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Fiore Winery, in northcentral Maryland, sells this .750 ml bottle of Limoncello for $25.
(Paul Vigna/The Wine Classroom)
One beverage I didn't get to open this past weekend was the Limoncello, and not because I didn't eat enough to require the lemon liqueur that's traditionally consumed in Italy as an after-dinner digestivo.
But knowing I have the bottle had me thinking how to store it and how to drink what's in it . . . eventually. Thanks to Eric Fiore from Fiore Winery in Pylkesville, Md., aboout a 20-minute ride from I-83 and the Mason-Dixon Line, here's are some answer to a few questions I directed to him.
How long will it keep? Once it's opened, is there a way to close it backup and keep it longer? Fiore Limoncello is a liqueur with a relatively high (28%) alcohol content. Accordingly, it can age unopened for years with little to no degradation in quality, however once opened we recommend consuming it within a year for maximum lemon flavor. Further, Fiore Limoncello is packaged with a hybrid cork/plastic capsule so it can be resealed to preserve the unconsumed portion between servings.
Does one store it in the refrigerator or freezer? Limoncello does not require refrigeration for long-term storage. However, as is the tradition along the Amalfi Coast, we highly recommend chilling Fiore Limoncello either in the refrigerator or preferably in the freezer for several hours prior to serving.
I assume someone can drink it with dessert or just sip it alone after a meal? Traditionally, Limoncello is served chilled as an after-dinner drink or as is commonly referred to in Italy as a "digestivo." We also recommend Fiore Limoncello as a preferred drink at co*cktail parties with any variety of hors d'oeuvres.
Do the Italians do anything else with it that the Americans don't? As mentioned earlier, Limoncello is typically served as a digestive and it is quite commonly offered after a large meal and is even complementary in Italian dining establishments. Many Italians can get quite fanatical about their family recipes some even taking them to the grave.
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