Limoncello.

[Visirale]

I was reminiscing on my travels to Europe last summer, and the memory of this wonderful beverage came back. I think I was at the bar in my hotel in Venice and we asked the bartender for a recommendation. She poured us the local special blend of Limoncello. It was delicious... not to mention pretty potent stuff. It reminds me of those delicious lemon cough drops, but better.

I was wondering if any other TB'ers had experience with this heavenly nectar. Does this stuff get imported to the states?

[fenderx55]

Originally Posted by Visirale

I was wondering if any other TB'ers had experience with this heavenly nectar. Does this stuff get imported to the states?

I'm pretty sure you can find it if you look. I've really only had either homemade stuff or bottles either I or my family has brought back, so my experience is mostly limited to grappa... which will knock you on your butt. But limoncello is def a tasty way to end a meal.

[scottice]

Had it... but not a fan. I am interested in finding some mixed concoctions to try it in though.

[BassManPatsFan]

Good stuff. My family has an almost full bottle in our fridge. I should "get rid of it" sometime soon.

I've seen Limoncello served at a few high end Italian restaurants in Boston with dessert. I don't think I've seen it sold in liquor stores, although I haven't really been looking for it.

p.s. I could be wrong, but I don't think you're supposed to mix it. I'm pretty sure the rotund Italian barman would probably smack you across the face if you tried.

[BartmanPDX]

I've got a bottle that's been sitting in my freezer for months and months.

We used to sell it at Beltramos liquor store in the Bay Area. We had around 5 or 6 different brands. Some were decent -- like a high-powered lemon drop, others were downright horrible -- nasty artificial lemon firewater.

We also used to have an old Italian guy come in once a year to buy everclear which he used to make his own from his own lemons.

I'd have to go look to see what the bottle is in my freezer, but it's one of the better ones.

Caravella is one brand that's available.

[kesslari]

Had some good Limoncello in Tuscany. Never tried it back in the US. It was just part of the vibe there.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Visirale

I was wondering if any other TB'ers had experience with this heavenly nectar. Does this stuff get imported to the states?

Two summers ago myself and both younger brothers (23 and 18 at the time) were all in Italy though only two of us at any given time. My youngest brother developed a real taste for the stuff, so much so that he threw out some clothes to make room in his suitcase for four large bottles of it. How he got back into the states with it (and without a single one breaking) I'll never know. I think it's okay. Personally, I enjoyed Vin Santo much more.

Here in Sacramento there is a large selection at Corti Brothers.

Originally Posted by fenderx55

I'm pretty sure you can find it if you look. I've really only had either homemade stuff or bottles either I or my family has brought back, so my experience is mostly limited to grappa... which will knock you on your butt. But limoncello is def a tasty way to end a meal.

At family gatherings we always know when things are going to get weird and/or funny. It's when the grappa comes out . . .

Originally Posted by BassManPatsFan

p.s. I could be wrong, but I don't think you're supposed to mix it. I'm pretty sure the rotund Italian barman would probably smack you across the face if you tried.

True, and it reminds me of another no-no. You don't ask for Parmesan cheese on your fish. In Venice I was enjoying a nice meal when an American at another table asked for some. The waitress refused and tried to explain but he insisted. So she went back to the kitchen and a few seconds later there's all this yelling and then we see a chef, knife still in hand being restrained by the other chefs as tries to move toward this customer, cursing him all the while.

Good stuff.

[baba]

I have a bottle in the freezer. Definitely available in the states now.

[MonetBass]

We were in Italy a few years ago in a town on lake Maggiore, and my wife's birthday happened to fall in there. At a restaurant on a hillside, after the limoncello, they brought out a limoncello CAKE for her. It was soaked in the stuff. And it was delicious.

+1 on the grappa. A baseball bat in a bottle.

[Hoover]

Some friends of ours who travel in Europe regularly brought a bottle back from Italy, so I got to try it for the first time just recently. Fabulous! They said it was made by this little old man whose shop was barely larger than a stall shower.

[fourstringdrums]

You can get them at the Olive Garden, but I don't know how good they are compared to those served in a real italian restaurant.

[TBird1958]

Love it! I *try* to keep a bottle in the freezer during Summer months.......

[Stondis]

I love it! It's the perfect digestif after stuffing yourself with a great Italian meal! You can get it in most Italian restaurants here (England) and in France but sometimes I've found that it isn't listed on the the drinks menu.

The Mrs and I ordered some (a glass each) when we were in Italy last year and the waiter put the bottle on the table (there was about 8 shots left in it) with two glasses... We thought this was strange but then I "worked it out" we were supposed to have it and give him a large tip...
So we did! But when he came back he was VERY angry! I don't get this "tipping" business!

[FreeSpirit]

this is for sure one of my favorite after dinner beverages. Limoncello and Grappa, once the bottle comes out after dinner you know the night is only just about to get started.

I make my own at home since the one I like isn't carried by the LCBO. I know that it is available across the US in liquor stores.

When I make it at home this is pretty much the recipie I use:

6 Ripe Lemons

2 1/2 Cups Vodka

2 1/2 Cups Sugar

2 Cups Water


Wash the lemons well. Carefully remove the peel only, cutting away as much of the white pith as possible. Put the rind in a sterilized glass jar with a lid, and pour the vodka over top. Cover, and place in the sun for 10 days. After 10 days, prepare a sugar syrup with the sugar and water. Bring them to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool. Filter the vodka and lemon peel, by pouring through cheesecloth. Mix with the syrup, and leave for about 10 days to mature. Place in the refrigerator or freezer before serving. This liqueur will keep for months.

Note: By placing in the freezer, then serving in chilled liqueur glasses, it is a refreshing summer after dinner drink. Try to use organically grown lemons to ensure the best results.

http://www.italianfoodforever.com/


You should also check out Nocino made with green walnuts.

[kydnav]

Limoncello is awesome. I have 2 bottles here at home right now and when I go to Italy this summer I'll make sure to bring more.
But a nice Lambrusco is also just as amazing

[pmaraziti]

Uhmmmm limoncello !!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you can try to buy Villa Massa one (available in Spain) , the best industrial limoncello I ever tried, but none beats the home made one (by the way the recipe is pretty simple... secrets in the lemons, they have to be good!)

[MakiSupaStar]

Can you mix it with Vodka?

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Can you mix it with Vodka?

I guess you could, but I wouldn't. It would just dilute the flavor and wouldn't add much alcohol since most limoncello is around 60 proof or so.

[spade2you]

My parents found it in Italy but kinda noted that the stuff in the states isn't quite as good, although certainly not bad. I tried some, but I'm not much of a liquor guy. The stuff I had seemed to have some recoil to it, but that could be me not drinking anything but beer for the last 4 years or so.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I guess you could, but I wouldn't. It would just dilute the flavor and wouldn't add much alcohol since most limoncello is around 60 proof or so.

Oh, I didn't know it was an alcoholic drink.