Licorice liqueur is a lovely digestivo to sip cold after meals. It makes a perfect ending to nice dinners when brought to the table ice cold, and it’s great when lingering at the table and enjoying a conversation. To end the meal in pure Italian style, pour the liqueur into shot glasses after downing a fine espresso coffee.
Choosing the right licorice
Start by finding some top quality licorice. Some recipes will list powdered licorice, which can be difficult to find. We recommend you use very pure licorice drops, stems or sticks instead. Do not use the roots of the licorice plant. Pure licorice is dark and hard and has a very intense taste. You may also find it candied or sold in bulk at an herbalist’s or natural food store. Many candy counters sell very pure licorice, but you should always sample a little before buying it to make sure it has plenty of flavor.
The alcohol to use
When making liqueurs at home, use 95% (190 proof) alcohol, which should be easy to find in any liquor store. Always remember that the alcohol should be mixed with a sugar syrup and then the flavoring ingredient. In many preparations made with herbs, fruit or spices, the ingredients are left for days to infuse in the alcohol to impart their full flavor.
Licorice liqueur recipe
Prepare this refreshing after-dinner drink for your guests and yourself. It’s really quite simple. Mix 3 1/2 ounces of pure licorice with 2 1/2 cups water and wait for it to dissolve completely. This will take about 48 hours. Stir the mixture occasionally. In a saucepan over very low heat, make a syrup from 5 cups sugar and 2 1/2 cups water. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow the syrup to cool. When it’s cold, mix the syrup with the licorice concentrate and then add 1 liter of 180 proof alcohol. Pour the liqueur into bottles and wait a few weeks before consuming it. Store it in the refrigerator or freezer and serve cold.