This goes out to all of the lemon lovers out there! Refreshing, citrusy, fizzy and oh so pretty. The first time I made this drink I tried it out on a group of friends at the beginning of a pretty crazy Italian meal (that involved Zucchini Fritti as a starter). A few hours later, the entire bottle was gone, and there were some very happy murmurings from the crowd.

I served this sparkling limoncello drink in coupe glasses with citrus rounds and fresh mint, which was super cute. You really could serve it in any glass you wanted, from a rocks glass to a champagne flute. Keep in mind that the drink is served straight up because it involves sparkling wine or water, so don’t choose a super large glass. It’s more fun to refill little glasses with this pretty yellow cocktail anyway! And make sure to check out 22 Cocktail Recipes for the Holidays!

Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail: Refreshing, citrusy, fizzy and oh so pretty.

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What Is Limoncello?

Named from the Italian word for lemon, “limone”, limoncello is a popular Italian liqueur, made with a neutral liquor (a grain alcohol, usually vodka), sugar and lemon zest. It’s intensely lemony and also quite sweet, with a bit of tartness. Because there is no lemon juice in it, it’s more lemon flavored from the zest, without the sharp tartness of the juice. Plus, there’s the sugar, so all in all, this is a fairly sweet liqueur. It is often drunk straight up as a digestif or digestive after a meal, though it can also be sipped as an aperitif or any time you are in cocktail mode.

Limoncello is also often used in gelatos and other Italian dessert recipes, such as cakes and glazes.

What Do You Drink Limoncello With?

While limoncello is often sipped straight, it can be mixed into cocktails. Here, limoncello is mixed with simple syrup, sparkling wine or sparkling water, and fresh lime or lemon juice (I like to mix the two citruses for a layered flavor). This results in a cocktail that can be on the sweeter side if you like, or on the tarter side if that’s more your speed. Play around with the amount of simple syrup and citrus juice. Also see how you like the ratio of sparkling wine/water to the limoncello base, and adjust to taste.

Can You Drink Limoncello on Its Own?

Yes, you can. In fact, most limoncello fans keep their limoncello in the freezer to sip it cold either straight up (most common) or on the rocks — it also is sometimes downed as a shot. If you have an open bottle, it should be stored in the fridge or the freezer to keep it from spoiling. Because of the high alcohol content, it will not freeze in the freezer.

Does Limoncello Have Alcohol in it?

Yes, it does. The alcohol content is 30%, so be careful! Because it’s so sweet and delicious, it goes down very easily, and before you know it…Combining it with sparkling water or other non-alcoholic mixers will dilute the alcohol potency of the drink. Straight up, or in a drink, it is meant to be sipped and savored slowly. But again, some people feel quite differently about that!

How to Make Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail

1. Pour the ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the lemon or lime juice. Then the Limoncello. And simple syrup.

2. Shake and strain: Shake until the drink is cold, and the outside of the shaker is beaded with condensation. Pour into two coupe or glasses of your choice, dividing it evenly.

3. Top with wine: Add the sparkling wine or water. Garnish with the mint sprigs and citrus wheels.

More Cocktail Recipes

• French 75
• Boulevardier
• Vodka Prosecco Cocktail
• Hibiscus Cocktail
• Mojito
• Yuzu Cocktail