Limoncello may not be in your usual rotation of liqueurs, especially if you worry that lemon drinks would be too sour for your taste; however, limoncello drink recipes don't need to be sour to be outstanding. Just as you can adjust lemonade for sweetness, the same applies to limoncello cocktails. Each one is as individual as you and your guests.
Limoncello Tall Drinks
Highballs are the best friend of easy, quick, and tasty. The building is done in the glass and the enjoyment is from the glass, and there's one less glass to clean. All you have to do is add ice, limoncello, and your mixer before you're on your way to a drink.
Limoncello Highball
The easiest of the limoncello cocktails, this highball will be ready for you to sip after a quick stir.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces limoncello
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice and limoncello.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Dashing Limoncello Highball
If limoncello makes you nervous because of the sweetness, you can rest assured that the orange bitters make it a little more approachable while still being delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces limoncello
- ½ ounce orange vodka
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Lemon wheel garnish
Instructions
- In a highball, add ice, limoncello, orange vodka, and orange bitters.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Limoncello Collins
A Tom Collins is a glass highball style cocktail, but the limoncello adds a little extra lemon flavor without going over the top.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces limoncello
- ¾ ounce gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Orange wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball, add ice, limoncello, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with orange wedge and cherry.
Sparkling Limoncello Thyme Highball
Similar to an Old Cuban highball, this recipe uses limoncello and prosecco to add an extra sparkle to your next cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces limoncello
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce thyme simple syrup
- Prosecco to top off
- Ice
- Thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball, add ice, limoncello, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with thyme sprig.
Bacio del Limone
Italian for "lemon kiss," this drink is elegantly served in a flute, but it is every bit as simple as the highballs, but with an elevated presentation.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces prosecco or sparkling wine
- 1 ounce limoncello
- Crushed ice
- Raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a champagne flute, add crushed ice and berries.
- In a glass or shaker, add prosecco and limoncello.
- Stir gently to mix, careful not to destroy the bubbles.
- Pour mixture into champagne flute.
Lemon Highlander
This limoncello cocktail is the perfect smokey drink with a fruit-forward taste without being sweet.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Scotch
- ½ ounce Drambuie
- ½ ounce limoncello
- Ice or king cube
- Lemon wedge
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, Scotch, Drambuie, and limoncello.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Limoncello Lemon Drop Martini
A lemon drop martini is an extension of the vodka martini, except drop the vermouth and add some kickin' lemon flavor.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces limoncello
- 1 ounce citron vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon wedge, sugar, and lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- Rub the rim of the chilled glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, limoncello, citron vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Frosty Lemon Martini
A riff on a lemon drop martini, this frosty version cuts out a few ingredients to simplify it, but it loses none of the flavor.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces citrus vodka
- 1 ounce limoncello
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Lemon wheel, lemon wedge, and sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Rub the outside rim of the cocktail glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire outer rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citrus vodka, limoncello, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
The Paradiso
This limoncello cocktail is an adult screwdriver. The limoncello and Aperol bring a new twist to a classic brunch drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces orange vodka
- 1/2 ounce limoncello
- 1/2 ounce Aperol
- 1 ounce fresh orange juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, orange vodka, limoncello, Aperol, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Limoncello Sunrise
A lemony spin on the tequila sunrise, this isn't a limoncello cocktail to skip.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce limoncello
- 3 ounces fresh orange juice
- Splash of grenadine
- Crushed ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rock glass, add crushed ice, limoncello, and orange juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Add a splash of grenadine, allow to settle on the bottom, do not mix.
- Garnish with orange wedge.
Limoncello Mojito
Mojitos are typically shaken up with lime juice, but this recipe swaps in lemon for a doubly refreshing drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces limoncello
- 1 ounce white rum
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 4 mint leaves
- Soda water to top off
- Ice
- Lemon wheel, lime wheel, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, limoncello, rum, lemon juice, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with soda water.
- Garnish with citrus wheels and mint sprig.
Bourbon Limoncello Smash
This smash graduates from its fruit counterparts, using lemons and honey to give it a new flavor.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce limoncello
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey
- 2 lemon wedges
- Ice
- Lemon wedge and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle lemon wedges with a bourbon.
- Add ice, limoncello, lemon juice, honey, and remaining bourbon.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon wedge and mint sprig.
A Match Made in Lemon
Limoncello recipes don't all need to be sweet, and they don't all need to be sour. They can be whatever you want them to be. So as you grow comfortable with these limoncello drink recipes, consider trying out a few more Italian cocktails. You might just find a new favorite drink.
