Around the World in 60 Cocktails: Lemon City

The glorious Amalfi Coast in southern Italy is one of life’s wonders. Suspended magically between sea and sky, the coastline is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its “great physical beauty and natural diversity.” The history of the region is pretty rich too – since the Middle Ages people have defied the odds by cultivating the steep hills with terraced vineyards and citrus groves.

While the history of the region is no doubt fascinating – Pompeii is just 15 miles away – people flock here mainly because of one thing: It’s just so enchantingly beautiful.

It would be impossible to choose the loveliest village in the region. John Steinbeck famously said that “Positano bites deep,” while Vidal Sassoon thought that nearby island Capri was “the ultimate holiday destination.” However, if we did have to choose our favorite, it would undoubtedly be Sorrento.

Perched in the hilly countryside above the Amalfi Coast, this picture-perfect town is the epitome of what has made the coastline so famous. Steep hills that plunge into cerulean seas, winding roads alive with the sound of chatter and Vespas. To say this “Grand Tour” destination is magnificent is no overstatement – think piazzas, pizzas and passagiatas in equal measure.

The jewel in the Sorrentine crown would be the charming and fragrant lemon gardens, whose sweet aromatics permeate the air. This citrus fruit has acclimatized incredibly well to the land and has prospered marvelously, until becoming at one with it. One of the regional specialities made with the local lemons is Malfy Con Limone. This Italian gin uses a mix of lemon peel from both the Amalfi coast and Sicily to create a citrus heavy extract, that is then distilled with Tuscan juniper, coriander, cassia, licorice, grapefruit and lemon peel.

Even if you won’t see the Amalfi Coast this year, one sip of this signature citrus-forward Spritz will have you living la dolce vita in no time!