Grown in Amalfi and distilled in England, this summer sees the launch of Pococello – the strictly limited-edition fruit of an exclusive collaboration between the world-renowned Chase Distillery and acclaimed restaurateurs Pizza Pilgrims.
A continent apart from the sickly-sweet, mass-produced limoncello familiar to holidaymakers, Pococello fuses single-origin Amalfi lemons with England’s finest spirit, hand-crafted in small batches for the ultimate in flavour and refinement. It’s the authentic taste of sunny days and mellow evenings, by the sea or in the city. Poco meaning “little” – enjoy Pococello straight-up and ice-cold, or in a host of refreshingly continental cocktails.
The story of Pococello began in spring 2014 – 2,000km from Pizza Pilgrims’ Soho HQ – where after scouring Italy in their Piaggio Porter van, the restaurant’s founders Thom and James Elliot discovered the perfect lemons for making their very own limoncello in the hills above the fabled town of Amalfi.
A unique combination of constant sun, cooling mediterranean breeze, and rich volcanic soil add up to the ideal atmospheric conditions for cultivating the world’s most fragrant, delicious lemons. And when Thom and James arrived at the farm of 82-year-old Luigi Aceto – a man who was conceived, born and raised in his family’s ancient lemon groves – they knew their “Sohocello” would be very special indeed.
With their vivid yellow, perfumed skins, Signor Aceto’s lemons are packed with the essential oils that make the difference between a standard limoncello and a drink which is nothing short of transcendent.
Hand-peeled and macerated in Chase Distillery’s 96% Hereford potato spirit for seven days, every drop of the precious lemon oil was extracted, giving the drink its trademark cloudiness (the first thing to look for in a premium limoncello).
The entire 2,500-bottle run, sold exclusively at bars, wine merchants and restaurants in and around Soho, was snapped up within weeks. So after a second lemon pilgrimage to Amalfi this spring, Sohocello has been reborn as Pococello – and will be available in selected retailers nationwide for the first time.
Pococello is also on sale at Harvey Nichols, the famous Gerry’s Wines & Spirits in Old Compton St, Soho – and, of course, at Pizza Pilgrims in Dean St and Kingly Court – for £25 per 50cl bottle (ABV 29%). Pococello is the taste of 2015. Cin cin!
DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 