Hello, Limoncello
Hello, my citrusy , boozy friend that looks like summer sunshine in a glass.
Have you made the acquaintance of everyone else out there? Allow me to make the introductions.
Everyone: Say “hello” or rather “hellocello” to Limoncello di Sonoma, which landed in my mail box recently as a sample.
This traditional, artisan Italian liqueur is home-grown from Sonoma. It’s made from organic lemons, organic agave syrup, and grappa.
My limoncello buddy, a strapping 31 percent alcohol by volume, lives for the cold. Keep him in the freezer. Pour a little into a glass straight, over ice or mixed into cocktails.
I found him quite bright and smooth, with a noticeable syrupy sweetness that a gal just can’t resist.
Besides an almost creamy-dreamy look, there’s a subtle bitter rind taste, and a moderate burn at the back of the throat to keep things interesting.
If you’d like to get to know Limoncello di Sonoma, yourself, just take a trip to select Whole Foods, K&L Wine Merchants or Beltramo’s in Menlo Park.
Just don’t be offended that that this friendship does come at a price: about $24.99 per 375ml bottle.
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Friday, 3. September 2010 5:33
I love to make drinks with Limoncello. This one looks delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Friday, 3. September 2010 7:37
My sister loves limoncello. It’s been many years since I had some at her house…
Friday, 3. September 2010 8:39
I just picked up some Italian limoncello on tax free day. I got both the creamy and non-creamy. Having never had limoncello, I was actually expecting something a bit more tart, and was surprised at how the bitterness of a lemon was more pronounced. Still, a great drink and wonderful thing to enjoy in the summertime.
Friday, 3. September 2010 8:45
Oh, I know limoncello well. An old friend, in fact. I’m going to stick it in the freezer after reading this though!
Friday, 3. September 2010 9:48
Sounds yummy. The 1st time I tried this, a waiter in Florence was trying to get us drunk with it. It was not a quality one so we tossed it on the bushes, LOL.
Friday, 3. September 2010 13:33
ahhh yes the colder the better. this is such a good cocktail on those hot summer evenings.
Friday, 3. September 2010 14:14
I love limoncello and bought the Sonoma version this past April. It is good, but I find it a little sweeter than the Italian versions I have brought home from Europe, but when you can’t get that, this is an excellent substitute!
Friday, 3. September 2010 16:44
This sounds delightful. Lucky you with the free sample! I’ll look for this next time I’m at WF.
Friday, 3. September 2010 17:05
wow this is interesting! I was just thinking of doing a cocktail coverage next week! this can be real interesting but we don’t get this limoncello here!
Friday, 3. September 2010 17:34
Carolyn, I would buy it just for the packaging and the creamy pastel yellow colour!
Friday, 3. September 2010 19:13
A delightful drink for sure!
Saturday, 4. September 2010 4:56
Limoncello is INTENSE. But really tasty. It’s one of my favorite liquors for sure.
Saturday, 4. September 2010 13:00
Well, I keep looking but no $25 limoncello bottles are in my mailbox so today, I am making my own. The Meyer lemon tree is full of fruit, so time to get out the microplane!
I also plan to mke Foodgal’s Meyer Lemon and Vanilla Bean Marmalade .
Sunday, 5. September 2010 5:57
I so much love limoncello. I even made it a few times myself. I also had a post about it. Here is the link if you want to see & make your own. Once you made your own, you don’t look back,..
Great as food gifts too!
http://sophiesfoodiefiles.blogspot.com/2009/10/home-made-limoncello-recipe-using-it.html
Sunday, 5. September 2010 18:20
Never heard of Limocello… It sounds amazing.
Sunday, 5. September 2010 20:36
I had never heard of Limoncello until your post. I clicked through all your links and did other research on-line. Really interesting. Now I may have to buy some to see what it really tastes like. Thanks for the idea.
Monday, 6. September 2010 1:02
I first read about Limoncello when Danny deVito mentioned that this drink is a MUST when one visits Italy.. and now i’m seeing it here!
It sounds absoultely like my kinda drink!
Monday, 6. September 2010 9:52
As threatened, I have some limoncello brewing right now. And the makings of the Foodgal Meyer Lemon and Vanilla Bean Marmalade are cooling on the stove this moment!
It was interesting surveying the limoncello recipes around the web. The quantities were more consistent than most recipe surveys but the times varied all over! Some said to let it soak for a day, some for two weeks and one source said two months!
Monday, 6. September 2010 15:44
Oh hello indeed, what a tribute to the bounty of the season. I have various bottles in our fridge to handle any and all sorts of emergencies. Critical and very necessary.
Monday, 6. September 2010 19:04
How does it compare to your Buddhacello?
Monday, 6. September 2010 22:42
Ooh you’ve just reminded me to try the one I got here! How silly of me to forget!
Tuesday, 7. September 2010 18:41
What a gorgeous drink
Tuesday, 7. September 2010 19:32
Oh holy yum! I have a recipe hanging on my fridge to make, but never found enough lemons that were not bruised/green/ucky looking to use the rinds. I have only found one kind here in MN and haven’t brought myself to pay the $$ it costs, but love it in Italian restaurants. I need an excuse to come to CA…..
Thursday, 16. September 2010 14:15
Have you tried making it at home? I’ve done made Limoncello with vodka and didn’t end up tinkering with it because it came out pretty good on the first attempt. I am going to be making more later this year and have plans to build a few different batches with slightly different attributes to see what works best.
I don’t think I have ever had a commercial version, although with friends who make it in addition to my own stocks I guess I am not looking either.
Jason