Meet the Merseyside bartenders hoping to make limoncello the new gin

Andy Oyeneyin and Seamus Sullivan founded Zest Limoncello in 2020, becoming Merseyside’s only limoncello producer and supplier, and have taken the city by storm with their range now in over 40 bars and restaurants.

After experimenting with limoncello during lockdowns, the two cocktail barmen created the unique brand offering a number of flavours such as original, lime, blood orange and blackberry.

The two cocktail barmen created the unique brand offering a number of flavours such as original, lime, blood orange and blackberry (Image: PR)

Andy said: “Limoncello has always been seen as an after dinner drink, something you’d typically have in an Italian restaurant as a quirky palate cleanser following your meal. Attitudes are changing though, as people are starting to realise how refreshing it is when made right — especially as a spritz and with different flavours in addition to the standard lemon.”

Zest Limoncello supplies to some of Liverpool’s most reputable hospitality venues, such as Barnacle, The Art School, Luca and Justino’s. As well as being endorsed by celebrity Wirral chef Paul Askew and Dragon’s Den star John Tague.

From £13 per bottle and enjoyed either straight, on the rocks, in a spritz or in a cocktail, the pair say demand has increased due to its “overwhelming popularity”.

Seamus said: “As with everyone, lockdowns gave us the chance to play around with ideas and experiment. Andy and I started talking about limoncello and before we knew it we were making spritzes and cocktails with it — before moving on to actually making it from scratch, with different flavours.

Andy Oyeneyin and Seamus Sullivan founded Zest Limoncello in 2020, becoming Merseyside’s only limoncello producer and supplier (Image: PR)

“We started off selling it to the bar where we worked at and to friends but we never imagined it would grow so big so quickly. Word of mouth spread like wildfire and the feedback from businesses was unreal and as we’ve evolved we’ve got more creative — making seasoning, sauces, candles and wax melts from the fruit. People love it.”

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi. It is the second-most popular liqueur in Italy.

From £13 per bottle and enjoyed either straight, on the rocks, in a spritz or in a cocktail (Image: PR)

Andy said: “We honestly believe that limoncello can be the new gin. Once people discover how refreshing it is, especially as a spritz with Prosecco and soda or in a cocktail, they often say it’s their favourite drink. Zest Limoncello offers that extra bit of flavour and as we’re one of the UK’s only producers and suppliers, we are in control of the process and ingredients.”

Seamus added: “It’s crazy how popular Zest has become, considering it was just an experimental thing for us when we started out. We’ve become really creative with it and have become experts — when we supply to people and businesses we like to pass on our knowledge so that people can get the best out of our products. We’re so passionate about it.”