Bring a little Amalfi sunshine to your garden with a zesty Limoncello Spritz. Bright lemon liqueur meets bubbly prosecco and a splash of sparkling water for a long, refreshing summer drink.
If you know the classic bitter spritz, this is the sunnier, sweeter cousin—lighter, more citrus-led and perfect for warm afternoons. Which style do you prefer?
This summer I’ve been curating a small menu of spritzes—easy, drinkable cocktails that feel a little celebratory. The Limoncello Spritz is my go-to when I want something cool and bright without too much fuss. It’s simple to build but tastes like an afternoon by the Italian coast.
With just three liquid ingredients, ratios matter. The guiding measure here is 3:2:1—prosecco to limoncello to soda water. That balance keeps the drink lively and not overly sweet, while still showcasing that intense lemon character.
Spritz ingredients
Use good quality limoncello. The liqueur is made from lemon zest steeped in alcohol, producing a concentrated citrus flavour: bright, syrupy and aromatic. Lower-quality bottles can taste artificial or overly synthetic, so choose one that smells fresh and tastes cleanly lemony.
Avoid crema di limoncello for this cocktail—its dairy content can curdle when mixed with sparkling wine. A classic, clear limoncello is the right choice.
Prosecco supplies the bubbles and makes up the largest portion of the drink. I recommend a brut or extra-dry prosecco rather than a sweeter style; the drier wine offsets the liqueur’s sugar and keeps the spritz crisp.
Finish with soda water to lengthen the cocktail. A modest splash adds effervescence and makes the drink easy to sip over a long conversation or a lazy afternoon.
Garnish simply with a lemon wheel or slice to echo the main flavour. For a subtle herbal contrast, add a sprig of thyme or rosemary—this lifts the aroma without overwhelming the lemon.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Chill all ingredients thoroughly before assembling the drink so it stays cold without heavy dilution from melting ice.
- Stick to the 3:2:1 ratio as a starting point (prosecco:limoncello:soda). Adjust proportions to suit your taste—less limoncello for a drier drink, more for sweetness and citrus intensity.
- Remember limoncello can be high in alcohol. Increasing the limoncello will raise both the sweetness and strength of the spritz.
Serving suggestions
Serve in a generous, stemmed glass—either a wine glass or a large tulip bowl—filled with plenty of ice. A straw is optional, but a lemon semicircle on the rim looks elegant and reinforces the citrus profile.
More summer cocktail recipes
- Smoky Mezcal Paloma
- Cherry Long Island Iced Tea
- Hugo Spritz
- Aperol Spritz
Limoncello Spritz
Ingredients
- 35 ml / 1½ oz limoncello
- 75 ml / 3 oz prosecco (brut recommended)
- 25 ml / 1 oz soda water
- lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a stemmed glass with plenty of ice. Pour in the limoncello first, followed by the prosecco.
- Add the soda water, then stir gently to combine without losing the bubbles.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- Keep ingredients chilled so the drink stays cold and refreshing.
- Adjust the 3:2:1 ratio to your taste—less limoncello for a drier spritz, more for a sweeter, stronger flavour.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.
Tell us how it went and any tweaks you made.