Villa Massa
Limoncello made from lemons from Sorrento, served ice-cold from the freezer or in a spritz. Everything about the taste, the types, how to drink it and the right glass to use.
Limoncello as they make it in Sorrento
Villa Massa is a limoncello from the Sorrento Peninsula, south of Naples. The Massa family makes the liqueur according to a family recipe from 1890: the peel of Sorrento lemons, known for their thick, oil-rich peel, is infused in alcohol until all the lemon oil has been extracted, after which sugar water is added. No colouring, no flavouring: the yellow colour comes purely from the peel. The brand was founded in 1991 and now belongs to the Spanish Zamora Company, also the maker of Licor 43.
At 30% alcohol, Villa Massa is stronger than many supermarket limoncellos, but its sweetness and fresh lemon make it smooth. In Italy, it is drunk ice-cold as a digestif; in the Netherlands, the Limoncello Spritz has become at least as popular in recent years. In addition to limoncello, Villa Massa also makes an amaretto from Sicilian almonds.
In brief
What types of Villa Massa are there?
Villa Massa Limoncello
The original: bright yellow limoncello made from Sorrento lemons. Fresh, sweet and full of lemon oil. Store in the freezer.
Villa Massa Limoncello 50 cl
The same limoncello in a smaller bottle. Handy if you mainly serve it as a digestif.
Limoncello gift set
The 70 cl bottle in gift packaging. The classic Italian gift for anyone who loves lemon.
Villa Massa Amaretto
Almond liqueur made from authentic Sicilian almonds. Intense, sweet and smooth, with a long almond finish.
Limoncello for summer and after a meal; Amaretto for the sour and winter.
Fresh, sweet, and pure lemon
Fresh lemon peel
Intense, fresh lemon peel, as if you have just grated a lemon. No artificial notes.
Sweet and creamy
Sweet and full, with an oily roundness from the peel and the freshness of lemon juice. Slightly syrupy when ice-cold.
Long and fresh
A long, fresh finish of lemon with a slight bitterness from the peel. Cleanses the palate after a meal.
Flavor profile of Villa Massa Limoncello ice-cold. In a spritz, it becomes lighter and drier.
Three ways to drink Villa Massa
Limoncello is served ice-cold. Put the bottle in the freezer: because of the sugar and alcohol, it will not freeze, but becomes deliciously syrupy.
Ice-cold neat, after a meal
Pour 3 to 4 cl from the freezer into a small, chilled liqueur glass. Sip slowly as a digestif. That’s how they do it in Sorrento.
Glass: liqueur glass →Limoncello Spritz
50 ml limoncello, 75 ml prosecco, and a splash of soda in a wine glass filled with ice, with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. Fresher and lighter than an Aperol Spritz.
Go to the recipe →Limoncello tonic
50 ml limoncello with 150 ml tonic in a highball glass filled with ice and a lemon slice. Dry, bittersweet, and surprisingly good as an aperitif.
Glass: highball glass →The best cocktails with Villa Massa
Limoncello Spritz
Limoncello, prosecco, and soda over ice. The quintessential Italian summer cocktail of recent years.
Sgroppino
Lemon sorbet, prosecco, and vodka. Even more lemony with a splash of limoncello.
Amaretto Sour
Amaretto, lemon, and egg white. Sweet and sour in balance, with Villa Massa Amaretto.
Limoncello cocktails
All cocktails with limoncello in one place.The right glass for Villa Massa
A small liqueur glass for ice-cold neat servings, a wine glass or copa for the Limoncello Spritz, and a highball glass for limoncello tonic. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Villa Massa
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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