Pallini Limoncello
Pallini Limoncello is a brand of traditional Italian lemon-flavored liqueur known as limoncello. It is produced by Pallini S.p.A., a family-owned and operated beverage company based in Rome, Italy. It is 26% alcohol by volume, 52 proof. The limoncello was introduced in 1999, and is based on a 100-year-old Pallini family recipe. It is imported and distributed in the US by Castle Brands Inc (New York, NY). Company history. Nicola Pallini (b. 1851) was a prominent merchant in Antrodoco, a town in the Abruzzi region of Italy. His businesses included coal imports, banking , chestnut farms, and general stores, for which he produced wine and various cordials. In 1922, the family moved the business to Rome. There it expanded its liquor production, finding success with Mistra', an anise-based liqueur. This is where they began producing handcrafted Romana Sambuca. In 1962, they moved the company out of the centre of Rome to a larger, modern facility, where it remains today. Living in New York in the 1970s, Virgilio Pallini Jr (current President) negotiated distribution in the US. Romana, as well as Disaronno and Galliano, penetrated the US market. Today the brand is owned by  Diageo, but Pallini remains the exclusive producer. In 1999, the Pallini family introduced Pallini Limoncello, based on a traditional family recipe. Two more flavors, Pallini Raspicello and Pallini Peachello were also put into production. After 10 years Pallini Limoncello is the no. 1 premium Limoncello brand in the world and is distributed worldwide. Production. Pallini Limoncello is made using sfusato lemons grown on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. The lemons arrived on the coast hundreds of years ago, carried by sailors from the Middle East. They have low acid levels and a delicate flavor, as well as a thick peel , which make them ideal for the production of limoncello. The lemons are handpicked, peeled and shipped to the production facility in Rome, where the lemon zest is steeped in neutral alcohol derived from sugar beets, making it the most suitable for liquors. This infusion process releases the oils in the zest into the alcohol, which imparts the lemon flavor. Beet sugar and E102 (Yellow 5) is then added to the infused alcohol, and it is bottled and shipped worldwide. Recent Reviews. In 2012, Pallini Limoncello received a 92 from the Beverage Tasting Institute, as well as a 91 from the  Ultimate Spirits Challenge, in which the brand was "highly recommended." The brand also received a rating of 90-95 from Wine Enthusiast in 2005. Pallini Raspicello received a rating of 92 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2012, while Pallini Peachello received a rating of 90 points.