Limoncello liquor: what is it, how and with what to drink and how many degrees

Briefly about the drink

Limoncello is a popular Italian lemon liqueur. Mostly produced in southern Italy, in particular, on the Amalfi coast, on the islands of Capri, Ischia, Sicily, Sardinia.

The trick of the liquor is the infusion of lemon peel (not distillation), so limoncello contains a large amount of vitamin C. The drink also contains alcohol, water and sugar. The final stage of production is the emulsification of the drink in special machines.

Learn the recipe for limoncello liqueur.

Composition of limoncello

The extremely simple composition of the liqueur includes:

  1. Ripe lemons (preferably harvested in Campania or Sicily).

  2. Undiluted food grade grape alcohol.

  3. Sugar and environmentally friendly non-carbonated water.

At the same time, the production of the mentioned liquor is based on the process of infusion of alcohol on lemon peel. The result is a rather sweet drink with a spicy sourness. There is also a less strong Crema di Limoncello, in the manufacture of which water is replaced with milk or cream.

However, it is worth mentioning that most licensed producers of the drink add preservatives to keep it safe, and emulsifiers to give it spectacular transparency.

How many degrees in limoncello

In fact, the fortress of limoncello is not regulated by anyone. Technically, it can vary from 15 to 45 degrees. However, among the official producers of the drink there are unspoken norms of decency, according to which the alcohol content in store-bought drinks should be in the range of 25-32 degrees.

If you are interested in less strong options, then you should stop at Limoncello Pallini (26 degrees) or Limoncello Luxardo (27 degrees). If you prefer drinks more challenging, pay attention to brands: Limoncetta di Sorrento (31 degrees), Limoncello Villa Massa (30 degrees) and the like.

Limoncello expiration date

First of all, you need to keep in mind that this drink should be stored in the refrigerator. In this case, factory-made liquor is guaranteed not to lose its taste for more than a year. Homemade drinks, due to the absence of preservatives in them, are best consumed within 1-6 months. Moreover, the smaller their fortress, the sooner they need to be credited.

Popular Brands of Limoncello

  1. Caravella Limoncello

  2. Limoncello of Capri

  3. Villa Massa

  4. luxardo

  5. Limoncello Pallini

  6. Beautiful Green

  7. Lemoncello Toschi

  8. Limoncé

  9. Limoncello of Sicily – Russian

  10. Sorrento Nature

Curiously, the idea of ​​commercial production of this liquor easily crossed the ocean and is now being developed with great success in the United States. Very similar drinks are also made in the Republic of Malta and in the south of France.

How and with what to drink limoncello

Before serving, following the example of the Italians, the drink should be placed in the freezer for several hours (at the same time, from time to time it is worth making sure that it does not freeze). You also need to add elongated glasses befitting this liquor, up to 40 ml in volume (special chic, in this case, will be the use of small ceramic cups, beloved by the inhabitants of the Amalfi Coast).

Most often, chilled liquor in iced glasses is served as a digestif, drunk in small sips with the exhalation of aromatic vapors through the nose (in the vastness of Runet you can find recommendations for drinking a drink before a meal, however, in our opinion, in view of its very significant sweetness, do this not worth it). In addition, the mentioned liquor goes well with fruity and creamy desserts, as well as with dark chocolate. By the way, many recommend pouring ice cream on them.

This drink is also good in mix and cocktail combinations. In the case of mixes, orange juice, vermouth or champagne will be a suitable pair for it. Among the many corresponding cocktails, one can name: “48 drops”, “Tangerine dawn”, “Frosty afternoon” or, as an opposite, white lemon mulled wine.

Relevance: 12.07.2017

Tags: Liqueurs, Pourings, Liqueurs, Brands of liqueurs

Leave a Reply