# I bought some limoncello; now what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245 "2011-05-17T20:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/1 "2011-05-17T20:43:23Z")
I’m not really sure what possessed me to buy limoncello (lemon liqueur) except that a drink that I had and greatly enjoyed was composed of limoncello and tequila, and I was already buying tequila to make Tequila Sunrises, so, hey, why not throw some in there? So I’ve mixed the limoncello and tequila and floated a little cointreau on top; quite yummy. My limoncello is stored in the freezer, and last night, I sipped at a liqueur glass-full of it as I fixed dinner, also quite good. Any other ideas about what to do? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/2 "2011-05-17T21:24:05Z")
The only time I’ve had Lemoncello is as a digestif, and that was in Italy. We were staying at a small, very friendly family owned/operated hotel in Livorno, and over our (U.S.) Memorial Day, we did up a big U.S.-style BBQ and invited them to partake. In return, they invited us to Sunday dinner. Good Lord, it made a typical U.S. Thanksgiving feast look like a can of beanie-weenies! And they topped off the meal with Limoncello. So have yourself a _huge_ Italian meal, with aperitif, anitpasta, primi piata, secondi piata, lots of pane e burro, contorno, dolce, formaggio e frutta, and cafe. And when you’re about to burst, and have loosened your belt just so you can breathe, top it all off with some Limoncello! _Au salut!_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/3 "2011-05-17T21:31:45Z")
My wife sips it neat from the freezer. Just the thing on a hot summer evening. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/4 "2011-05-17T21:50:30Z")
Use it for cooking anything that you’d add lemon to. It’s basically sweetened lemon extract. You can make it yourself easily. Use a micro-grater to take off the zest of any lemons, limes, or oranges. Just the very outer colored part, the white stuff will be bitter. Steep the zest in grain alchohol if you can get it, or 100 proof or higher vodka in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks. Add water to reduce the proof to what you like, I go down to about 60 (30% alchohol), and sugar to sweeten to taste. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/5 "2011-05-17T23:20:57Z")
You’re already there – keep it in the freezer, sip it from a liqueur glass. Bonus points if the glass is icy cold, too. Marvelous on a warm night after a delightful meal. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/6 "2011-05-17T23:32:02Z")
It’s usually best chilled. Either serve it over ice, in a chilled glass, or both. I like it neat; I’m not sure what mixed drinks it’s used in. It might be good to add a shot or half-shot to a beer; I commonly add lime cordial to Hefeweizen. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/7 "2011-05-18T00:10:02Z")
I think it’s a bit too sweet on its own so I usually combine with some acid. Here are some way’s I’ve enjoyed it: On the rocks with a squeeze of lemon juice. Vodka, bit of blueberry syrup, limoncello, lemon juice. Vodka, limoncello, and orangina. The Steve Collins (my own invention): gin, limoncello, lemon juice, extra powdered sugar (optional), combine, top with soda water. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/8 "2011-05-18T01:01:50Z")
If you want to use it up, I don’t have a recipe handy, but I had limoncello cake with a lemony whipped cream topping that was divine. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/9 "2011-05-18T01:23:52Z")
Put it on your record player and wonder why all your friends from the '70s thought your taste in music sucks. Oh, that limoncello, not [Lemongello](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqhduumlgI). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/10 "2011-05-18T01:50:20Z")
Mix it with prosecco! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/11 "2011-05-18T02:04:59Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > Mix it with prosecco! Some good ideas here, but this one sounds particularly good! My daughter suggested mixing it with whipped-cream flavored vodka and making a “Lemon Meringue Pie” cocktail. Sounds pretty sweet, though. . . ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/12 "2011-05-18T02:25:04Z")
Whipped cream flavored vodka? What the fuck? Is that real? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/13 "2011-05-18T02:30:54Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > Whipped cream flavored vodka? What the fuck? Is that real? Yeah, it is. Tastes like a marshmallow. I’ve had it in mixed drinks that were OK. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/14 "2011-05-18T02:37:27Z")
I cannot articulate how bizarre and gross that sounds to me. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/15 "2011-05-18T02:55:56Z")
I’ve used it to make sorbets. The alcohol helps keep the ice crystals small, and gives a nice kick as an after dinner treat. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/16 "2011-05-18T03:04:12Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > I cannot articulate how bizarre and gross that sounds to me. The Whipped cream vodkas are great! I mix mine with Sunny Delight Smooth, or with diet root beer…but now I want limoncello to mix with it! My son drank the last bottle on the homemade limoncello I had…I want to buy a bottle to see if I even came close to what it should taste like. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/17 "2011-05-18T03:05:39Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > The Whipped cream vodkas are great! I mix mine with Sunny Delight Smooth, or with diet root beer. Whoa. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse… I have never heard of these whipped cream vodkas. (And, yes, I do understand the Orange Julius/root beer float thing you’re going for…just ain’t my bag.) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/18 "2011-05-18T04:07:58Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > The Whipped cream vodkas are great! I mix mine with Sunny Delight Smooth, or with diet root beer…but now I want limoncello to mix with it! My son drank the last bottle on the homemade limoncello I had…I want to buy a bottle to see if I even came close to what it should taste like. I just threw up a little in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/19 "2011-05-18T05:33:49Z")
Get drunk and use the bottle as Chasers to to a 12 of Tequiza? Maybe dump out three push ups ups into a blender, some ice, some mint, and at least an ounce and a half of limoncello, a pony of cointreu, maybe a touch of milk (or coconut milk)- a lemon, orange and maraschino side ride poured into a pina colada bubble and flute glass. A Mojito Push up. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245/20 "2011-05-18T07:12:31Z")
Could probably use sloe Gin and Angostura bitters with that Mojito coladA. cOCONUT MILK…maybe a shot of Sunny D. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-some-limoncello-now-what/582245.md?page=2)