Ingredients
- 1½ ounces limoncello
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, limoncello, vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Variations and Substitutions
If this recipe doesn't suit your limoncello martini vision, there are plenty of suitable variations.
- Experiment with the proportions of limoncello to vodka, but aim to keep approximately two to two and a half ounces total.
- Add more lemon juice if you desire a tarter flavor.
- If you want your limoncello martini to be on the sweeter side, add more simple syrup.
- Use honey in place of simple syrup if you want a more floral touch.
- For an even stronger floral touch without much sweetness, use elderflower liqueur instead of simple syrup.
- For a more robust lemon flavor, use citron vodka.
Garnishes
Just because the limoncello martini calls for a lemon ribbon doesn't mean you need to listen.
- Stick with the lemon garnish and use a lemon peel or twist.
- For a bolder lemon note, use a wheel, wedge, or slice.
- A dehydrated lemon wheel or slice offers a unique look.
- Add a sugar rim for a sweeter garnish. Do so by rubbing the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge. Place the sugar in a saucer, then dip the rim of the glass in the salt or sugar to coat evenly. You can do this with just part of the rim or the entire rim.
About the Limoncello Martini
A cousin of the lemon drop martini, the limoncello martini brings a fuller, brighter flavor without so much sour. It doesn't miss the zingy lemon flavor, but it does miss the full martini requirement, as it is a martini in name only. However, don't let that stop you from enjoying this classic and classy cocktail.
Its key ingredient, limoncello, is an Italian liqueur produced primarily in Southern Italy, but it's also a very popular liquor to make at home from scratch. Limoncello gets its taste from lemon zest, but it isn't an overly tart drink, thanks to sugar and the lemon oils that tie it all together. From its inception over 100 years ago, limoncello has surged in popularity, both as a cocktail ingredient and an after-dinner drink to enjoy neat or on ice.
Sunshine in a Glass
With its sunny lemon flavors, the limoncello martini is a sweet and deluxe upgrade from the classic lemon drop martini. The limoncello martini completely transforms the lemon martini game with all of the best lemon flavors without any of the overwhelming tart lemon notes. Try a variety of other limoncello cocktails and savor all that sunshine in a glass.
