I’m not sure exactly when I got the urge to start infusing liquors at home and make liqueurs, but it was probably around the time I began considering different ways to use the herbs from my garden. One of the first liqueurs I made was a traditional limoncello and I liked it so much that I decided to use it as a base for variations. Lavender limoncello has so far been the best variation and I make it with fresh lavender that I harvest from my garden.
It may seem too cold outside now for a chilled, lemon-flavored liqueur, but the lavender brings in an earthiness that makes this warming and delicious at any time of year. Lavender is also hearty so I can use it all winter long from my garden!
It’s very easy to infuse liquor and make liqueurs at home, and I hope this simple recipe will inspire you to get creative with some new flavors for your favorite cocktails and spirits. Homemade liqueurs also make great gifts around the holidays!
I usually make a large batch, but for the purposes of simplicity I’ll go through the process using one standard-sized bottle of vodka.
I used a 750ml bottle of vodka – I go for the middle-of-the-road as far as quality and cost. For infusing one bottle of vodka, I used about 4-6 sprigs of fresh lavender, which I rinsed thoroughly and dried.
I peeled the yellow skins off of 3-5 lemons, being carful to not include too much of the white part as it’s very bitter. 
I added the lavender sprigs and lemon peels to a quart-size mason jar and put overflow into a smaller jar. 
I filled the large mason jar with the vodka and in this instance didn’t need the additional small jar, so I transferred the remaining lavender and lemon into the larger one. I covered the top loosely with plastic wrap, set the lid on and gave it one turn to very lightly close it. It does not have to be airtight. I let my vodkas infuse for 2-4 weeks.
I began to work with this batch after 4 weeks – no real reason other than I got busy and just put off finishing the last few steps. You can see how much the color has changed over this time period – it’s now a rich, golden-amber color. I think this reflects the earthiness of the lavender quite well!
Because the pieces of lemon and the lavender sprigs were big and intact, I didn’t use a sieve AND a funnel, I just poured the infused vodka directly into the swing top bottle via the funnel. (If I have crushed fruit or something with seeds, I could either use a cheesecloth during the infusing process or pour the liquid through a sieve to strain out the small bits.)
Once the infused vodka was in its final vessel, I began to work on the simple syrup, which is what makes this a liqueur. For one 750ml bottle of vodka, I use 1/2 cup of sugar and a 1/2 cup of water for the simple syrup. You can certainly adjust this based on your preference for sweetness.
I added the sugar and water to a small saucepan and heated until the sugar dissolved completely and the liquid was clear.
I used the funnel again and poured the simple syrup into the infused vodka.
That’s it! The Lavender Limoncello is ready to be enjoyed. I like it with a little club soda or ginger ale, and also with a few ice cubes. Earthy, lemony, and not too sweet – this liqueur can be enjoyed as an aperitif before dinner or as a dessert liqueur following a main course. Cheers!
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 4-6 sprigs of fresh lavender
- Peels from 3-5 lemons
- 1 quart-sized jar and plastic wrap for covering
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- funnel
- 1 quart-sized (or larger) swing-top bottle
- Wash and dry lavender
- Peel yellow parts of 3-5 lemons (white pith is bitter)
- Add lavender and lemon peels to quart-sized jar
- Fill with vodka, cover with plastic wrap and place lid on with one twist
- Set aside and let infusion happen for 2-4 weeks
- Set funnel into swing-top bottle and pour infused vodka in
- Make simple syrup by combining water and sugar in a saucepan and heating until sugar is dissolved.
- Add simple syrup to swing-top bottle using the funnel
- Store at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer
- Serve over ice or mixed with club soda or ginger ale