Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur made by steeping lemon zest in neutral spirit and sweetening it with sugar syrup. You serve it very cold in a small glass, on its own after a meal or as the lemon in a spritz. If you are looking for bottles near Westford, the liqueur section at CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd is the place to start.
What is limoncello?
Limoncello is a sweet, bright yellow liqueur that tastes strongly of lemon peel rather than lemon juice. It comes from southern Italy, and the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and the island of Capri are the places most often tied to it. Italians traditionally serve it at the end of a meal.
The flavor is the part people notice first. Because it is made from the zest, where the aromatic oils sit, you get perfume and lemon sweetness without much sourness. It is closer to lemon candy and lemon curd than to a glass of lemonade, with a clean spirit warmth underneath.
Most limoncello sits somewhere around 25 to 30 percent alcohol by volume, though bottles vary, so read the label. That puts it in the same general territory as many other liqueurs: stronger than wine, weaker than vodka or whiskey.
How is limoncello made?
The method is simple, which is part of why so many Italian families make their own. Lemon zest, with as little of the white pith as possible, goes into a neutral high-proof spirit and sits for days or weeks. The spirit pulls the oils out of the peel and turns a deep yellow.
The infused spirit is then mixed with a sugar syrup and diluted to drinking strength. Some producers let it rest again after blending so the flavors settle together.
The pith matters because it is bitter. A well-made limoncello avoids it, which is why the best bottles taste smooth and round instead of sharp. The lemons matter too. Varieties grown around the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento are prized for their thick, fragrant skins, and some labels will name them.
It is normal for limoncello to look slightly cloudy. Some producers add water that makes the liqueur louche, and that is not a flaw.
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How do you drink limoncello?
The classic way is straight and cold. Keep the bottle in the freezer, pour a small measure into a small chilled glass, and sip it slowly after dinner. At that strength and with that much sugar it will not freeze solid, but it turns thick and silky, which is exactly what you want.
A small glass is the point. Limoncello is sweet and concentrated, so a little goes a long way, and it is meant to be a slow end to a meal rather than something you pour freely.
If you prefer it less sweet or less strong, serve it over ice with a splash of cold water. Some people add a strip of lemon peel to the glass for aroma. Both are fine, and there is no wrong way as long as it is cold.
What can you mix with limoncello?
Limoncello works well in simple drinks because it brings its own sweetness and lemon flavor. The easiest is a spritz: pour limoncello over ice, top it with chilled sparkling wine and a splash of soda, and finish with a sprig of mint or a lemon slice. If you want a bottle for that, browse our sparkling wine section, or look at something like NICOLAS FEUILLATT Reserve Brut Champagne for a special occasion.
For a longer drink, combine limoncello with plain vodka and cold soda water or lemonade over ice. Tito's Vodka is a clean choice here because it lets the lemon come through. Our vodka page has more to look through.
You can also pour a little limoncello over vanilla ice cream, a slice of olive oil cake or fresh berries. For drinks, you can browse our mixers section for something to top it with.
Keep the proportions modest. Because limoncello is sweet, one part liqueur to two or three parts sparkling wine or soda is a good starting point, and you can adjust from there.
What food goes with limoncello?
Lemon and sugar pair naturally with desserts. Almond biscotti, shortbread, lemon tart, pound cake and panna cotta are all easy matches, and a small glass beside a plate of fruit and cheese works as well.
It also suits rich meals. After a heavy pasta, a roast or a fried seafood dinner, the cold lemon flavor feels refreshing and ends the meal on a bright note.
If you are hosting, pour it in small glasses at the table after dessert and keep the bottle in the freezer until you need it. It is an easy finish that needs no preparation.
How should you store limoncello?
Keep an unopened bottle somewhere cool and dark, away from heat and direct sunlight, which can fade the color and dull the flavor over time.
Once opened, the freezer is the best home for it. Cold keeps the lemon aroma fresh and means the bottle is ready to pour. The fridge works too if freezer space is tight, though you will want to chill the glasses.
Screw the cap on tightly after each use. Lemon liqueurs can lose their freshness with time and air, so a bottle you finish in a reasonable stretch will taste better than one left open for a long time.
Cream versions, sometimes sold as crema di limoncello, are a different product. Check the label for storage directions, because those are usually meant to be kept cold.
What should you look for when buying a bottle?
Start with the label. Look for the words lemon zest or lemon peel, and for the alcohol content, which tells you how strong it will taste. A shorter ingredient list is usually a good sign, since the style is traditionally just lemon, spirit, sugar and water.
Color is a clue but not a guarantee. A natural yellow, from pale to deep, is expected, while a neon shade may suggest added coloring. Cloudiness is normal, as covered above.
Pick a bottle size to match how you will use it. A small bottle suits a one-off dinner party or a recipe, while a larger bottle makes sense if you plan to mix spritzes through a gathering.
To see what is on the shelf, check our liqueur page. Stock changes, and that page shows what is in now.
Where can you get limoncello near Westford?
CBC Liquors is at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours.
We also deliver, and delivery hours run slightly shorter: Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The delivery areas page lists the towns, including Chelmsford.
We also serve customers in Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. Our Google rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 339 reviews.
The store carries 4,617 products across 1,892 brands, so if you are putting a menu together, you can pick up the sparkling wine, vodka and mixers in the same visit.
Common questions
Is limoncello served hot or cold?
Cold. Keep the bottle in the freezer and pour it into a small chilled glass. It will not freeze solid at its usual strength.
How strong is limoncello?
Most bottles fall around 25 to 30 percent alcohol by volume, but it varies by producer, so check the label.
Is limoncello made from lemon juice?
No. It is made from lemon zest steeped in neutral spirit, then sweetened with sugar syrup. That is why it tastes of lemon oil and peel rather than sour juice.
What is a good first cocktail with limoncello?
A limoncello spritz: limoncello over ice, topped with chilled sparkling wine and a splash of soda, with a lemon slice or mint.
Does CBC Liquors have limoncello in stock?
Stock changes from day to day. Our Liqueur page shows what is in now, and you can also call or visit us at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford.
