Thread: Nocino...walnut liqueur

Nocino

Enthused by the Angelica Liqueur, I rammaged in the bottom cupboard and drew out the jar of walnuts macerating in vodka...you are supposed to use them after two months, but what with the inevitable collection of human compost and such like, I had forgotten about it...anyway, I am hoping with a span of some five years there will still be enough of the walnut to make a decent flavoured liqueur...used in Italy to drizzle over ice cream and panna cotta...




According to the recipe, you will need...

3 lbs fresh green walnuts
2 quarts vodka
1 whole clove
1 2 inch long cinnamon stick

Wash and dry the walnuts, put in a large jar and pour in the vodka. Add the clove and cinnamon. Close the jar tightly and leave in a dark place for two months.

Next you make the syrup...

11/2 quarts of dry red wine
4 cups of white granulated sugar

Measure the wine into a large pan, heat until simmering then stir in the sugar and keep stirring until dissolved...simmer until it has reduced to half the quantity, about an hour or so...allow to cool...



Using a colander, drain the walnuts from the liquid. I measured out equal cups of syrup and walnut liquid and strained into the jar.
I will decant this into bottles this afternoon. Leave for at least fifteen days before using.




This recipe is adapted from that in Giuliano Bugialli's book The Taste of Italy.

Oooops that should read 2 1/2 quarts of wine, thats about three bottles...

Looks deadly!

last time I was in France an uncle gave us home made walnut liqueur from his trees, the smoothest sweetest drop ever, loved it, should have got his recipe.

It is delicious...

Where do you get fresh green walnuts in NZ? I really want to give that a go, it'd be perfect for my mates wedding later this year

Hi Tommy, keep your eye out for a walnut tree...they are dropping the matured nuts now but around early Summer you will see the green fruit on the tree...you need the fruit to be young enough that you can push a needle into them...when they start to shed the outer skin on the nut, it is too late. Make sure the tree you are looking at is not a Black Walnut...their nuts are not good for this...





Not when they look like this...

Another batch of Walnut Liqueur in the making...

Every year for the last 5 years we have made maybe 10 liters of the stuff. Great cough syrup

Originally Posted by Pointer

Every year for the last 5 years we have made maybe 10 liters of the stuff. Great cough syrup

It looks as though it would have me frequently faking a cold Pointer.

@Pionter...it is nectar of the gods in my opinion...!!!

Yep it is wondrous stuff. Lovely on a cold night

Originally Posted by EeeBees

@Pionter...it is nectar of the gods in my opinion...!!!

Be careful Eeebees, such claims would put it up there with the exalted King of beers the mighty Waikato.

Fifth day and this is what it looks like...

Have a quantity of nice green walnuts which will have to wait for the vodka on good old pay day ... !!! Did not make any last year on account of being ill so am really looking forward to this year's vintage!!!