Liqueur 44

44 coffee beans, 44 sugar cubes, 1 orange and 750ml vodka,  steep for 44 days. Whadda ya get? Liqueur 44, something that tastes remarkably like Grand Marnier . Not as syrupy as Grand Marnier,   Liqueur  44  is a well known  European home made aperitif.  I found the recipe in a Patricia Wells cookbook.

Not having access to 44 sugar cubes I replaced them with 9 tablespoons sugar. I also added a vanilla bean to give it another dimension. I put the vanilla bean in whole, next time I'll split the bean for a more vanilla flavour. The aroma is of orange with the coffee, smelling almost like chocolate,  following through.  On the palate the coffee taste hits first followed by an orange aftertaste.

To make your own liqueur 44 make small slits in the orange peel and stud with the coffee beans. Place in a large jar, spoon in the sugar and cover with  vodka. then leave to sit in a dark cool place for 44 days. Shake jar each day until sugar has dissolved.  After 44 days decant liquor into a bottle. Serve as an aperitif, after dinner liqueur or mixed with sparkling wine, for a long drink.

Others have been making their own booze too. Figs Olives  Wine  made creme de cassis. 18th Century Cuisine  has a recipe for cherry ratafia.....and here is a recipe for limoncello.  For the complete Liqueur 44 recipe  visit Food Downunder .

UPDATE: Cookiecrumb is at it too.

Comments

[Kelly Mahoney]

Great recipe, it sounds so simple and looks delicious. I'll have to try it.

[Sue]

Way to go Barbara, will be trying this out real soon. Not sure that I can say that it will last 44 days in our house sounds toooo good.

[barbara]

Kelly - you must it's delish.
Sue - I think the recipe is in the Patricia Wells book I gave you.For your 40th I think. Whoa that was some years ago!!

[Kat]

this sounds delicious and simple. thank you for sharing!

[Max Veenhuyzen]

Just stumbled across your blog and loved it! That Liqueur 44 sounds very interesting.. might have to give it a shot!

[andreea]

this is so cool. i have a friend who loves grand marnier. this home made liqueur 44 sounds fabulous - so will be sure to make it for her birthday!

[chrisb]

Barbara Alas this is not something Embee should be drinking anymore!

[joey]

This looks so good! I am definitely trying this...we have tons of leftover vodka from our wedding (which was more than a year ago...which just shows you how much vodka we drink! rum and whiskey's all gone though...) :)

[beccy]

Mmmm I like vodka, I quite fancy the idea of making a liqueur.

[arfi]

I've ever made limoncello using Peta Mathias' recipe. I made it as a gift for X-mas last year. Mum-in-law makes plum liqueur by soaking damson plums in clear spirit. I think she used gin.

[Rosemary in Utah]

Barbara, the coffee beans are roasted? (I'm not drunk on liqueur, just stupid) They add very little color to the liquid.

[cookiecrumb]

My orange tree should be ripening in December... Can't wait!

[Benito]

Barbara,

Last year I made a limoncello variant as an experiment: a pint of white rum with the zest of two clementines. After a month it was very interesting...

[Susan from Food Blogga]

I was planning on making limoncello this winter. I'll have to add yours to my list now too. I just recently tried a lovely coffee flavored Sambulca. I don't know if you've tried it, but it's delicious.

[barbara]

Thanks everyone. It's worth the experiment. Now I'm going away for two months and my son spied it in the fridge last night so It'll probably be all gone by the time I return. Then I'll try limoncello.
Chrisb - yes too much sugar.
Rosemary - they are roasted coffee beans.
Max - I recognise your name from WinoSapien. Thanks for visiting.

[Mélanie]

I'm going to try to make it

[Tartelette]

Last year I made Limoncello and ratafia but did not know what to make this year...this is great! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[gisele]

This looks great Barbara! I'm going to add this to the quince, cherry, plum and macadamia nut liqueurs Mum and I have steeping under the loveseat for chrsitmas presents.