it.

Christine

i made a half-recipe using katie's formula (100 proof vodka for
steeping, 80 proof to finish), but i steeped for eight weeks, i think,
at any rate somewhat longer than she does.

goomba, if you were to use grain, use it just for the steeping and not
the final step. it would probably be more a more civilized use than a
frat-boy purple punch. katie seems to feel vodka gives a smoother
result than grain.

read the e-gullet thread, though. it's entertaining.

your pal,
blake

sandi said:

Goomba38 <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

sandi said:

> I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and
> half vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of grain
> alcohol, but I keep reading people saying they prefer
> vodka....?

Try it. :-)

Let us know how it turns out.

Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link she
gave? Quite nice reading from
"KatieLoeb post Apr 1 2004, 10:30 AM"

I did. And most of the posts there talk about vodka being less
harsh than the grain alcohol. But I guess I can try both.
Maybe half batches! Oooh...great test. I'll report back. Gotta
go buy some vodka tomorrow and the lemons.

And 2 limes. ;-) That's the secret I read.

in my half-recipe i used one lime. but it's the only limoncello i've
had, so hard to compare.

i hear danny devito has now put his name to a brand, after showing up
semi-stewed on 'the view' t.v. show after having pounded some the
night before.

your pal,
blake

kilikini said:

Goomba38 said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does
anyone else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one
is better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

Am I incorrect in assuming that grain alcohol is a form of vodka?
Originally vodka was made with potatoes, but from what I understand only the
high end ones are, anymore. I was also told that cheaper whiskeys are made
with part vodka or grain alcohol. Someone I know who has a still tried to
explain all of this to me, so I'm only repeating what I was told; I never
tried to research it. Any clues, anyone?

kili

the main difference is that (as far as i know), the highest proof
vodka you can buy is 100 proof, or 50 percent ethanol. grain alcohol
is typically 190 proof, or 95 percent ethanol. everclear, i think, is
the most available brand. as far as i know it is not for sale in
maryland.

i see it here as an ingredient in a pan-galactic gargle blaster:

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster #3 recipe

1 oz Everclear® alcohol
1 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps
1 oz lemon juice
1 splash Blue Curacao liqueur

Place ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and strain
into a martini cocktail glass. Consume as a shot.

....frankly, it sounds a little too vile to have spread throughout the
known universe, but you never know.

your mostly harmless pal,
blake

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:13:46 -0400, Goomba38 <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

sandi said:

Quoted message said:

I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol and half
vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of grain alcohol,
but I keep reading people saying they prefer vodka....?

Try it. :-)

Let us know how it turns out.

Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link she gave?
Quite nice reading from
"KatieLoeb post Apr 1 2004, 10:30 AM"

I did. And most of the posts there talk about vodka being less harsh
than the grain alcohol. But I guess I can try both. Maybe half batches!
Oooh...great test. I'll report back. Gotta go buy some vodka tomorrow
and the lemons.

Don't forget, for true limoncello the lemons HAVE to be grown in
Sorrento ;-).

Ross.

[email hidden] wrote on Wed, 10 Oct 2007
15:58:20 -0400:

??>> sandi wrote:
??>>
??>>>> I wonder if anyone has tried using half grain alcohol
??>>>> and half vodka? I ask because I've got this bottle of
??>>>> grain alcohol, but I keep reading people saying they
??>>>> prefer vodka....?
??>>>
??>>> Try it. :-)
??>>>
??>>> Let us know how it turns out.
??>>>
??>>> Do you read what Christine Dabney wrote and read the link
??>>> she gave? Quite nice reading from "KatieLoeb post Apr 1
??>>> 2004, 10:30 AM"
??>>>
??>> I did. And most of the posts there talk about vodka being
??>> less harsh than the grain alcohol. But I guess I can try
??>> both. Maybe half batches! Oooh...great test. I'll report
??>> back. Gotta go buy some vodka tomorrow and the lemons.

r> Don't forget, for true limoncello the lemons HAVE to be
r> grown in Sorrento ;-).

I don't know much about grain alcohol but Consumer Reports
tested vodkas with an expert panel some years ago. They put in a
ringer by diluting USP alcohol with distilled water. Guess which
vodka the experts preferred?

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Goomba38 <[email hidden]> dropped this news:16Cdnew-
[email hidden]: in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does anyone
else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one is
better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

<horrible flash back memories of frat house days painfully fought back>
Bleh... I'll never be able to drink the stuff again. I had it mixed with
some pink stuff at a house party one night. I remember nothing. Actually
I don't remember much from several days after the party. All I know is I
puked pink for days. I also had blonde, curly hair down to my shoulders.
Getting the puke out of the hair was a formidible task.

Michael

--
Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their
food, and tyrannize their teachers.
- Socrates

to email: dog3 at charter dot net

kilikini said:

Goomba38 said:

I found an unopened bottle of grain alcohol in the pantry and think it
is time I used it....Christine D. makes Limoncello, I know. Does
anyone else here make it?
Any preference for using vodka over grain alcohol? Opinions on if one
is better than the other?
Any tried and true recipes to share?

Any other suggestions for using it?

Am I incorrect in assuming that grain alcohol is a form of vodka?
Originally vodka was made with potatoes, but from what I understand only the
high end ones are, anymore. I was also told that cheaper whiskeys are made
with part vodka or grain alcohol. Someone I know who has a still tried to
explain all of this to me, so I'm only repeating what I was told; I never
tried to research it. Any clues, anyone?

kili

I dunno? I already have a fifth of grain alcohol and so went to buy a
fifth of vodka for my limoncello recipe comparison. I figure it will
make a fun drink to enjoy at Thanksgiving as well as bottling up some to
give away to co-workers at Christmas. But when buying the vodka I
couldn't figure out if I wanted a high quality vodka or would a real
cheapie work as well? I settled on a middle range (price wise) Seagrams
Vodka at $14/fifth. I could have gone on post and purchased a better
quality one for less money still but.... not sure which is best?
Anyone have some input?

Giusi said:

The woman in my town with the reputation for making the best wrote the
recipe out for me because I was unhappy with the others. If you would like
it, I'll be happy to post it.

<gasp!> you had to ask!??! Please! 🙂

blake murphy said:

i made a half-recipe using katie's formula (100 proof vodka for
steeping, 80 proof to finish), but i steeped for eight weeks, i think,
at any rate somewhat longer than she does.

goomba, if you were to use grain, use it just for the steeping and not
the final step. it would probably be more a more civilized use than a
frat-boy purple punch. katie seems to feel vodka gives a smoother
result than grain.

I have a fifth of both grain alcohol as well as vodka. I'm going to make
half batches using each to compare.
I just so happen to have a frat boy who will happily take off with any
less than stellar results, lol. But yeah, I got the impression vodka was
preferred by some, but what quality of vodka?