Don Ciccio Limoncello-Artisanal Lemon Liqueur 750ml

Don Ciccio & Figli's story begins in 1883, when Vincenzo "N'gioletto" Amodeo started distilling amari and liqueurs in the town of Atrani on Italy's Amalfi Coast. The family kept the still running through wars and hardship for nearly a century, until a 1980 earthquake destroyed both the distillery and the lemon groves that supplied it. Vincenzo's great-grandson Francesco brought the recipes to Washington, D.C., relaunching the family business there in 2012 after decades of dormancy.

Limoncello is the distillery's flagship liqueur, based on a family recipe dating to 1947 that was developed in the years just after the war. It's made using the peels of about six lemons per bottle, infused into a base spirit and combined with natural sugar and water, with no added coloring, stabilizers, or artificial flavoring. That base spirit starts at 50 proof, giving the finished limoncello a moderate 25% ABV, a level chosen to let the fresh lemon character come through without being overwhelmed by alcohol.

The liqueur has a rich, full mouthfeel rather than a thin, syrupy one, carrying strong natural lemon aromatics from the first sip. The flavor stays true to fresh lemon peel rather than tasting artificially candied, finishing bright and zesty. It's best served well chilled, straight from the freezer, either on its own after a meal or as a base for citrus-forward cocktails.