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Home » Recipes » Liquors

Homemade Italian Licorice Liqueur

Published: Nov 4, 2020 · Modified: Aug 17, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Recipe Jump to Video
Licorice liqueur is one of the most effective digestives Italians have to offer. In addition, it is the simplest liqueur to make and does not need months of brewing. Make it now and offer it the next day. The perfect edible gift!
Licorice liqueur is one of the most effective digestives Italians have to offer. In addition, it is the simplest liqueur to make and does not need months of brewing. Make it now and offer it the next day. The perfect edible gift!

Licorice liqueur is one of the most effective digestives Italians have to offer. In addition, it is the simplest liqueur to make and does not need months of brewing. Make it now and offer it the next day. The perfect edible gift!

homemade Italian licorice liqueur
Jump to:
  • A Calabrian tradition
  • Making the licorice liqueur
  • When to serve licorice liqueur
  • No risk of botulism
  • Setting up a liqueur workshop
  • More homemade liqueurs recipes
  • 📋 Homemade Italian Licorice Liqueur

Licorice flavor is very strong and while some people love it, others will not.

However, Licorice is a natural remedy for many medical conditions: it is digestive, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and protective of the gastric mucous.

It is one of the best digestives to serve after a sumptuous dinner.

Most of all, this liqueur is very easy to make and can be drink the next day. So if you want to make a liqueur to offer as an edible gift for Christmas, this is the easiest to make.

You can find more homemade liqueurs below but most require months of brewing.

Small bottle of licorice liqueur

A Calabrian tradition

Calabria is a big producer of licorice. It is extracted from the roots of a licorice bush called Glycyrrhiza glabra and sold to make candies or herbal remedies.

Known from ancient times for its natural remedies, it has been farmed in Calabria for centuries and was renowned in Europe for its quality. After a period of crisis following World War 2, the industry of licorice flourished again in the 21st century thanks to European Union funds.

Calabrian licorice powder is extracted from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra and this is the licorice I am using. There are other types of licorice that have a lighter color, but I am not familiar with them.

To make this recipe make sure you buy the same licorice. The one I found on Amazon was not giving good results, so you may want to check on a local specialized shop.

Making the licorice liqueur

Dissolve the licorice into the water with sugar

  1. In a pan mix together the licorice and the sugar
  2. Gradually add the water stirring
  3. Once all the water is added, place the pan on medium heat and bring to boil, always stirring
  4. Once it starts to boil, simmer for 15 minutes, always stirring
step by step dissolving the licorice into the water with sugar

Adding the alcohol

  1. Remove from the heat
  2. Cover and let it come down to room temperature
  3. Add the alcohol and stir
  4. Store in bottles
Adding alcohol and storing it

When to serve licorice liqueur

This liqueur can be served the next day, it does not need weeks of brewing.

It is perfect to serve at the end of a lavish meal, especially if the menu was rich with roast, fried food, or creamy sauces.

The licorice will protect the stomach reducing the risks of heartburn and helping with digestion.

Now that winter is coming, this licorice liqueur is also a perfect remedy for sore throat and cough. At this time of the year, it is "essential" to have a bottle in your medicine cabinet!

Licorice liqueur is a great addition to homemade liqueur collections, and you can find more liqueur recipes in the category: Liqueurs

You can also check out the web story: 9 Homemade Italian Liqueurs

different liqueurs bottles lined up with labels

No risk of botulism

Since a reader asked, I would like to reassure everyone who has doubts, this liqueur is not at risk of botulism. This recipe uses Alcohol 95% or vodka 50% of ethanol.

A study proves botulism cannot grow in Alcohol: ”The growth and neurotoxin production (botulism) was delayed by an ethanol concentration of 4% ethanol and completely inhibited by a concentration of 6%”.

Effect of Ethanol on the growth of Colstridium botulinum

Botulism concerns home canning… not fermentation or infusions of fruits and vegetables. Here is more information about botulism from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service:

Clostridium Botulinum

homemade Italian liqueurs edible gifts

Setting up a liqueur workshop

You can easily create your liqueur workshop with just a few items. They are not expensive and you can order them online from my Amazon shop: Homemade Liqueur Lab. Those are my favorite and specially selected tools to make the process smooth and easy:

  1. Jars 67 ounce - 2 liters: I use large canning jars to infuse herbs or fruits in the alcohol. They are easily sealed and don't take much room in the cupboard. I usually brew different types of liqueurs at the same times so I need several jars. If you are an occasional liqueur maker, you can just use the bottle below.
  2. 1 gallon - 3-liters glass bottle: I use this bottle in the second part of the brewing process, once I add the syrup. It is a transparent glass bottle so I can check how the liqueur is progressing and if it needs a good shake. It is important that this bottle has a large neck so the residuals of the fruits, zests, spices, or herbs can be easily removed without any problem once the liqueur is ready to be bottled. Personally I have 2 of those large bottles.
  3. Funnel with a wide and short stem: When you are pouring the liqueur from one bottle to another during the brewing process, you need to have a funnel with a wide and short stem so it doesn't get clog with the ingredients that are brewing in the alcohol.
  4. Auto-stop funnel: However, once the liqueur is ready, filtered and all the solid particles have been removed, I like to use an auto-stop funnel with a floating system that stops the liquid from flowing once the bottled has been filled.

    It is very difficult to gauge how much liquid can fit in a bottle and I often fill the funnel way too much. Instead of overflowing the bottle, the auto-stop funnel locks the stem automatically and the excess liquid remains in the funnel.

    The funnel can be easily removed, transferred into another bottle using the handle that keeps the liquid inside the funnel and no liqueur is wasted.
Mix Nocino with syrup and pour into bottles
  1. Fine Mesh Strainer: to remove all solids and particles from the liqueur once it is ready to be filtered.
  2. Measuring mugs: it is very important to use the exact proportion of syrup vs alcohol. Measurements mugs are a must.
  3. Ladle with spout: to easily pour the liquid into the funnels from a large bowl or pan. I always use the ladle with a spout to take the syrup from the pan where I boiled it into the funnel. If you don't have a pan with a spout, this is the easiest way to pour the syrup once it is cold.
  4. Fancy vintage bottles: I love to have my own liqueur assortment into those vintage bottles. It gives my homemade liqueurs an extra wow factor.
  5. Small glass bottles with lids: if you want to store the liqueurs in small bottles or if you want to give it as gifts to friends and family those small bottles are perfect. The lid seals and they can be easily carried. They even come with labels to write the name of the liqueur and the date.
  6. Shot glass set and/or Small liqueur glasses: it is very important to serve the liqueur in small shot glasses so it can be slowly sipped and relished.
  7. Good Grips Bottle Brush: to easily clean all the bottles after each use. Some liqueurs can be very sticky and stain easily like the walnut hull.
  8. If you want to give your liqueur an extra festive look you can also use the Rose Ice Cube Stackable to make rose ices or the ice cube with light to make your liqueur shine at night.
licorice liqueur served in small glasses

More homemade liqueurs recipes

Homemade liqueurs are such a satisfying project, enjoy them after dinner with your partner on a special day, offer them at the end of a dinner party or package them in fancy bottles as an edible gift.

I already have some published and more will come. Just be ready when the fruits are in season to start your collection:

  • limoncello
  • limoncello cream
  • chocolate liqueur
  • nocino
  • curacao
  • strawberry liqueur
  • Italian eggnog VOV
  • violet liqueur
  • blueberry liqueur

Check out the category: Homemade liquors

For those of you who like the thrill of the forbidden fruit, try to make Concord Grape Wine Fragolino.

Banned in Europe for commercial use, you can only try it if you make it for personal consumption.

If you are making this homemade Italian licorice liqueur, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

Licorice liqueur served in small glasses

📋 Homemade Italian Licorice Liqueur

Licorice liqueur is one of the most effective digestives Italians have to offer. In addition, it is the simplest liqueur to make and does not need months of brewing. Make it now and offer it the next day. The perfect edible gift!
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes minutes
Resting time 1 hour hour
⏲️Total Time 1 hour hour 23 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 bottles
Print Rate SaveSaved!
Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 cups caster sugar
  • 1 ½ cup licorice powder
  • 4 ¼ cups water
  • 2 cups 95% alcohol or vodka
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Equipment

  • Measuring mugs
  • Wooden Turner Set
  • All-Clad Sauce Pan 3-Quart
  • Auto Stop Funnel
  • Vintage Glass Bottles
  • Small liqueur glasses
Looking for kitchen gadget gifts?
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Instructions

Prepare the licorice

  • In a pan mix together the licorice and the sugar
    1 ½ cup licorice powder, 3 cups caster sugar
  • Gradually add the water stirring
    4 ¼ cups water
  • Once all the water is added, place the pan on medium heat and bring to boil, always stirring
  • Once it starts to boil, simmer for 15 minutes always stirring
  • Remove from the heat
  • Cover and let it come down to room temperature

Mix with the alcohol

  • Add the alcohol and stir
    2 cups 95% alcohol or vodka
  • Store in bottles
  • It can be served the next day at room temperature or cold

Video

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Notes

  • There are different types of licorice. For this recipe, I use the licorice extracted from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. You can find it on Amazon: affiliate link
  • While you are making the liqueur, keep stirring all the time.
  • Before adding the alcohol let it cool down completely
  • You can serve it cold, at room temperature, or warm if you are using it as a medical remedy

Nutrition

Calories: 1715kcal | Carbohydrates: 300g | Sodium: 31mg | Sugar: 299g | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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More Liquors

  • Blueberry Liqueur
    Italian Homemade Blueberry Liqueur Recipe
  • Italian Concord Grape Wine Fragolino Recipe
  • limoncello 3 bottles and full glasses
    Homemade Italian Limoncello Recipe
  • Orange liqueur
    Homemade Orange Liqueur Curacao Style
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela

    November 04, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    5 stars
    Really great info here. I had no idea how easy this would be to make.

    Reply
    • Laura

      November 05, 2020 at 4:36 am

      Thanks, yes very easy

      Reply
  2. Erika

    November 04, 2020 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    What a unique and amazing drink!

    Reply
    • Laura

      November 05, 2020 at 4:33 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  3. Michelle

    November 04, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    5 stars
    Omg. Your workshop looks so fun! I can't wait to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Laura

      November 05, 2020 at 4:32 am

      Thank you, I am sure you will enjoy it

      Reply
  4. Gina

    November 04, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    I've tasted this liquor many times over the holidays, how fun to make your own!

    Reply
    • Laura

      November 05, 2020 at 4:32 am

      Oh, I am sure you will be happy with your own homemade liqueur

      Reply
  5. Noelle Simpson

    November 04, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! I loved the flavors of this, great recipe!

    Reply
    • Laura

      November 05, 2020 at 4:31 am

      thank you

      Reply
  6. Dan Pitera

    March 06, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    Hello---
    Thank you so much for this website. Great things to try. I have a quick question about the Licorice Liqueur. My final product is much more of a brown than the rich darker color your images show. I used the same products from the links you provided and tried to be very precise with my measurements. I was wondering if perhaps my cooking time was off. It took a very long time to boil at a medium setting with the stove I was using. Do you have any suggestions. It also has a "sandy" consistency even though I tried filtering it. Thank you for any thoughts that you have.
    Dan---

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 07, 2021 at 6:50 am

      Hello Dan, I am sorry the results were not as expected. I get my licorice here in Italy directly from the producer based in Calabria. The licorice I linked on Amazon is the same type but I may be treated differently. Following your feedback I will unlink the product as it may be not suitable and will do some more research to find out more about the licorice sold in USA. However, it is very important to stir the licorice mix for 15 minutes while it is simmering as it has to completely melt.

      Reply
      • Patricia

        November 17, 2021 at 9:37 pm

        I had the same problem. The powder is a medium brown as is the mix and there is not a strong licorice flavor. I see that you still link to it. Do you have any US suggestions? Thank you,
        Patricia

        Reply
        • Laura

          November 18, 2021 at 5:05 am

          Sorry about that, I thought I canceled all the links. I couldn't find any other on Amazon so maybe try a local specialized shop

          Reply

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