Limoncello Spritz

The Limoncello Spritz is a sparkling Italian cocktail built around limoncello— the delicious lemon-flavored liqueur that has been a staple of Southern Italian culture for decades.

Combined with prosecco and a splash of soda water, it’s served over ice in a large wine glass and garnished with a lemon wheel.

It’s a built drink, which means no shaking or straining required – just pour and serve.

The Limoncello Spritz is sweet, citrusy and beautifully balanced. The limoncello brings an intense lemon flavor – sweet up front with a pleasantly tart finish, while the prosecco adds a fruity fizz that keeps the whole drink feeling crisp and effortless.

The soda water opens it up further, adding a clean, sparkling quality that stops it from ever feeling too sweet. It’s a drink that tastes exactly like summer feels.

To understand the Limoncello Spritz, you first need to understand limoncello itself. This iconic Italian liqueur has its roots in the sun-soaked lemon groves of Southern Italy, most notably the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and the island of Capri.

While the exact origins of limoncello are debated, what’s undisputed is that it has been a beloved part of Southern Italian culture since the beginning of the 1900s, traditionally served ice cold as a digestivo after a long meal.

The Spritz, on the other hand, originated in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, evolving from a 19th century Austrian tradition of adding water to wine into one of Italy’s most enduring aperitivo rituals.

The Limoncello Spritz brings these two traditions together – the citrus heritage of the south and the sparkling aperitivo culture of the north – into one gloriously simple drink.

• Keep everything cold
  Make sure your limoncello, prosecco and soda water are all well chilled before you start. Warm ingredients over ice will dilute the drink too quickly and mute the flavors.
• Use a large wine glass
  A large wine glass gives the drink room to breathe and keeps the bubbles alive for longer. Fill it generously with ice before you pour.
• Get the order right
  Always add the limoncello first, followed by the prosecco and then the soda water. This order helps the ingredients combine naturally without losing too much fizz.
• Choose a Brut Nature Prosecco
  The prosecco is the backbone of this drink, so it’s worth choosing one you’d be happy to drink on its own. A dry or extra dry prosecco works best as it balances the sweetness of the limoncello without tipping the drink into overly sweet territory.

  Look for a Prosecco that is labeled Brut Nature, which is the least sweet type of Prosecco. Despite what the name suggests, Extra Dry Prosecco is actually sweeter than Brut. For a drier, more balanced Spritz, look for Brut Nature or Extra Brut on the label.

• Limoncello Rosé Spritz
  Swap the prosecco for a sparkling rosé to add a delicate blush color and a subtle berry note that plays beautifully against the lemon.
• Limoncello Mint Spritz
  Add a few fresh mint leaves into the glass for cooling, herbal twist. Add a sprig of mint to garnish.
• Limoncello Spritz / Italian bitter orange apéritif liqueur
  Replace half the limoncello with an Italian bitter orange apéritif liqueur for a drink that combines the bitter orange notes of a classic Spritz Veneziano with the bright lemon character of the limoncello.

• Always serve in a large wine glass or balloon glass over plenty of ice. The size of the glass is part of the experience.
• A lemon wheel is the classic choice – place it on the rim or float it on top of the drink. For something a little more considered, use a twist of lemon zest instead, running it around the rim before dropping it in to release the aromatic oils.
• Add a sprig of mint to add a fresh and cooling herbal note, which also dresses up the drink beautifully.