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Drinks

Homemade Nocino, the Original Recipe

Perfect as a gift or as an after-dinner digestif, Homemade Nocino is a walnut liqueur surrounded by legendary charm. Let's discover together how to prepare it flawlessly!
Recipe Homemade Nocino, the Original Recipe
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 15 minutes
  • Servings for 1 bottle (approximately 750ml/25 fl oz)

The tradition of gifting Homemade Liqueurs is deeply rooted in Italian culture, with a wide variety of options available. Among these, Nocino, a Green Walnut Liqueur, stands out with its preparation shrouded in legend. According to tradition, the walnuts must be harvested with their green husk still intact, strictly by hand, on St. John’s Night (June 24th). The liqueur preparation follows, with different families adding their own choice of aromatics.

To prepare Homemade Nocino, it’s essential to have access to a walnut tree to harvest the green, unripe walnuts. It’s impossible to make Nocino with mature walnuts found in supermarkets. You’ll also need pure alcohol (neutral grain spirit, 190 proof/95%), sugar, and spices of your choice. The most commonly used are cloves and cinnamon, which perfectly complement the intense aroma of the green walnut husks.

If you’re interested in other Homemade Liqueurs, we recommend trying the White Chocolate Liqueur, the delicious Homemade Pistachio Liqueur, or the Nutellino, a Homemade Nutella Liqueur.

Ingredients for 1 bottle (approximately 750ml/25 fl oz)

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Method

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  1. To prepare homemade Nocino (Italian walnut liqueur), traditionally gather the walnuts on the night of June 24th (St. John’s Day) and leave them outside in a basket until the following morning.
  2. Clean them with a damp cloth and let them air dry for a few hours.
  3. Now move to the kitchen. Cut the walnuts into quarters with a firm cut and transfer them to a glass jar with a lid along with the sugar.
  4. Place it in the sun for three days, stirring once daily.
  5. Then add the cinnamon stick, cloves, and alcohol. Place it back outside in a warm place but not in direct sunlight and let it steep for 5 months. However, you must follow two precautions: first, bring it inside at night as temperature drops could compromise fermentation, and second, for the first two months, the jar must be opened daily to oxygenate the mixture.
  6. After 5 months, simply strain the liquid and distribute it into dark bottles.
  7. The homemade Nocino can be consumed immediately, but to fully appreciate its flavors, it’s recommended to age it for one year in a cool, dark place. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

You can flavor your Walnut Liqueur with additional spices such as Vanilla, Nutmeg, and Bay Leaves. Each region in Italy has its own traditional variation of this classic liqueur.

Tips

Making homemade Nocino (Italian Walnut Liqueur) requires time and dedication, but most importantly it needs green walnuts, which aren’t always easy to find. Traditionally, walnuts are harvested on June 24th (St. John’s Day) for the best results.

Storage

Homemade Nocino can be stored for years in dark glass bottles when kept in a cool, dark place. The liqueur actually improves with age, developing more complex flavors.

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