A Simple Limoncello Spritz Cocktail Recipe for the Holidays

2 cocktails
5 min

Sweet, tangy and bursting with zing, a limoncello spritz is the ultimate palate cleanser. A hugely popular digestif worldwide. Limoncello cuts through rich flavors and leave behind a refreshing citrus taste.


The flavors of limoncello hark of hazy summer evenings outdoors, spent soaking up the good vibes with family and friends. But this is far from a strictly seasonal liqueur that can only be enjoyed during the warmer months of the year.


Limoncello Spritz Cocktail

Far from it. It’s clarified in a single sip with this luscious Limoncello Spritz Cocktail.


If you are planning to treat your guests to something seriously refreshing this Christmas, this recipe comes highly recommended. It’s not only easy to make. But it has the kind of classic lemony flavor with universal appeal.


In fact, it’s about as close as you’ll get to a genuine old-fashioned lemonade for grownups. It’s sophisticated and it can be served anytime, with no real excuse or justification required.


Looking for festive cups and glasses to serve your drinks in? Here are a few options.

Limoncello Spritz Cocktail Recipe


If you can’t lay your hands on a good bottle of limoncello (or you just want to show off), look a little further down for decadent DIY limoncello.


Otherwise, the only ingredients to put together this quintessentially Christmassy cocktail are as follows:


  • 3 oz. Limoncello
  • ½ cup white sparkling wine
  • ½ cup sparkling water
  • Lemon slices, for garnish


As you’d expect, throw it together with these straightforward steps:


  1. Fill your glasses with ice cubes and pour in some limoncello, sparkling wine and sparkling water.
  2. Mix and garnish with lemon slices to enjoy.


That’s really all there is to it, leaving a ton of room for free-styling with added extras.

How to Make Your Own Limoncello


In our house, we make limoncello in the run up to every holiday season. Not that it isn’t readily available in our neighborhood, but the homemade stuff really is a cut above anything store-bought.


Plus again, there’s so much enjoyment to be had with swapping out and switching up the ingredients to create something unique.


Substitutions


For example, you can use neutral grain spirit like Everclear 151, or your favorite brand of vodka. You can adjust the quantities of water, sugar and lemons to your tastes, or throw additional flavors into the mix like lavender or elderflower.


As usual, the recipe below is simply the basic formula for getting the fundamentals together. You will end up with a bottle of absolutely exquisite limoncello. But get creative and put your own signature twist on it comes highly recommended.


Homemade Limoncello


Ingredients


You need these basic ingredients to make your own limoncello at home:


  • 10 lemons
  • 375 ml neutral grain spirit
  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar


Recipe


Once you’ve made your first batch of DIY limoncello, you’ll be surprised just how easy the process was. With no specialist equipment or accessories needed, this is how it’s done:


  1. Zest the lemons in the same way you would for a cake or any other recipe, ensuring you catch every last shred of the zest in a suitable jar or glass container.
  2. Add the spirit to the glass container and give the whole thing a good shake or stir. After which, you can place it in a dark and cool place for around two weeks.
  3. After two weeks, combine the sugar with the water and heat in a pan until boiling. Ensure the mixture has fully combined and set to one side to cool.
  4. Once the mixture has cooled and developed a syrupy texture, add it to the steeped lemon and spirit mixture.
  5. Set the mixture aside in a cool, dry and dark place for a further 24 hours.
  6. Next, use a standard coffee filter of a sheet of cheesecloth to filter the limoncello mixture twice. This will ensure all sediment and general impurities are removed.
  7. Transfer the finished mixture into the bottle of your choosing and place in the refrigerator overnight, during which it will infuse further and reach the right consistency.
  8. If preferred, the limoncello can be stored in the freezer for an even more viscous final result – whatever suits your preferences.


Again, the beauty of this recipe is the way you can make adjustments to create something truly unique. Not that there’s anything wrong with basic DIY limoncello—something you’ll never get tired of making.

Expert Tips for Your Limoncello Spritz


Rounding things off, a few added extras and pointers for anyone looking to make their own limoncello at home.


How to Zest


Firstly, you can use any type of lemons at all to make limoncello. However, fruits with thicker skins are better. In addition, you can also swap out some of the lemon zest for orange zest or lime zest. But only if you’re looking to switch things up with a different flavor.


Types of Spirit


Remember that the spirit you use will impart a certain amount of flavor on the final result. A neutral spirit will allow the flavors of the lemons to shine through, but using vodka or even gin can make for something quite special.


The longer you steep the zest in the spirit, the more rounded and mellow the flavor will be. If in a pinch, it is possible to come up with a batch of limoncello within a week to 10 days. However, leaving the whole thing to steep for as long as 2 to 3 months comes recommended, if you have plenty of time to play with.


Don’t Panic


Last up, don’t panic if storing your limoncello in the freezer has an effect on its appearance. This is simply due to the small particles in the mixture changing with the temperatures – freezing has no effect on its quality or safety.

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A Simple Limoncello Spritz Cocktail Recipe for the Holidays
Recipe details
  • 2  cocktails
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 0 Minutes Total time: 5 min
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Ingredients

  • 3 oz Limoncello
  • 1/2 cup White sparkling wine
  • 1/2 cup Sparkling water
  • Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions

Fill your glasses with ice cubes and pour in some limoncello, sparkling wine and sparkling water.
Mix and garnish with lemon slices to enjoy.
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