Limoncello di Sonoma · Est. 2008

California sunshine
with an Italian soul.

Inspired by Italian aperitivo culture. Shaped by California creativity. Handcrafted in Sonoma for friends, travelers, and unforgettable moments.

Handcrafted inSONOMASince 2008
Hellocello Limoncello di Sonoma with fresh lemons

ITALIAN INSPIRATION · CALIFORNIA CITRUS · SONOMA CRAFT

The original California cello

Ever wonder what makes a great Limoncello?

Great Limoncello starts with simplicity: real lemons, quality spirits, time, patience, and balance. It should taste unmistakably like fresh lemon—not lemon candy.

Fresh lemons being peeled by hand for Hellocello
Real lemons. Real hands. No shortcuts.

The honest answer

Fresh citrus.
Time. Patience.
Balance.

The character comes from genuine citrus and fresh zest. We draw on traditional Italian methods, then let California ingredients and Sonoma sensibility make the spirit our own.

01

Real citrus

Bright, aromatic lemon character from fresh zest.

02

Authentic process

Traditional technique, thoughtful craft, and plenty of time.

03

Made by us

Prepared, blended, and bottled by our small Sonoma team.

A colorful family of handcrafted Hellocello bottles05 cellos + seasonal rotations

More than Limoncello

It started with lemon.
Then things got colorful.

Since 2008, we’ve crafted Limoncello di Sonoma and a changing family of authentic cellos inspired by fruit, season, place, and a healthy sense of curiosity.

  • 01Limoncello di SonomaThe original
  • 02OrangecelloCalifornia citrus
  • 03StrawberrycelloSummer in a glass
  • 04BlueberrycelloDeep & vibrant
  • 05FigcelloUnexpected favorite

Plus small seasonal rotations—made when inspiration strikes.

The journey

Travel introduced us to Limoncello.
Sonoma inspired us to make our own.

Fred and Amy on the Via dell’Amore in Italy
01ItalyWhere the idea took hold
Friends peeling lemons together at an early Hellocello gathering
02SonomaWhere friends joined the story
Fred Groth stirring fresh lemon peels at the distillery
03The craftStill made by us

While traveling through Italy, we fell in love with more than Limoncello—the long meals, afternoon aperitivo, local ingredients, small producers, and the easy pleasure of gathering around a table.

Coming home, we recognized that same spirit in Sonoma: vineyards, orchards, farmers, cheesemakers, winemakers, and people making extraordinary things because they genuinely cared.

One thing seemed to be missing. Limoncello. So in 2008, we made some. That was the beginning of Hellocello.

What guides us

Genuine craft.
California creativity.

Authenticity

Not a marketing phrase. It guides how we make and how we share.

Craftsmanship

We stay connected to every step, from ingredient to finished bottle.

Quality over quantity

We’d rather make something memorable than simply make more of it.

Hospitality

Ultimately, these spirits are made to be shared.

Amy Groth distilling spirits on a copper still
Prohibition Spirits Distillery, established 2008

One bottle became a distillery

Hellocello is where our story started.

As our curiosity grew, so did the things we wanted to make: gin, brandy, whiskey, aperitivos, liqueurs, bitters, amaro, and plenty of experiments that didn’t fit neatly into any category.

Hellocello grew into Prohibition Spirits, our Sonoma distillery and the home for everything else we create. Hellocello remains the heart of where it all began.

Explore Prohibition Spirits
Enjoying an orange spritz in the golden California sunshineGolden hour,
the Italian way.

Aperitivo & spritz culture

There is always
time for a Spritz.

A glass of something bright, bitter, sparkling, and cold. A few friends. Something delicious to snack on. Nowhere particularly important to be.

Inspired by Italian aperitivo culture and viewed through a California lens, our aperitivos are designed for exactly those moments.

  • Spritz Apero Americano
  • SolCal Spritz
  • Orange Spritz
  • Limoncello Spritz
Pour.Add bubbles.Find friends.
A sunny outdoor Summer Spritz Bar in California
THE CALIFORNIA APERITIVOBright spirits for long afternoons.

Taste, learn, make

Come experience
the craft firsthand.

There’s a big difference between reading about something and actually making, smelling, tasting, and experiencing it. We prefer the latter.

Discover experiences
01

Tastings

Explore our spirits and the wonderfully odd stories behind them.

02

Classes

Learn about Limoncello, botanicals, flavor, and traditional methods.

03

Hands-on experiences

Touch the ingredients. Smell the botanicals. Taste the results.

04

Private gatherings

Bring friends, family, colleagues, or clients together in Sonoma.

Friends enjoying a spirits tasting outside in Sonoma
Good spirits are better shared.
Amy and Fred Groth pouring a tasting at Prohibition Spirits

Visit us · Sonoma Plaza

Come raise a
glass with us.

The best way to understand what we do is to taste it.

Prohibition Spirits Tasting Room452 First Street East
Sonoma, California