Limoncello

Sorrento's famed sweet lemony liqueur

Limoncello is made from steeping lemon zest in what is essentially grain alcohol and then adding tons of sugar. It is delicious, it is sweet, and it is best served out of the freezer in a shot glass than has also been in the freezer.

It has become the after-dinner drink of choice across Italy for those who can't stomach the far harsher grappa brandy (and, as such, is frequently offered to women after dinner—Italy is nothing if not gallantly traditional in a slightly—if well-intentionedly—misogynistic manner).

It is also freely available in Sorrento.

Limoncello shops in Sorrento

You can score free hits of limoncello from dueling shops on opposite corners of the intersection of Via S. Cesareo and Via degli Archi (the larger of the two is Limonoro, Via S. Cesareo 49–53, tel. +39-081-878-5348, www.limonoro.it).

Young employees at each sling plastic shots of the lemony liqueur to a chorus of "Please, to take a taste," and proclaiming "No problem, is included in price!" When a browser knocks a bottle off the shelf and it shatters.

The bottles themselves are a riot of shapes and sizes: globes, mermaids, sneakers, pagodas, grapes, anforas, male torsos, Pulcinellas, fluted columns, prancing ponies, the Italian "boot," violins, sailing ships, hearts, smiling suns and grinning quarter-moons, pineapples, beer barrels, and all sorts of geometric shapes.

And what's in them isn't just straight lemon liqueur. There's the even tastier crema di limoncello creamy variation, as well as alcoholic infusions of peach, walnuts, fennel, melon, mandarin orange, licorice, chocolate, and alloro (bay leaf). (Yeah, I've had that last one before, and believe me, there's a reason you've never heard of it.)

Also on hand: marmalades, scented honeys, olive oil, and the typical Neapolitan dessert baba al rhum (beignets soaked in sugared rum).

Limoncello tours near Sorrento

Limoncello Tour & Tasting: Magic Lemons of the Amalfi Coast

Do you love limoncello and would like to discover more about this celebrated after-dinner tipple? On this 3-hour private tour to the Le Bonta' del Capo restaurant on the Amalfi coast, you will learn everything about the famous liqueur starting from its origin that dates back to the 1400's. You will visit a typical terraced lemon grove that overlooks the deep blue Mediterranean sea, then head back to the restaurant where you will learn how to make limoncello...

Duration: 3 hours; Cost: $91 per person (trasnportation to Conca dei Marini not included)...

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Sorrento Farm Experience Including Tastings, Pizza Making and Limoncello

Discover the ins and outs of Italy’s classic culinary delights on this gastronomic tour from Sorrento. Go behind the scenes of a family-owned farm, cheese factory and pizza restaurant and enjoy hands-on demonstrations and tastings of freshly made products including lemonade, extra virgin olive oil on homemade bread and provolone cheese with salami and wine. Then, make your own Neapolitan pizza, followed by dessert, coffee and limoncello liqueur. Come with an appetite, as these tastings add up to a full meal...

Duration: 5 hours; Cost: $122 per person

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Sorrento Small-Group Food Walking Tour

Taste your way through the charming Italian city of Sorrento on this small-group food tour. On a leisurely walk with a local guide, visit eight popular local eateries, family-owned delis and markets to enjoy a wide range of generous tastings, all adding up to a satisfying lunch. Enjoy classic Italian specialties including gnocchi, panini, buffalo mozzarella, cured meats, Neapolitan pastries and gelato. Wash your tastings down with local beer, wine and limoncello...

Duration: 3 hours; Cost: $85 per person

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