San Limello – Non-alcoholic Aperitif

San Limello non-alcoholic with lemon infusion in the apothecary bottle

San Limello is a non-alcoholic aperitif from Berlin and the lemony answer to Limoncello. An infusion of lemons gives it acidity and fragrance, while lime sharpens the edge. It is not intended to be drunk neat; its performance comes to life in a glass with tonic.

The San Limello from Dr. Jaglas comes in a 500 ml apothecary bottle and serves as a base for non-alcoholic long drinks. Christina Jagla designed it as a tribute to Limoncello, only without the alcohol and without the syrupy sweetness of the original. What remains is lemon in its vibrant form.

Lemon-yellow, fresh with acidity, and a lime edge

In the glass, the Limello glows a clear lemon-yellow; there is lemon zest on the nose, while lime joins in on the palate to keep things lean.

The recipe contains a 5% lemon infusion, plus lemon and lime juice. You can taste this in the fact that the acidity doesn't come across as sharp, but rather rounded with a hint of zest bitterness in the background. The citrus-yellow color comes from a concentrate of apple, safflower, and lemon.

Anyone familiar with Limoncello will notice the difference immediately. Where the Italian original feels heavy on the tongue, San Limello remains lemony, fresh, and light – Sicilian sun, but enjoyed in the shade.

Aromatically, it remains surprisingly complex. Alongside the citrus axis of lemon and lime, warmer notes flash through, reminiscent of herbs and spices, which give the aperitif its length. This is why it never feels thin in the glass, despite containing not a drop of alcohol.

Forty milliliters, top with tonic, add mint

San Limello likes company and wants to be lengthened. It is too concentrated on its own, but comes into its own in a long drink.

For a Limello Spritz, add 40 ml to a wine glass, top with 160 ml of tonic water, plenty of ice, and a sprig of fresh mint. If you prefer something more festive, replace the tonic with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Burrata with olive oil, antipasti, or seafood make for the perfect pairing – the lemon fits in right where a slice would otherwise sit on the edge of the plate.

In summer, Limello also caters to larger groups. It works well as the base of a punch with peach and melon, and because there is no alcohol involved, everyone at the garden table can join in.

Once opened, the bottle will keep well for a good eight weeks if stored in a cool, dark place; unopened, it will last for at least 2 years. If you need something quick, the ready-mixed San Limello Spritz is available. And for the bitter version of the evening, grab the San Pompello with pink grapefruit.

From Wuppertal to Berlin, with an apothecary’s signature

At Dr. Jaglas, the apothecary bottle is not a decorative gimmick, but a mark of origin. The brand stems from a pharmacy in the Bergisches Land region.

Helmut Jagla runs the Park-Apotheke in the Luisenviertel district of Elberfeld, where the family has been preparing their herbal elixirs for decades. His daughter Christina, also a pharmacist, founded the company in Berlin at the end of 2015 and added a non-alcoholic line to the old recipes. The family’s herbal specialties were meant to reach beyond the Bergisches Land, says Christina Jagla of the company's beginnings.

You can see this precision in the Limello. The lemon infusion is steeped rather than simply added as a flavor, the color is provided by apple and safflower, and the aperitif is both vegan and gluten-free. You can find the entire Dr. Jaglas range in the manufacturer hub, and those who want to try the entire non-alcoholic line should pick up the Aperitif Trio. Dolce Vita in a glass.