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Mint Rosolio in a glass bottle

Mint Rosolio: A Refreshing Sicilian Liqueur

Discover Sicilian mint rosolio — a fragrant, refreshing homemade liqueur traditionally shared during celebrations.

Author: Nino Messina Published on: June 1, 2020
⏱️
Prep Time
20 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
10 minutes
👥
Serve
Makes several servings
📊
Difficulty
Easy
💰 Low
🗓️ All year round
4.8/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 50 fresh mint leaves
  • 400 ml neutral alcohol (90°)
  • Zest of 1 lemon (yellow part only)
  • 400 g caster sugar
  • 800 ml water

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
100 kcal per 30 ml
Carbohydrates
15 g
Sugars
15 g

Mint rosolio is one of those traditional Sicilian liqueurs that instantly evokes long summer evenings, shared toasts and family celebrations.
With its delicate mint aroma and gentle sweetness, this homemade liqueur once played an essential role in weddings, christenings and festive gatherings across the island.

Its name comes from the Latin ros soli — “dew of the sun” — a beautifully poetic nod to the light, refreshing nature of this drink.
Low in alcohol and wonderfully fragrant, mint rosolio is perfect served well chilled after a generous meal, or sipped slowly on a warm evening when you fancy something cool and aromatic.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Gently clean the mint leaves with a damp cloth and place them in a jar with the alcohol and lemon zest.

  2. 2

    Seal the jar and leave to macerate for three days.

  3. 3

    Prepare a syrup by dissolving the sugar in 800 ml of hot water; leave to cool until lukewarm.

  4. 4

    Combine the syrup with the filtered maceration liquid.

  5. 5

    Seal the container and let the mixture rest for one month.

  6. 6

    Filter again, then bottle the liqueur.

  7. 7

    Serve the mint rosolio well chilled to enhance its fragrance.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a deeper herbal aroma, add a couple of basil leaves during maceration.
If you prefer a sweeter liqueur, simply increase the sugar slightly when preparing the syrup.

📦 Storage

  • Store in a cool, dark place.
  • Bottled rosolio will keep for several months.
  • Always serve well chilled for the best flavour.

🍷 Pairing

Mint rosolio is wonderful on its own but also pairs beautifully with lemon-based desserts or simple almond biscuits after dinner.

Thank you for preparing this traditional Sicilian liqueur. I hope your homemade mint rosolio brings a little island sunshine into your home. Cheers!

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