The Best Ways to Enjoy Crema di Limoncello

Crema di limoncello is smooth, creamy and unmistakably Italian, but if you've never tried it before, you might be wondering: how do you actually drink crema di limoncello?

Do you sip it? Take it as a shot? Serve it over ice? And does crema di limoncello need to be chilled?

Traditionally, crema di limoncello is served cold after a meal as a digestivo, usually in a small glass and enjoyed slowly. But there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this creamy Italian lemon liqueur, from chilled shots and cocktails to desserts.

Here are some of the best ways to serve crema di limoncello.

1. Serve Crema di Limoncello Chilled

The classic way to drink crema di limoncello is cold.

Chilling the liqueur helps bring out its smooth, velvety texture while keeping the lemon character refreshing. Pour a small serving into a chilled glass and enjoy it after dinner or whenever you fancy something sweet.

Unlike a traditional limoncello, however, not every crema di limoncello should be stored in the freezer.

Cream-based and milk-based liqueurs can behave differently from higher-strength traditional limoncello, so always follow the storage instructions for the bottle you're drinking.

Drink Cello, for example, is a 15% ABV milk-based crema di limoncello and is best enjoyed chilled.

2. Sip It After Dinner

In Italy, limoncello is traditionally associated with the end of a meal.

It's commonly enjoyed as a digestivo: a small drink served after eating and usually enjoyed slowly rather than knocked back.

Crema di limoncello works beautifully in the same setting.

Its creamy texture and sweet lemon flavour make it particularly suited to the end of a meal, whether you're sitting around the table with family or finishing dinner with friends.

For us, that's exactly what crema di limoncello has always been about: good drink, good food and the people around the table.

If you're interested in the tradition behind it, you can also discover why Italians drink limoncello.

3. Drink Crema di Limoncello as a Shot

Can you take crema di limoncello as a shot? Absolutely.

Serve it straight from the fridge in a small shot glass for a smooth, cold serve.

The creamy texture makes it very different from taking a shot of a stronger spirit. Rather than being all about the alcoholic kick, crema di limoncello combines sweetness, citrus and a smooth finish.

Drink Cello can be served this way straight from the fridge, with no mixing required.

4. Serve It Over Ice

If you'd rather take your time with it, try pouring crema di limoncello over ice.

A few cubes in a small tumbler create a simple serve that you can sip slowly. As the ice begins to melt, it can also soften the drink slightly.

It's an easy option if you don't want a cocktail but want something longer than a traditional chilled serving.

5. Make a Crema di Limoncello Cocktail

Crema di limoncello can also be used as the base for cocktails.

Because of its creamy texture, it works particularly well with flavours such as coffee, vanilla, coconut and chocolate.

One of our favourites is a Cello Espresso Martini, combining Drink Cello with vodka and fresh espresso to create a creamy, lemon twist on the classic Espresso Martini.

There is one important difference between crema di limoncello and traditional limoncello when making cocktails.

Because crema di limoncello contains dairy, highly acidic or carbonated ingredients may not always work well with it. A classic Limoncello Spritz made with Prosecco, for example, is better suited to traditional limoncello than a milk-based crema.

Instead, build cocktails around ingredients that complement its creamy texture.

6. Pour Crema di Limoncello Over Dessert

You don't have to drink it at all.

Crema di limoncello can be used with desserts, where its creamy lemon flavour naturally complements ingredients such as mascarpone, white chocolate, vanilla and coffee.

Try pouring a small amount over vanilla ice cream or incorporating it into an Italian-inspired dessert.

We've even used Drink Cello to make Cello Tiramisu, dipping savoiardi in Cello and layering them with mascarpone, cream, lemon and white chocolate.

It's one of the reasons we love crema di limoncello: it can be a drink, a cocktail ingredient or part of dessert.

Do You Sip Limoncello or Take It as a Shot?

Both.

Traditional Italian limoncello is often served in a small glass and sipped slowly after a meal, rather than treated like a typical shot.

The same applies to crema di limoncello.

There isn't a rule saying you can't take it as a shot, though. Drink Cello can be served as a cold shot when you're out with friends or sipped slowly after dinner.

It comes down to the occasion and how you prefer to enjoy it.

Should Crema di Limoncello Be Served Cold?

Generally, crema di limoncello is best served chilled.

The colder temperature complements its creamy texture and makes the lemon flavour refreshing, which is why chilling the bottle before serving is a good place to start.

Storage requirements can vary between products, particularly because crema di limoncello contains dairy, so always check the instructions on your bottle.

You can read more about how long limoncello lasts and how to store it.

What Is Crema di Limoncello?

If you've landed here without knowing exactly what crema di limoncello is, it's essentially the creamier cousin of traditional limoncello.

While classic limoncello is traditionally made using lemons, alcohol, sugar and water, crema di limoncello introduces milk or dairy to create a smoother, creamier lemon liqueur.

Read our complete guide to what crema di limoncello is or discover the difference between limoncello and limoncello cream.

Try Crema di Limoncello in the UK

At Drink Cello, we're bringing our family's crema di limoncello tradition from Molise, Italy to Scotland.

Drink Cello is Scotland's first crema di limoncello, inspired by our family recipe and produced here in Scotland.

It's a 15% ABV creamy lemon liqueur made without preservatives, additives, colouring or emulsifiers.

Serve it chilled. Sip it after dinner. Take it as a shot. Mix it into a cocktail. Or get creative with dessert.

However you choose to enjoy it, Cello is made to be shared.

Buy Drink Cello online and discover our modern take on our family's Italian tradition.