There is something magical about Benevento.

For centuries, this ancient city in Southern Italy has been associated with legends of witches gathering beneath the mysterious walnut tree of Benevento for their nighttime rituals.

It is from this fascinating folklore that the famous Strega© liqueur takes its name.

Created in Benevento in 1860, Strega© is one of Italy’s most recognizable herbal liqueurs, traditionally made with a complex blend of herbs and spices.

The original formula remains proprietary, so this recipe is not intended to reproduce the authentic commercial liqueur.

Instead, it is a homemade herbal digestif inspired by its golden color, aromatic spices, Mediterranean herbs, and the wonderful legends of the witches of Benevento.

Golden, fragrant, slightly sweet, and wonderfully aromatic, this homemade “Liquore delle Streghe” makes a beautiful after-dinner drink and an unforgettable homemade gift.

About the Original Strega Liqueur

The original Strega© was created in Benevento in 1860 by Giuseppe Alberti.

According to the producer, it is made using approximately 70 different herbs and spices sourced from around the world.

Among the ingredients publicly associated with the liqueur are cinnamon, juniper, aromatic mint from the Sannio area, and precious saffron, which gives Strega© its characteristic golden-yellow color.

This homemade recipe uses a much simpler combination of herbs and spices to create an Italian herbal liqueur with a similar spirit and character, rather than attempting to duplicate the secret original recipe.

PRINT OR DOWNLOAD PDF OF THIS RECIPE HERE:

Homemade_Strega_Style_Liqueur_Recipe

Preparation Time

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Infusion Time: 10–15 days
• Resting Time: 3–4 weeks
• Total Time: About 5–6 weeks
• Yield: About 5 cups / 1.2 liters

Ingredients

For the Herbal Infusion

• 2 cups (500 ml) 190-proof food-grade alcohol

For U.S. readers: use Everclear 190 Proof (95% ABV) wherever it is legally available. It is the closest commonly available American equivalent to the 95% food-grade alcohol traditionally used for homemade Italian liqueurs.

If Everclear 190 is unavailable in your state, Everclear 151 Proof (75.5% ABV) can also be used, although the quantity of water should be adjusted if you want to maintain a similar final alcohol content.

• Peel of 1 untreated lemon
• Peel of ½ untreated orange
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon anise seeds
• 5–6 juniper berries, lightly crushed
• 4–5 fresh sage leaves
• 1 small rosemary sprig
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ vanilla bean, optional

For the Syrup

• 2 cups (500 ml) water
• 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon saffron threads, or 1 small packet good-quality saffron

How to Make Homemade Liquore delle Streghe

1. Prepare the Citrus

Wash and dry the lemon and orange thoroughly.

Using a vegetable peeler, remove thin strips of peel.

Try to leave behind as much of the white pith as possible because it can introduce excessive bitterness into the liqueur.

2. Prepare the Herbs and Spices

Place the lemon peel and orange peel into a large clean glass jar.

Add:

• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Fennel seeds
• Anise seeds
• Juniper berries
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Bay leaves
• Vanilla bean, if using

The combination creates a complex herbal aroma reminiscent of traditional Italian digestifs.

3. Add the Alcohol

Pour the 190-proof food-grade alcohol or Everclear over the herbs and spices.

Make sure everything is submerged.

Seal the jar tightly.

Place it in a cool, dark cupboard and allow the mixture to infuse for 10 to 15 days.

Gently shake the jar once every day.

You will gradually notice the alcohol taking on both color and aroma from the herbs and citrus peel.

4. Strain the Herbal Infusion

After 10–15 days, strain the alcohol through a fine-mesh strainer.

Discard all of the herbs, spices, and citrus peels.

Then filter the liquid again through:

• Cheesecloth,
• A very fine strainer, or
• A coffee filter.

This second filtration helps produce a beautifully clear finished liqueur.

5. Prepare the Simple Syrup

Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan.

Heat gently while stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.

There is no need for prolonged boiling.

Remove from the heat.

Allow the syrup to cool completely before mixing it with the alcohol.

Never add hot syrup directly to high-proof alcohol.

6. Add the Saffron

Once the syrup has cooled, add the saffron.

Allow it to infuse for approximately 10 minutes.

The syrup will gradually develop a beautiful golden-yellow color.

Saffron is also responsible for the distinctive yellow color of the original Strega.

7. Combine the Liqueur

Slowly pour the cooled saffron syrup into the filtered herbal alcohol.

Stir gently until completely combined.

At this stage, you should have a wonderfully aromatic golden liqueur.

8. Bottle the Liquore delle Streghe

Pour the liqueur into clean glass bottles.

Seal tightly.

For a truly homemade Italian look, simple clear bottles with cork stoppers work beautifully.

You can even add a small handwritten label reading:

Liquore delle Streghe – Fatto in Casa

9. Let It Rest

Now comes the most important ingredient: patience.

Leave the bottles in a cool, dark place for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

During this time, the alcohol becomes smoother and the individual herbal aromas begin to harmonize.

If you can wait 6–8 weeks, even better.

Nonna’s Tips

Don’t Overdo the Herbs

Rosemary, sage, bay leaf, and cloves can become extremely powerful when infused in alcohol.

Use small quantities.

You want complexity rather than one dominant flavor.

Use Good Saffron

Saffron contributes both aroma and the beautiful golden color traditionally associated with Strega©.

A little goes a long way.

Filter Twice

For a clear, elegant liqueur, filtering twice makes a noticeable difference.

Give It Time

Immediately after mixing, the alcohol may taste rather sharp.

After several weeks of resting, the flavors become softer, rounder, and much more integrated.

Make It Your Own

Italian families traditionally adapt homemade liqueurs to their own tastes.

You can experiment with very small quantities of:

• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Star anise
• Cardamom
• Coriander seeds
• Angelica root

Just remember that herbs become much more concentrated when steeped in high-proof alcohol.

Everclear 190 vs. Everclear 151

For American readers, Everclear 190 Proof (95% ABV) is essentially a direct substitute for Italian 95% food-grade alcohol.

Therefore, the recipe can be followed exactly as written.

If using Everclear 151 Proof (75.5% ABV), the liqueur will naturally have a lower final alcohol content if you use the same quantities.

For most home cooks, this is perfectly acceptable and produces a slightly softer drink.

If you want to reproduce a stronger Italian-style digestif, the amount of water in the syrup can be reduced.

How to Serve Liquore delle Streghe

Serve it:

• Slightly chilled
• At room temperature
• Over one large ice cube
• In a small cordial glass after dinner

It also works beautifully in desserts.

Try adding a spoonful to:

• Sponge cakes
• Pastry cream
• Ricotta fillings
• Tiramisu
• Zabaglione
• Fruit salads
• Ice cream

The authentic Strega© is likewise traditionally enjoyed neat, over ice, in cocktails, and in desserts.

Storage

Keep the bottles tightly closed in a cool, dark place.

Once matured, this type of high-alcohol homemade liqueur can generally be kept for many months.

For best aroma and flavor, protect it from:

• Direct sunlight
• Heat
• Frequent temperature changes

Nutrition Facts

Approximate values per 1 fl oz (30 ml) serving:

Nutritional values are approximate and will vary according to the alcohol used, final dilution, and quantity of sugar.