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.