Pinocello is the ultimate Christmas drink: limoncello with a hint of pine tree
Normally, when I think of limoncello, I think of sultry summer evenings. Of a convivial barbecue with friends on a warm day, or a wonderful holiday in Italy. But Christmas? Not immediately. Until I came across Koreman’s Pinocello: a limoncello with green spruce extract. Limoncello with a hint of Christmas tree in it? That sounds like the Christmas gift I didn’t know I wanted so badly. What does it taste like?
Koreman’s is certainly no stranger to the world of limoncello. Because if you thought you could only find the world’s best limoncello in Italy… You’d be wrong. It actually comes from the wonderfully authentic Dutch city of Breda! In 2021, Koreman’s limoncello took home that award. The jury praised the lemon drink for ”its rich lemon flavour, the smooth texture of the drink and the lingering lemon finish”. I can confirm: Koreman’s limoncello is delicious. So I was incredibly curious about this Pinocello. Not least because I myself have had the Christmas tree up since the beginning of November, and have therefore been in an extremely festive mood for an extremely long time.
Woodsy, spicy and tropical
The ‘Pino’ in ‘Pinocello’ undoubtedly comes from pine tree. Koreman’s has added a hint of green spruce needle extract, sourced from pine trees in Brabant, to their famous, award-winning limoncello. At first glance, I notice that the limoncello has a light green tint, whereas it is naturally bright yellow normally. The Pinocello also comes with a festive Christmas-style label. Perfect for giving as a gift, then.
When I open the bottle, I immediately smell what you want to smell when you have limoncello in front of you: lemons. With some (cheap) limoncellos, a chemical smell immediately enters my nose. As if I had just opened a bottle of Dreft or lit a citronella candle. Here I smell real lemon, the way lemon is supposed to smell. And—indeed—some hint of pine somewhere in the background. ”A woodsy, spicy and lightly tropical aroma”, as Koreman’s describes it. I don’t get the impression that I’m in a forest full of pine trees when I smell the drink, but I don’t think that’s necessarily something you’d want in this case either.
Pinocello’s taste test
And then the most important question: what does it taste like? Delicious, if you ask me. Fresh, slightly sour and somewhat sweet. The combination of citrus and pine aromas makes it a little bitter, but not to the point where it makes your face screw up. Especially when I taste a ‘normal’ limoncello alongside it, I notice the difference created by the addition of the green spruce extract. So what does green spruce extract taste like? Spicy, lightly sweet and slightly earthy. The fresh acidity of the limoncello balances everything nicely. I really think it’s a festive drink. An ideal way to finish an Italian-themed Christmas dinner. And hey, that happens to be the case at our place on Boxing Day. This will be my aperitif this Christmas!
Koreman’s Pinocello is a limited edition; approximately 1,250 bottles are available. Buy now or cry later, then. You can order it online via cellobratelife.com or pick up a bottle at a good liquor store or delicatessen. Here you can check where to buy Koreman’s near you. You can get the Pinocello for € 25.95.
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