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Nocino Della Cristina Walnut Liqueur from Napa Valley 750 ml, no external packaging, about $60-65 for the 750, $30 for the 375 ml, available in limited areas. 60 proof, Rated SUPERB (90-95)/Highly Recommended by the Wine Enthusiast Magizine.
I don't go in much for flavored or girly drinks but I was exposed to this at the Italian-American dinner in Washington DC a few years ago. No. I'm not Italian but I was doing the network connectivity for them. I thought it was great and I have bought a few bottles since then and figured I would expose y'all to one of the finer after dinner liqueurs I've run across.
Nicino (pronounced no-CHEE-no) is the traditional walnut liqueur made throughout Italy and Southern Switzerland. The base ingredients of nocino have changed very little through the centuries. They include unripe walnuts, alcohol (typically grape brandy or grappa), sugar and spices. It is the mix of spices, which varies widely from family to family, and village to village, that gives each nocino its unique character (copied from the Monteverdi website).
This is truly one of the only liqueurs I can call black in the bottle although it turns out to be a very dark brown in the glass. While there are a few variations sold I can only speak for this one, one other I tried called Nocello Imperial Walnut Liqueur was not even close and should be avoided at all costs. There are a number of "home-made" recipes available too that I've heard do very well but again, I've not had them but they may be worthwhile for the more adventurous. I'll include two at the end of this.
The nose is full of just wonderful smells. Spices, walnuts and a bit of vanilla all come together to make an olfactory powerhouse. The taste is incredibly silky and smooth with hints of cinnamon, cloves, coriander? and who knows what else all touching the tongue. The finish is just a long continuation of the tasting with perhaps a bit of a maple sugar sweetness showing up. Such and interesting and complete drink it is hard to describe all the goings on with it.
In any case, my highest personal recommendation if that means anything to you. Buy some, you will not be disappointed. An ACE :thumbs:
You can get the 750ml bottle here .
Make your own:
(makes 1.5 liters)
6 walnuts
1 big walnut leaves
1 liter red wine (a cabernet-merlot blend)
250 mls inexpensive French brandy
6 star anise
1 cloves
1/4 large Mexican cinnamon sticks
175 grams sugar
(makes 1.5 liters)
About 8 nuts each jar
500ml vodka
2/3 cup grade B maple syrup
1/3 vanilla bean
2 cloves
1 t. szchuan peppercorns
2 slices of an orange
top off with a full bodied white burgundy wine
Remember these are green walnuts!
I don't go in much for flavored or girly drinks but I was exposed to this at the Italian-American dinner in Washington DC a few years ago. No. I'm not Italian but I was doing the network connectivity for them. I thought it was great and I have bought a few bottles since then and figured I would expose y'all to one of the finer after dinner liqueurs I've run across.
Nicino (pronounced no-CHEE-no) is the traditional walnut liqueur made throughout Italy and Southern Switzerland. The base ingredients of nocino have changed very little through the centuries. They include unripe walnuts, alcohol (typically grape brandy or grappa), sugar and spices. It is the mix of spices, which varies widely from family to family, and village to village, that gives each nocino its unique character (copied from the Monteverdi website).
This is truly one of the only liqueurs I can call black in the bottle although it turns out to be a very dark brown in the glass. While there are a few variations sold I can only speak for this one, one other I tried called Nocello Imperial Walnut Liqueur was not even close and should be avoided at all costs. There are a number of "home-made" recipes available too that I've heard do very well but again, I've not had them but they may be worthwhile for the more adventurous. I'll include two at the end of this.
The nose is full of just wonderful smells. Spices, walnuts and a bit of vanilla all come together to make an olfactory powerhouse. The taste is incredibly silky and smooth with hints of cinnamon, cloves, coriander? and who knows what else all touching the tongue. The finish is just a long continuation of the tasting with perhaps a bit of a maple sugar sweetness showing up. Such and interesting and complete drink it is hard to describe all the goings on with it.
In any case, my highest personal recommendation if that means anything to you. Buy some, you will not be disappointed. An ACE :thumbs:
You can get the 750ml bottle here .
Make your own:
(makes 1.5 liters)
6 walnuts
1 big walnut leaves
1 liter red wine (a cabernet-merlot blend)
250 mls inexpensive French brandy
6 star anise
1 cloves
1/4 large Mexican cinnamon sticks
175 grams sugar
(makes 1.5 liters)
About 8 nuts each jar
500ml vodka
2/3 cup grade B maple syrup
1/3 vanilla bean
2 cloves
1 t. szchuan peppercorns
2 slices of an orange
top off with a full bodied white burgundy wine
Remember these are green walnuts!
