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Looking for a refreshing Italian cocktail to cool down with? The warm weather is calling for a delicious limoncello spritz recipe! Made with limoncello, prosecco and club soda, it's a simple and refreshing Italian cocktail that is the perfect bubbly drink!
I love a cocktail that delivers big flavor using a few simple ingredients.
Bright lemon flavor in the winter, it's a lemon liqueur cocktail in the spring and summer weather, we have been sipping on this baby since January but now that the warm weather parties are on their way, it was time for us to bring it to the blog.
What's better at your Memorial Day or 4th of July cookout than a cold limoncello spritz cocktail?
This is the perfect cocktail for parties or just grilling in the backyard with your fam. It's so, so easy to make, only needs three ingredients, and is flavorful and boozy. Make this refreshing cocktail the signature cocktail at your next spring or summer party!
Jump to:
- Origins of the Limoncello Spritz
- What is Limoncello?
- How to Make a Limoncello Spritz
- Recipes for Al Fresco Dining
- How to Make a Pitcher of Limoncello Spritz
- What Glass to Serve Limoncello Spritzer in
- FAQ
- More Amazing Summer Cocktails
- Tools I Used in this Recipe
- Limoncello Spritz
- How to Make a Pitcher of Limoncello Spritz
Origins of the Limoncello Spritz
The limoncello spritz originated in Italy, with limoncello itself coming from the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. It is oftentimes called the Amalfi Spritz because of this.
It's a refreshing twist on the popular Italian cocktail, the classic Aperol spritz, with bubbly sweet prosecco and soda water, but citrusy limoncello liqueur replaces the aperol.
Limoncello liquor is a spirit full of bright lemon flavor that's typically served as an after-dinner digestif in Italy or added to cocktails. It's sweet and refreshing, and it's the perfect spirit for a light drink on a hot summer day.
What is Limoncello?
Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made from the zest of organic fresh lemons, sugar, and high-proof grain alcohol.
The lemons used in authentic limoncello from the Amalfi coast are huge and organic (they call it 'untreated'), with thick rinds. These thick lemon peels are packed with lemon oil, which is where that real lemon flavor comes from, not the juice.
The lemon peels are steeped in the grain-alcohol for several days or even weeks before being strained out and then mixed with simple syrup. It's served as a digestif after dinner all over Italy in cordial glasses because it's believed that limoncello aids in digesting.
It's actually really, really easy to make your own limoncello. You can even make it in the sous vide if you just cannot wait 3 to 14 days for your first limoncello spritz of the season (it only takes a few hours in the water bath to make!).
I love making homemade limoncello because of its simplicity and, because of its high alcohol content, it keeps perfectly in the freezer ready to make you the perfect Italian cocktail any time.
How to Make a Limoncello Spritz
The amazing thing about spritz cocktail recipes is that they have such an easy recipe. Are you ready for this?
The main ingredients are:
- Prosecco or your favorite white sparkling wine.
- Nice cold limoncello liqueur.
- And soda water (aka sparkling water).
The recipe is literally just as simple as the ingredients. It's 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts limoncello, and one part soda water. That's it! Pour them all into your glass, give it a quick stir to combine, and you now have your new favorite cocktail! Super simple.
You can jazz it up in your cocktail glass with a sprig of mint or any other fresh herb you like, maybe a slice of lemon or a pretty lemon wheel or a fancy lemon twist, and a nice amount of ice to keep it chill on a hot summer day!
Recipes for Al Fresco Dining
This limoncello spritz cocktail is perfect for enjoying outdoors, so I have a few perfect little dishes for you to enjoy a nice meal during this nice, warm weather.
This fancy drink calls for a fancy summer pasta dish. In comes the lobster. My personal fave? Creamy lobster pasta. Think carbonara-esque, add lobster and cream, avoid the hate from the nonnas and Italian foodies because it's not carbonara.
Want a really amazing summer salad, instead? I got you, boo. You need to make this spinach strawberry salad, it's the salad that makes salad-haters questions their beliefs. I would know, I am the salad-hater.
Another good seafood fave is salmon en papillote, or salmon in parchment paper. Really easy, it seems super fancy but it's really so simple to make and absolutely delish.
How to Make a Pitcher of Limoncello Spritz
A summer party needs the perfect drink, whether it's alcoholic or not. The great thing about this limoncello cocktail is that not only is it easy with only three ingredients but because of that 3:2:1 ratio, a big batch is a cinch to make!
Once you have all your ingredients in your pitcher of choice, give it a stir with a long mixer spoon, then add ice cubes, fresh mint (if you wanna. It's your party, honey!), and lots of fresh lemon wheels. Serve up for a fun spring brunch or that summer cookout.
What Glass to Serve Limoncello Spritzer in
The way to go if you're trying to impress your date or are having a brunch is the gorgeous spritz glasses that you see in my photos. But serving a spritz in a large wine glass is the classic way to serve it in Italy. So just bust out the wine glasses for any occasion.
If you're serving limoncello spritz at your summer party, lovely highball glasses work great here! Casual but still pretty, especially served with a mint sprig.
FAQ
Because of its high sugar and alcohol content, you can keep limoncello in the freezer so it stays super cold!
Most limoncello is 28 to 32 percent alcohol by volume!
You can find limoncello at your local liquor store or make it at home!
More Amazing Summer Cocktails
- Tropical Guava Mojitos
Tools I Used in this Recipe
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Limoncello Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 2 ounces limoncello, chilled
- 3 ounces prosecco, or your favorite sparkling white wine
- 1 ounce club soda
- Lemon slices and fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large red wine glass or spritz glass halfway with crushed ice.
- Pour the limoncello, sparkling white wine, and soda water into the glass and give it a stir.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint.
- Enjoy cold!
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