Nocino: The First Longview Farm Product
Harvested during Summer Solstice, bottled during Winter Solstice.
For those who don’t know, Ricky Eller and I started a workshop series earlier this year focused on crafting nocino (black walnut liqueur) from scratch using sustainable ingredients and walnuts harvested on Longview Farm’s property.
We harvested the walnuts on June 22nd—the weekend of the Summer Solstice—as the Italian traditions and folklore recommend. We strained the various batches one month later, then left them to age for six months.
This was our first time conducting this homesteading experiment, so we didn’t know what to expect. The nocino mixtures were ready for bottling this past Sunday on the Winter Solstice.
In addition to bottling, we had a taste of each batch. Some varieties have notes of cinnamon and coffee, while others have notes of orange and all spice.
This is our first official Longview Farm product made with resources from the property which is very exciting! It’ll be shared with friends and family.
Nocino is an unfailing end to a meal. Winter festivities are the first opportunity to taste this liqueur prepared during the summer and left to rest during the autumn.
This nutty liqueur with herbal undertones is a great wintertime drink. As a digestif, the traditional way to enjoy nocino is sipping it out of a small glass—perhaps paired with a piece of chocolate.
However, there are also some interesting cocktail recipes to enjoy.
Nocino Manhattan
A complex and slightly bitter twist on a classic.
2 oz Brandy
1 oz Nocino/Walnut Liqueur
2 dashes Black Walnut Bitters
Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Nut Bunny
An original cocktail with autumnal forests on the mind.
1 1/4 oz bourbon
1/2 oz nocino/walnut liqueur
1/2 oz lemon juice
3 dashes walnut bitters
Rosemary or lemon peel for garnish
Combine all ingredients with ice and shake. Strain into an old fashioned over ice. Garnish with rosemary or lemon peel.
Nocino Alexander
A decadent and slightly retro winter treat.
2 oz spiced rum
1 oz nocino/walnut liqueur
3/4 oz cream
1/4 oz simple syrup
1 pinch cinnamon or grated nutmeg for garnish
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cinnamon or grated nutmeg.
Now that we have a trial run under our belts, we plan to repeat this nocino-crafting workshop in 2026! Stay tuned for details in the new year.