May 2023 DIY Recipe: Homemade Nocino

Nocino is a traditional Italian liqueur that is made from green walnuts, sugar, and spices believed to date back to at least the Middle Ages. 

The recipe for Nocino can vary widely depending on the region and the preferences of the individual maker, but it involves steeping green walnuts in alcohol along with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel. After several weeks of steeping, the resulting liqueur is strained and bottled.

Nocino is typically dark brown in color and has a rich, complex flavor that is both sweet and bitter (sometimes likened to Jaegermister or black jelly beans). It is often served chilled or at room temperature and can be enjoyed on its own or used as an ingredient in cocktails and other drinks.

Green walnuts are hard to come by so finding a friend or relative with an English or Black Walnut tree is your best bet. To collect walnuts for making Nocino, you should look for unripe walnuts that are still green and have not yet developed a hard shell. The best time to collect green walnuts is in early summer, usually from late May to mid-June (the older they get the harder to cut they will be). You can use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the walnuts from the tree, then rinse them in cold water and pat them dry before using them in your recipe.

Wear gloves when handling green walnuts, as they can stain your skin and clothing!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED         

• • • 30-35 green walnuts, halved
      
      
    • 64 oz Mason jar
      
      
    • 32 oz of Organic Alcohol (we used Cane)
      
      
    • 16 oz distilled water
      
      
    • 3-4 cups of sugar
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    • 1 cinnamon stick
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    • 5 cloves
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    • 1 orange peel (can use lemon peel)
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    • 1 vanilla bean

WHAT YOU'LL DO

1. 1. 1. Rinse the walnuts in cold water and pat them dry
         
         
      2. Cut the walnuts in half and place them in a large glass jar
         
         
      3. Add the alcohol and distilled water together in a separate container, stir together
         
         
      4. Add *diluted alcohol to the jar, making sure that the walnuts are completely covered (you may not use all the alcohol mixture depending on the size of the walnuts)
         
         
      5. Add the sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, orange/lemon peel, and vanilla bean to the jar
         
         
      6. Close the jar tightly and shake it well
         
         
      7. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for at least 40 days, agitating it occasionally
         
         
      8. After 40 days, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth or coffee filter
         
         
      9. Bottle the Nocino and store it in a cool, dark place. Nocino can be kept for up to 1 year
      
      
      

      *To dilute 95% abv organic alcohol to approx. 67% abv, use 2 parts alcohol to 1 part distilled water (this recipe is a 1/3 ratio, enjoy responsibly!)

LOOKING FOR SOME COCKTAIL RECIPES FOR YOUR HOMEMADE NOCINO?

Nocino Sour

Combine 1 1/2 oz Nocino, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, and 1 egg white in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a dash of bitters and a lemon twist if desired.

Nocino Manhattan

Combine 2 oz rye whiskey, 1 oz nocino, and 2 dashes of bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir well and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry if desired.

Need Alcohol?