Our Cocktail Deeva loves limoncello—especially her homemade version! A bottle makes a great gift, and you can adjust the flavour to your liking.

10 lemons
1 750-mL bottle vodka
3 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar

1. Peel lemons with a vegetable peeler. Reserve lemons and set aside. Place lemon peels in a 2-L pitcher. Pour vodka over peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep lemon peels in vodka for 4 days at room temperature.
2. Stir water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Cool completely. Pour simple syrup over vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight.
3. Strain limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard peels. Transfer limoncello to bottles. Seal bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.

Cocktail Deeva (a.k.a. Dee Brun) is a cocktail stylist, writer, wife and mother of four but when she grows up, she wants to be Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Her motto: "Life is short, so be sure to wear fabulous heels. After all, it's all about a great cocktail and a killer pair of shoes!"