One of the nice things about writing a blog, particularly a blog about drinking, is that your friends are often inclined to not only give you suggestions about drink recipes, but may also bestow upon you gifts of booze sometimes. Our friend Randy from Santa Barbara, CA, who could be called one of the first DIY-ers (he brewed his own beer during college when everyone else was drinking Genesee Cream Ale), presented me with not one but two bottles of homemade hooch when we were out West visiting this June. One of the bottles is a liqueur called Nocino, which is made with unripe, green walnuts. The other was a bottle of homemade limoncello, which is probably a more familiar alcoholic beverage (at least it was to me- I had never heard of Nocino!).
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur made in Southern Italy, I have to admit, the few times I have tried a drink that included limoncello, it wasn’t love at first taste. To me, it tasted like lemon combined with dish soap. That’s the only way I can describe it. But maybe I just didn’t have the right combination of ingredients to bring out the desired flavor, because the recipe I created with Randy’s limoncello is delish- and not a hint of soap!
Here’s how to make it-
Raspberry Limoncello Sparkler
5-6 fresh raspberries
1 ½ oz each of raspberry rum and limoncello
Juice of one lime (about 2 oz if you don’t have fresh)
Prosecco or your champagne of choice (I used a split of Rondel)
Muddle raspberries in the bottom of a rocks glass (I used a fork, which worked great). Add ice, then pour in alcohols and squeeze in the lime juice. Top with 3 oz or so of your champagne and add a wedge of lemon or lime.
This cocktail has a wonderful full bodied taste and the berries and lemon combination works so well. The fresh lime lends the perfect amount of tartness and of course the champagne adds the bubbles and class.
If you are feeling inspired and crafty (and also have the time to zest 15 lemons), here’s a recipe for homemade limoncello. Otherwise, Total Wine carries several brands of limoncello, including two of the most popular, Pallini and Caravella. Either way, the Raspberry Limoncello Sparkler is a tasty way to enjoy this lemon liqueur, whether you’re a limoncello aficianado or trying it for the first time.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/homemade-limoncello-1236891
