Homemade Greek Orange-Cinnamon Liqueur

Making your own homemade, liqueur is so easy, and it tastes like little drops of heaven! Here is an original, healthy recipe, with all-natural ingredients for your dinner table.

I wanted to create a distinctly Greek liqueur, so I asked for the help of my friend Greg who is a professional mixologist/bartender here in Greece, and we came up with this recipe.

Since we wanted this version to be Greek, we used Tsipouro as a base (Greek Grappa). We also added some Krokus which is Greek saffron. Krokos is incredibly nutritious, it has a unique, elegant taste and it will add a deep, velvety bordeaux color to your liquor, which is perfect for the Holidays!

Tsipouro is a traditional Greek spirit that’s produced in Greece since the 14th century. Some say it dates back earlier than that to ancient times. Made from the pomace (the residue of the wine press) or grape pulp after the grapes and juice have been separated. It has a herbal flavor, and in Greece, during the winter months, we mix it with honey or agave syrup and enjoy it throughout the winter as a hot drink.

What you will need:

• 1lt mason jar
• 1lt of Tsipouro. If you can’t find Greek Tsipouro, replace with Italian Grappa or Vodka

• 250gr of unprocessed brown sugar or agave syrup
• 50ml of water to dilute the alcohol levels
• 5-6 cinnamon sticks, crushed in half to maximize the aromas and flavors
• Peels from 2 oranges. Wash your fruit well, and cut only the skin in very thin peels, avoiding the white, inner layer which has a bitter flavor.
• 4-5 cloves
• 1-2 lime peels (washed and peeled very thin)
• 0,5 to 1gr of Krokus Koazanis. Krokus is a spice like saffron produced in Greece from the flower of the Krocus plant (Crocus sativus). Considered the most expensive spice in the world, its use goes back to the Minoan era of Greece (3000 BC) where it was utilized for its aroma in food and perfumery, for pharmaceutical purposes, as an aphrodisiac, and for coloring.

Click here to buy Krocus from Amazon US

Click here to buy Krocus from Amazon UK

Preparation:

Add all the ingredients in the jar, in any order you prefer, pouring the vodka and water last. Shake for a few seconds so the whole mix infuses into one and then leave the jar in a shady place in your home, that is not too warm or too cold. Room temperature is ideal.

Remember to shake it once or twice a week. That helps the sugar dissolve faster.

After 30 days of seeping, your liquor is ready! All you need to do is strain the ingredients with a coffee filter or strainer. You can leave some ingredients in the mix, like some cinnamon or cloves. It will make your liquor look extra special and give it a beautiful, homemade, festive feeling.

Click here for my original Strawberry-Pomegranate homemade liqueur