Luscious Limoncello

"I exercise strong self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast."
W.C. Fields

After returning from a recent trip to Italy, I found myself daydreaming of the fantastic limoncello and how in the US there isn't a comparable substitute. In fact, digestivos or after-dinner drinks were something completely foreign to me before coming to Europe. The closest that most of my friends get to an digestivo is probably the random glass of scotch or the drunken shot of tequila off off of a sweaty female belly button in some hazy Adams Morgan bar after dinner. No, nothing quite compares with the sticky-sweet smack of the limoncello on the tongue.

Want to try your hand at making limoncello at home? Try this receipe:

• 10 lemons
• 1 liter vodka
• 3 cups white sugar
• 4 cups water

Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar. Pour in vodka. Cover loosely and let infuse for one week at room temperature.After one week, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. DO NOT STIR. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.Stir vodka mixture into syrup. Strain into glass bottles, and seal each bottle with a cork. Let mixture age for 2 weeks at room temperature. Place bottled liqueur into the freezer. When icy cold, serve in chilled vodka glasses or shot glasses.

Want to try some wacky digestivos? Try Cynar, which is an infusion of artichokes in grain alcohol. You can also sample Fernet Branca, which is alcohol with St. John's wort and 39 secret herbs. It can also be added to espresso to make "caffè corretto". Branca Menta is a mint-infused version of Fernet Branca and can be served over ice or with water.

For those of you not yet ready for the digestivo plunge, try some Limoncello mashups:

• Limoncello Martini: Combine 1/2 ounce limoncello and 1 1/2 ounces vodka, shake with ice, pour into a martini glass and garnish with lemon peel.
• Limoncello Iced Tea: Pour 1 oz. limoncello in a tall glass over ice. Fill with unsweetened iced tea. Add sugar to taste.
• Limocello Cosmopolitan:Combine vodka, cranberry juice and a splash of limoncello. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.
• Limoncello Bellini:Pour 2 oz. peach nectar and 2 oz. champagne into a champagne flute. Add a splash of limoncello.