Caravella Limoncello Liqueur
Caravella Limoncello is a 56 proof (28% ABV), 750mL Italian limoncello — the original, from the Sperone family recipe dating to 1898. Paolo Sperone created it from the sweet fresh juice and tart, earthy peels of lemons from Italy's Amalfi Coast, and Caravella markets it as the #1 limoncello in the United States. The pour is clear and pale yellow: candied lemon peel with delicate, subtle fresh-herb notes on the nose and palate, sweet up front, finishing clean and fresh with faint hints of celery and tarragon (Wine Enthusiast, via retailer). It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 28% (56 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Fruit: lemons from Italy's Amalfi Coast — sweet juice and tart earthy peels
- Recipe: Sperone family recipe dating to 1898
- Brand: Caravella — Sazerac Company's Italian brand; marketed as the #1 limoncello in the US
- Origin: Italy
The Original Limoncello
Caravella calls itself "the world's original Limoncello," and the Sperone family has the receipts: a recipe from 1898, built on Amalfi Coast lemons at a time when limoncello was still a local Campanian secret. The producer's recommended serve is the Limontini — one part limoncello to three parts vodka — a drink that lets the candied-lemon character lead without the sugar taking over. Serve it ice cold: neat as a digestivo after dinner, or in the spritz and martini variations that made the brand a fixture of American back bars. Browse more liqueurs and explore the Caravella collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Candied lemon peel with delicate, subtle fresh-herb notes (Wine Enthusiast, via retailer).
Palate: Sweet up front, clean and fresh, faint hints of celery and tarragon.
Finish: Clean, teasing herbal notes.
How to Enjoy
Ice cold, straight from the freezer — that is non-negotiable for limoncello. Try the producer's Limontini (1:3 with vodka) or a Limoncello Spritz with prosecco.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Caravella Limoncello?
56 proof (28% ABV) in the 750mL bottle.
What makes Caravella the "original" limoncello?
Producer copy traces the brand to Paolo Sperone's 1898 family recipe, marketed as the world's original limoncello and the #1 limoncello in the US.
Where are the lemons from?
Italy's Amalfi Coast, per the producer — both the sweet juice and the tart, earthy peels.
How should it be served?
Ice cold, neat as a digestivo — or in a Limontini (one part limoncello, three parts vodka).
America's best-known limoncello, Amalfi-born — get Caravella Limoncello delivered from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.