A local limoncello, made in a Salem warehouse, recently became one of a few New Hampshire-made liquors to be sold in state liquor stores.
Phil Mastroianni and Brett Bell, co-owners of Fabrizia Limoncello, said sales spiked just before Christmas and the state recently purchased enough limoncello to sell in all 78 of its liquor stores.
Rick Gerrish, spirits buyer for the state Liquor Commission, said they sold 2,312 bottles in 43 stores in the last year.
"That's pretty good for a local guy," Gerrish said.
Over the last six or seven years, he said, limoncello has become increasingly popular. For years, Gerrish said, state liquor stores sold only one brand of limoncello, but now have up to a dozen on their shelves.
"The arena they compete in is national," Gerrish said.
Fabrizia Limoncello is one of only two New Hampshire-made liquors to be sold in state liquor stores. Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee makes a vodka, cranberry liqueur and sugar maple liqueur that is sold in state liquor stores, Gerrish said.
Mastroianni said sales have been good. They're trying to branch out to new stores and restaurants in New England, while keeping their New Hampshire customers happy.
Beating the test market a month and a half before the six-month deadline was a huge accomplishment, especially since they didn't make their first batch of the limoncello until two years ago, Mastroianni said.
"It means the business is going in the right direction," he said.
Mastroianni and Bell made their first batch of limoncello after visiting family in Italy. At first, the two did it just for fun, but an uncle convinced them to start selling their lemon-flavored alcohol. Mastroianni quit his job as an accountant last year so he could spend time visiting new stores and expanding the business.
Last year, the 26-year-old entrepreneurs rented a space in a Salem warehouse and now make about 800 bottles of limoncello a month. Each of them is involved in the whole process, from peeling the thousands of lemons to putting labels on the bottles. After a batch of limoncello is made, they both package and deliver from the Salem warehouse.
"We both wear a lot of hats," Mastroianni said.
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