Liqueur · Explainer
What is limoncello?
Limoncello is a liqueur of lemon peel, alcohol, sugar and water. Two Italian lemons carry a protected geographical indication: Limone di Sorrento, registered in 2000, and Limone Costa d’Amalfi, registered in 2001. The liqueur itself also has a protected name, Liquore di limone di Sorrento. In the Netherlands limoncello falls under spirits from 15 percent by volume. You serve it cold.
In brief
The key figures
| Base | lemon peel, alcohol, sugar and water |
|---|---|
| Limone di Sorrento | protected geographical indication, registered in 2000 |
| Limone Costa d'Amalfi | protected geographical indication, registered in 2001 |
| Liquore di limone di Sorrento | protected name for a spirit drink in the liqueur category |
| Alcohol content in Bathmen | 6 to 31 percent by volume |
| Dutch classification | strong drink from 15 percent by volume |
| Age limit | 18 jaar, NIX18 |
| Serving | cold, from the fridge or the freezer, in a small glass |
Which Italian lemons are protected?
Limone di Sorrento and Limone Costa d’Amalfi are listed as protected geographical indications in the European register, registered in 2000 and 2001.
A protected geographical indication links a name to an area of origin and to a fixed method of production. Lemons that do not come from that area may not bear the name.
Both names come from Campania: the Sorrento peninsula and the Amalfi coast. They are widely used for lemon liqueur, but the protection applies to the fruit.
Is the liqueur itself also protected?
Liquore di limone di Sorrento is protected in the European Union as a geographical indication for spirit drinks, in the category liqueur.
A bottle with that name must therefore comply with an established product specification. A bottle that is simply called limoncello does not have to: that word is not a protected designation.
On the label you can see the difference from the full name and from the European symbol for a protected designation.
How much alcohol is in limoncello?
In the range in Bathmen, limoncello runs from 6 to 31 percent by volume, and from 15 percent by volume it counts as spirits in the Netherlands.
Sterke drank mag alleen in een slijterij worden verkocht, aan wie 18 jaar of ouder is. NIX18 geldt onverkort, ook bij een fles die als cadeau meegaat.
The content is shown on the label with at most one decimal, measured at 20 degrees Celsius. That is what the European labelling rules prescribe.
How do you serve limoncello?
Limoncello is served cold in a small glass, straight from the fridge or freezer.
Chill the bottle a few hours beforehand. The custom is to pour a small glass after the meal, of about three to five centilitres.
An opened bottle is best kept closed and cool. We say nothing about taste on this page; for that you are welcome in the shop.
What do you get when you buy limoncello instead of making it yourself?
Buyers get a fixed alcohol content on the label, an ingredients list and an origin that can be verified on paper.
With a protected designation, it is fixed which area the lemons come from and how the liqueur is made. With a bottle without a protected name, the content is still stated, but the origin of the fruit is not.
If you are looking for a bottle from Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast, ask about it in Bathmen. We will walk through the shelf with you.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which limoncellos are in Bathmen?
In the shop in Bathmen there are 30 limoncellos from 24 different brands from 2 countries. Prices range from € 3.19 to € 27.99. The alcohol percentage ranges from 6% to 31%.
- Achterhoekse Geale Goud Limoncello 30% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Achterhoekse Limoncello Mals Maatje 29% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Battumse Limoncello likeur 25% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Bongiorno Limoncello 28% · 70 cl · Italy
- Botcello Citroen Gember Sinaasappel Botanische Limoncello 28% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Caffo Crema di Limoncello 17% · 50 cl · Italy
- DiGusti Limoncello 50 cl · Italy
- Francoli Limoncello Casta dei Limoni 25% · 70 cl · Italy
- IJsvogel Kanariepiet Limoncello 29% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Isolabella Limoncello 30% · 70 cl · Italy
Related questions
What is peppermint liqueur?What is cream liqueur?What is sambuca?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- Where does limoncello come from?
- From southern Italy. The lemons of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast have carried a protected geographical indication since 2000 and 2001.
- Is limoncello a spirit?
- Vanaf 15 volumeprocent wel. Dan geldt in Nederland verkoop vanaf 18 jaar, en NIX18 aan de kassa.
- How cold do you serve limoncello?
- Cold, from the fridge or the freezer, in a small glass of about three to five centilitres.
- What is limoncello made from?
- Made from lemon peel, alcohol, sugar and water.
- What does a protected geographical indication mean?
- Name and area of origin are laid down in a European register, with a product specification that the producer must adhere to.
The reasoning
Sources
- Verordening (EG) nr. 2446/2000, inschrijving van Limone di Sorrento, EUR-Lex (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Verordening (EG) nr. 1356/2001, inschrijving van Limone Costa d'Amalfi, EUR-Lex (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Liquore di limone di Sorrento, register van beschermde namen, GOV.UK (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Verordening (EU) nr. 1169/2011 betreffende de verstrekking van voedselinformatie aan consumenten, EUR-Lex (accessed 5 September 2026)
- Alcoholwet, Overheid.nl (accessed 2026-09-05)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine and spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 7 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.