11 Lovely Limoncello Cocktail Recipes to Try at Home

Whenever a summery pick-me-up is called for, we like to bring out this list of bright and breezy limoncello cocktail recipes that are tailor-made for easy, satisfying sipping. Whether you make your own limoncello or have a store-bought bottle handy, these quick and simple cocktail recipes with limoncello will have you living la dolce vita in no time at all.  

What is limoncello?

Limoncello is smooth and sweet Italian lemon liqueur with an intense lemon flavour that was originally produced in Southern Italy, especially in the area around the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi. However, these days this popular liqueur is made and enjoyed by lemon lovers the world over. Traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo, it also forms the base of a variety of delightful cocktails. 

1. Limoncello Lemon Drop cocktail

Arguably one of the best limoncello cocktail recipes for beginners, the classic Lemon Drop Martini (opens in new window) is one of those drinks that will quickly become a regular occurrence on your DIY line-up as soon as you’ve poured the first one. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Limoncello

• 30 ml SKYY Vodka

• 15 ml Lemon juice

• Lemon wheel or twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add limoncello, vodka, and lemon juice to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

4. Garnish with a lemon wheel or twist

2. Bourbon Limoncello Cocktail

Bourbon cocktails are popular around Christmas (opens in new window), but the great thing about a top-tier bourbon like Wild Turkey 101 is that it’s versatile enough to underpin summertime drinks like the Bourbon Limoncello Cocktail as well. 

Ingredients

• 45 ml Limoncello

• 30 ml Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

• 15 ml Cinzano Vermouth Bianco (opens in new window)

• Squeeze Lemon juice

• Lemon twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add limoncello, bourbon, vermouth, and lemon juice to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a cocktail glass

4. Garnish with a lemon twist

3. Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail

Who doesn’t love Prosecco cocktails (opens in new window) when the weather is sunny and lovely? Limoncello and prosecco cocktail recipes make for an easy pour that comes together in the most beautiful way. 

Ingredients

• 30 ml Limoncello (chilled)

• 15 ml Lime juice (fresh)

• 120 ml Cinzano Prosecco D.O.C. (opens in new window)

• Lime wheel or twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add limoncello and lime juice to a fluted glass

2. Top with Prosecco

3. Add ice if desired

4. Garnish with a lime wheel or twist

4. Limoncello Moscow Mule

Another limoncello cocktail recipe that follows in the slipstream of an iconic mixed drink, the Limoncello Moscow Mule riffs on the already sublime combination of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer to craft a cocktail that delivers a feisty kick. 

Ingredients

• 45 ml Limoncello

• 45 ml SKYY Vodka

• 15 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• 60 ml Ginger beer

• Lemon wheel (to garnish)

• Ice (crushed, for serving)

Method

1. Add limoncello, vodka, lemon juice, and ginger beer to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well combined

3. Strain into a Mule mug filled with crushed ice

4. Garnish with a lemon wheel

5. Limoncello Gin Collins cocktail

Cocktail recipes using limoncello do not get any easier than the Limoncello Gin Collins. This is a bright spin on the Tom Collins, topped with soda for a fizzy, picnic-perfect serve.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Limoncello

• 45 ml Bulldog Gin (opens in new window)

• 45 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• 30 ml Sugar syrup (optional)

• 60 ml Soda water

• Lemon wheel (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add limoncello, gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup (if using) to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until chilled

3. Strain into a tall glass with fresh ice

4. Top with soda water

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel

6. Limoncello Spritz cocktail

Charged with Prosecco and club soda for a beautiful effervescent finish, the light, and lovely Limoncello Spritz (opens in new window) is the flirty cousin of the time-honoured Aperol Spritz (opens in new window). We love that adding a few sparkles to this sunny liqueur creates a tall, cool drink that can be sipped at leisure. 

7. Limoncello Sunrise cocktail

The Tequila Sunrise (opens in new window) is one of those visually enticing drinks that are as gorgeous to look at as it is to enjoy. Here’s another bright and bold take on it. 

Ingredients

• 75 ml Limoncello

• 90 ml Orange juice

• 1 tbsp Grenadine

• Orange slice (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice

2. Add limoncello and orange juice

3. Slowly pour grenadine over the back of a spoon to float it on top

4. Garnish with an orange slice

8. Amalfi Martini cocktail

If you are in the process of discovering different types of Martinis (opens in new window), you have got to add the Amalfi Martini to your line-up. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Bulldog Gin

• 45 ml Limoncello

• 15 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• A few mint leaves

• Lemon twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and mint leaves to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a chilled Martini glass

4. Garnish with a lemon twist

9. Limoncello Mojito cocktail 

The minty Mojito (opens in new window) is a renowned beachside drink the world over, and the limoncello variety is just as divine.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Wray & Nephew White Rum (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Limoncello

• 30 ml Lime juice

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• 120 ml Soda water

• A few mint leaves (plus more to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Muddle lime juice, sugar syrup, and mint leaves in a glass

2. Add rum and limoncello to an ice-filled shaker and shake well

3. Pour shaken mix over the muddled mint and lime

4. Top with soda water

5. Garnish with mint leaves

10. Tuscan Pear Cocktail

If you love a sweet, crisp Pear Martini (opens in new window), you have to try the Tuscan Pear cocktail. 

Ingredients

• 45 ml Pear-flavored vodka

• 20 ml Limoncello

• 20 ml Ginger liqueur

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• 30 ml Orange juice

• Mint leaves (to garnish)

• Dried pear slices (to garnish)

• Ice (crushed, for serving)

Method

1. Add vodka, limoncello, ginger liqueur, sugar syrup, and orange juice to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a chilled glass over crushed ice

4. Garnish with mint leaves and dried pear slices

11. Limoncello Highball cocktail

The classic Highball cocktail (opens in new window) is perhaps one of the easiest cocktails to pour if you are a newbie. The Limoncello Highball is a little different, but not trickier to build. 

Ingredients

• 45 ml Limoncello

• 1 tbsp Absinthe

• 2 dashes Orange bitters

• Soda water (to top)

• Lemon twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add limoncello, absinthe, and bitters

3. Top with soda water

4. Garnish with a lemon twist