Staibano limoncello review

It is impossible to talk about the Staibano brand without diving head first into its romantic origins, without indulging in tales of an almost Gatsby-like figure with a penchant for distilling the finest liqueurs on the Amalfi coast.

This Gatsby-like figure is Don Vincenzo Staibano, the great grandfather of Cesco Amodio – the Londoner who founded Staibano Ltd in 2015. Don Vincenzo was born and raised on the Amalfi Coast and spent much of his life cultivating his lemon groves.

In 1932 Don Vincenzo formulated the recipes for his Amalfi Smooth (a creamcello) and his limoncello and they went down a storm in the local area.

In 2015 Cesco Amodio decided to share the family tipple with the world, he founded Staibano Ltd and set about recreating his great grandfather’s much-adored libations. Of course, producing anywhere other than Amalfi was never up for negotiation.

Is it more expensive? Sure. Can you taste the difference? Absolutely. Staibano struck a deal with the much revered citrus experts at Terra di Limoni; in batches of 1512 this company fills, caps and labels each bottle by hand.

One of the key selling points of Staibano’s limoncello is the I.G.P. (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) label emblazoned on each bottle, which certifies that only the best Amalfi lemons have been used in production.

On the nose the Staibano limoncello is full of lemon wax and oils. The palate is packed with lemon zest and juice, it is sweet without a hint of bitterness but not at all saccharine.

The mouthfeel is refreshing, uncomplicated and doesn’t linger too long, making the liqueur incredibly moreish.

The perfect pour

Enjoy fresh out of the freezer over ice. If you want to stretch this one out a touch, then try the Staibano limoncello with ginger ale for that added kick of refreshment.

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This review was last updated in August 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at [email protected].