This refreshing Limoncello Spritz recipe is our favourite prosecco cocktail to serve on a hot summer day!
A vibrant amalgamation of zesty lemon liqueur, dry prosecco, and a hint of effervescence, this refreshing libation transports your taste buds to the sun-drenched coastlines of southern Italy with every swirl and sip!
Traditional Italian lemon liqueur, Prosecco sparkling wine and fizzy soda water are poured into an ice-filled wine glass then muddled together with a bar spoon.
Each glass is then garnished with lemon wheels and a fresh sprig of mint, making it the perfect citrusy and herbaceous drink to serve at garden parties and backyard barbecues in July and August.
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What Is A Limoncello Spritz?
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily.
It is the second-most popular liqueur in Italy (after Campari) and is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo.
Traditionally, limoncello is made from the zest of Femminello St. Teresa lemons, also known as Sorrento or Sfusato lemons. Lemon zest, or peels without the pith, are steeped in pure alcohol until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup. Varying the sugar-to-water ratio and the temperature affects the clarity, viscosity, and flavour.
Limoncello is a popular homemade liqueur, prepared by many Italian families to enjoy at the table at dinner or by bartenders who offer complimentary shots at the end of a romantic restaurant meal.
Many variations of limoncello are also available. These include arancello (flavoured with oranges), agrumello (flavoured with mixed citrus), pistachiocello (flavoured with pistachio nuts), meloncello (flavoured with cantaloupe, and fragoncello (flavoured with strawberry).
Our favourite way to enjoy this sweet and bright yellow liqueur is by making this easy Limoncello Spritz recipe. Traditionally the drink is served in an ice-filled wine glass, with limoncello, prosecco and soda water.
If you love Limoncello you may also enjoying making this Homemade Limoncello Ice Cream recipe or Lemon Drop Martini!
Travel To Italy By Making A Limoncello Spritz At Home
I love traveling to Europe!
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland,Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey and Italy.
What I love most about traveling to Italy is the opportunity to sample unique dishes and drinks in each region and city. The dishes in Tuscany (Florence, Pisa, Volterra, Saturnia, Pitigliano, Sorano, Montalcino, Siena) are unique from what you’d find in Venice, Modena, Milan, Rome, and Amalfi Coast.
Limoncello is a popular lemon liqueur unique to Naples and the Amalfi Coast but can be found across Southern Italy. It can be enjoyed chilled and slowly sipped in a shot glass, poured over ice or enjoyed as a spritz with soda and prosecco. It’s a must-try drink for those enjoying a luxurious vacation in Positano or Capri.
Once back home from an Italian holiday you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the flavours of the Amalfi Coast and can impress friends and family by making our easy Limoncello Spritz recipe.
Limoncello Spritz Recipe Ingredients
This easy 5-ingredient cocktail recipe features limoncello, prosecco, soda, fresh mint and sliced lemon, which are assembled into ice-filled wine glasses.
- Limoncello: is a classic Italian lemon liqueur typically produced in the southern regions of Amalfi Coast and Sicily.
- Prosecco: is an Italian sparkling wine noted for its dry character and tiny effervescent bubbles.
- Soda: balances the drink so it’s not too boozy or tart. You can use soda water or your favourite lemon-flavoured sparkling water.
- Garnish: decorate each wine glass with freshly sliced lemon and mint sprigs.
Directions
This easy Limoncello Spritz recipe is so easy to make at home, ready to serve in under 5 minutes!
- PREPARE THE GLASS: Begin by preparing your cocktail glass. If desired, you can fill each wine glass with ice to ensure they are well chilled. Set the glass aside while you prepare the drink.
- COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS: Pour limoncello into the ice filled glasses. Top with prosecco and soda water. The quality of the ingredients is key here, so opt for high-quality sparkling wine and lemon liqueur for the best flavour.
- GARNISH & SERVE: Slide freshly sliced lemon wheels into the glass and garnish with a fresh mint sprig. This not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the cocktail’s citrus and herbaceous notes.
Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.
Limoncello Spritz Recipe Tips
- We suggest serving a Limoncello Spritz in an elegant wine glass.
- We like to make homemade limoncello but you can use store bought if you prefer.
- While we like to use imported Italian Prosecco for this cocktail preparation you can substitute with any sparkling wine like Champagne or Cava.
- Our recipe serves one person. If you’re hosting a large gathering feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and muddle the drink in a festive punch bowl or jug rather than a cocktail shaker.
- Feel free to add a few drops of your favourite flavoured bitters to give the drink additional citrus notes. Lemon, Rhubarb and Grapefruit Bitters work well.
- Add additional soda water if you find the drink too tart or boozy.
- An hour or two before you’re planning on serving drinks we suggest placing the limoncello and prosecco bottle in the freezer so they are well chilled.
- We like to garnish the glass with fresh mint but you can substitute with basil if you prefer.
Best Bartender Tools & Cocktail Equipment
Before hosting a swanky Limoncello Spritz cocktail party you’ll need to ensure you have the best bartender tools and cocktail equipment.
- Cocktail Kit: cocktail kits are the perfect gift for newbie mixology fans as they include basic bartender tools like a jigger, shaker and spoon.
- Cocktail Shaker: a bartender’s best friend. Purchase a premium cocktail shaker to muddle or shake up your favourite pink gin cocktails.
- Cocktail Glassware: make sure your bar is stocked with a selection of unique glassware to show off your favourite cocktail creations.
- Hawthorne Strainer: this unique strainer features tightly wound coils and perforated holes. It keeps ice and other large ingredients like lime wedges in your cocktail shaker rather than in the glass.
- Bar Spoons: slender and long bar spoons are a must-have when stirring drinks.
- Bottle Opener: easily open bottles of beer or cider with the flick of your wrist or purchase a corkscrew for fine wine.
- Pouring Spout: once you’ve opened a new bottle of gin insert these affordable pourers to make cocktail assembly a breeze.
- Cutting Board: purchase a petite cutting board for your bar to slice garnishes or citrus wedges like lime, orange, lemon or grapefruit.
- Ice Bucket: chill bottles of gin quickly in an ice bucket or keep by the bar when muddling gin mixers into cool creations.
- Ice Crusher: fans of the Mint Julep love an ice crusher.
- Ice Cube Kit: we suggest purchasing a selection of ice cube trays. Silicone styles are our favourite as they’re easy to clean and are available in various shapes and sizes.
- Jigger: use a jigger to accurately measure spirits, juices, syrups and shrubs.
- Juicer: invest in an electronic juicer or buy an affordable hand-held to easily juice fresh citrus like lemons and limes.
- Muddler: fans of the Mojito love a sturdy muddler to mix mint and lime. Muddler’s are handy for any cocktail featuring ingredients that need a pounding like fresh herbs or citrus wedges.
- Citrus Peeler & Zester: adorn your craft cocktails with a thick citrus peel or finer ribbons of lime or lemon zest.
- Rimmer: Bloody Mary and Caesar lovers should outfit their bar with a handy rimmer for salting and sugaring glassware.
You May Also Enjoy These Citrus-Forward Cocktail Recipes….
- Southside Fizz Cocktail
- Cucumber Mint Gimlet
- Hennessy Sidecar Cocktail
- Classic Boston Sour Cocktail
- Vodka Green Tea Cocktail
- Marmalade Gin Martini
- Orange Dreamsicle Cocktail
- Garibaldi Cocktail
- Disaronno Amaretto Stone Sour
When To Serve A Limoncello Spritz
This refreshing lemon-forward spritz can be enjoyed any time of year. Here are some fun ideas on how to serve it:
- The Spritz is most commonly served in Italy at Aperitivo Hour, from 6-8pm. Cocktails and wine are served at local bars and restaurants with complimentary snacks like olives and breadsticks.
- Happy Hour drink served with snacks like Smoky Albondigas Tapas Spanish Meatballs and Sigara Börek Crispy Turkish Feta Cheese Filo Cigar Rolls.
- Classy guys or girls night beverage
- Thirst quenching drink on a hot summer day enjoyed at a garden party or backyard barbecue.
- Dinner party cocktail served your favourite Italian dishes like Ndunderi Amalfi Lemon Ricotta Gnocchi, Burrata Caprese Salad, Pasta Nerano Spaghetti con Zucchine, Veal Piccatina al Limone, and Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese.
More Sparkling Wine Cocktails
If you’re a lover of sparkling wines like French Champagne, Spanish Cava or Italian Prosecco, you also may enjoy these celebratory cocktails:
- Aperol Spritz Veneziano: is the most popular cocktail in Italy featuring Aperol, Prosecco and Soda. It is very similar to this Limoncello Spritz recipe.
- Pornstar Martini: was one of the trendiest cocktails of the 2020’s, muddling vanilla vodka with passion fruit juice and a champagne side car.
- French 77 Cocktail: this elegant cocktail is served in a flute and features prosecco, lemon juice and elderflower liqueur.
- Italian Prosecco and Gin Cocktail: is an easy cocktail featuring sparkling Italian wine and quality gin.
- Chambord Liqueur Royale: berry lovers enjoy this chic sipper features sparkling wine and French Chambord black raspberry liqueur.
- Frozen Mimosa Slushie Cocktail: transform your favourite brunch cocktail into a boozy frozen slushy.
- Mojito Royale Cocktail: level up a traditional mojito by topping the drink with sparkling wine.
How To Make A Classic Limoncello Spritz Recipe
Limoncello Prosecco Spritz Cocktail
Equipment
- Jigger
- Wine Glass
- Bar Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 oz Limoncello
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz Soda Water
- Fresh Mint Sprig garnish
- Lemon Wheels garnish
Instructions
- Add limoncello to a wine glass filled with ice and stir with a bar spoon.
- Top with prosecco sparkling wine and soda water.
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and lemon wheel slices.
Nutrition
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