Citrus medica from Sicily

Cedrat Lemon from Sicily distilled at the Kaiserstuhl

The Cedrat lemon from Sicily by Faude feine Brände is a lemon spirit made from the Sicilian citron, distilled at the Kaiserstuhl at 42% ABV. Citrus-fresh, clear, fragrant – the latest of the four citrus spirits and a piece of Southern Italy in a glass.

Cedrat lemon from Sicily is a lemon spirit by master distiller Florian Faude from Bötzingen am Kaiserstuhl. To create it, he macerates organic citron from Sicily in pure grain alcohol to release the essential oils from its thick rind. The fruit comes from Sicily, the distillation happens at the Kaiserstuhl.

Clear lemon, fresh and floral

On the nose, the Cedrat lemon from Sicily is bright and citrus-fresh, with the fine fragrance of ripe lemon zest and a floral trace.

On the palate, the lemon spirit remains dry and clear, without any sweetness – just the pure, lively citrus fruit. Lemony, fresh, floral – the initial taste is immediate, the finish long and clean. A spirit that tastes of Sicilian sun.

Unlike a sweet lemon liqueur, this spirit remains crystal clear and dry – the entire fruit is in the aroma, not in the sugar. While the bitter pulp of the citron finds little use in the kitchen, Florian captures exactly the bright, clear notes of its zest.

Pure on ice or in tonic

Served pure and ice-cold, the Cedrat lemon from Sicily reveals its clear aroma; in a long drink with tonic, it becomes a refreshing summer drink.

4 cl on ice, topped up with light tonic, a lemon twist – and you have an aperitif that makes you dream of the south. The spirit also holds its own as a digestif after a meal. Those who love the citrus family should also try the Bergamot from Calabria and the Mandarin from Sicily.

Cedrat, the oldest citrus fruit in Europe

The Cedrat lemon, also known as citron, is considered the first citrus fruit to be cultivated in Europe.

Beneath its knobby, yellow-ripening rind lies a thick white mesocarp and only a little pulp – its treasure is the essential oils of the rind, which are already highly valued in fine perfumery. In Sicily, the whole fruit is even used to make a carpaccio di cedri.

Florian sources the citron from his friend Giancarlo, whom he met in Sicily in 2015, where the citrus trees grow organically at the foot of Mount Etna. "Grazie amico mio!", says Florian – after blood orange, mandarin, and bergamot, the citron is the latest success of this friendship.

With bergamot, blood orange, and mandarin, the Cedrat lemon forms the citrus quartet that Florian unites in frosted bottles – four spirits from the same Italian friendship, each with its own character.

Using soft Black Forest water, he brings the spirit to 42% ABV and bottles it without chill filtration in the frosted 0.5-liter bottle reserved for his four citrus spirits. Florian took over his parents' distillery in 2006 and rebuilt it in 2017. You can find more spirits from Faude feine Brände in our shop.

Served ice-cold, a welcome gift

Its citrus fragrance is clearest when the Cedrat lemon is served ice-cold at 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. Once opened and stored in a cool, dark place, the spirit will keep for many months. In its frosted bottle, it makes a lovely gift for anyone who loves both Sicily and the Black Forest equally. Salute, a piece of Sicily for your home.