We were clearing up the house after taking down all the Christmas decorations and we came across this mysterious bottle.

Okay okay… I say “mysterious” but actually, as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what it was.

Sometime in the last few years mum made some limoncello with vodka and lemon rind then left it to season. Obviously we forgot about it and it even managed to accompany us undetected through a house-move. I’m not quite sure how this happened but there you go.

So obviously I wanted to (a) taste it and (b) use it in martini form somehow.

A few years back a man in Beirut told me he liked to add a teaspoon or two of limoncello to his martinis to give them a nice, citrusy note.

So that’s what I did.

I chucked the limoncello into the freezer for a few hours, although note that some limoncellos might freeze. Mum’s was suitably alcoholic that it did not.

Add one teaspoon to a normal martini (the standard recipe is here) and stir it with your piece of lemon peel. Serve.

It adds a nice lemon aftertaste but is a little sweet, so consider using less vermouth than normal if you want to try this out.

It’s also worth noting that this makes an excellent substitute if you find yourself without any fresh lemons. Remember – these are crucial for making a standard martini (unless you’re having it dirty or you’ve got a very good or distinctive gin to taste). A teaspoon of limoncello might be a nicer to impart a lemon flavour than using a dab of lemon oil which I sometimes resort to.

The limoncello also goes very nicely added to a gin and tonic (with a 50:50 gin:limoncello ratio).

So act now: buy some limoncello, make your own, or give your house a spring clean. You never know what alcoholic delights might be gathering dust in a corner.

If you’re moving house be especially sure to check for rogue bottles. You wouldn’t want the next occupants to enjoy it at your expense.