11 Lively Limoncello Cocktail Recipes for Lemon Fans

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 flavor 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

Arguably one of the best limoncello cocktail recipes for beginners, the classic Lemon Drop Martini 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

• 2 oz Limoncello

• 1 oz SKYY Vodka

• 0.5 oz 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

SKYY Vodka (opens in new window) is an excellent choice for a Limoncello Lemon Drop Martini due to its clean, crisp character that enhances the cocktail’s bright, zesty flavors. Its smooth finish balances the sweetness of limoncello and the tartness of lemon juice, setting the stage for a harmonious and polished drink that’s sure to impress.

2. Bourbon Limoncello

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

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Limoncello

• 1 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

• 0.5 oz 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

Who doesn’t love Prosecco cocktails 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

• 1 oz Limoncello (chilled)

• 0.5 oz Lime juice (fresh)

• 4 oz 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

• 1.5 oz Limoncello

• 1.5 oz SKYY Vodka

• 0.5 oz Lemon juice (fresh)

• 2 oz 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 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

• 2 oz Limoncello

• 1.5 oz Bulldog Gin (opens in new window)

• 1.5 oz Lemon juice (fresh)

• 1 oz Simple syrup (optional)

• 2 oz Club soda

• Lemon wheel (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

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

2. Shake until chilled

3. Strain into a tall glass with fresh ice

4. Top with club soda

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel

6. Limoncello Spritz

Charged with Prosecco and club soda for a beautiful, effervescent finish, the light and lovely Limoncello Spritz is the flirty cousin of the time-honored Aperol Spritz. 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

The Tequila Sunrise 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

• 2.5 oz Limoncello

• 3 oz 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

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

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 1.5 oz Limoncello

• 0.5 oz 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

The minty Mojito is a renowned beachside drink the world over, and the limoncello variety is just as divine. 

Ingredients

• 1 oz Wray & Nephew White Rum (opens in new window)

• 1 oz Limoncello

• 1 oz Lime juice

• 0.5 oz Simple syrup

• 4 oz Club soda

• A few mint leaves (plus more to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Muddle lime juice, simple 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 club soda

5. Garnish with mint leaves

10. Tuscan Pear

If you love a sweet, crisp Pear Martini, you have to try the Tuscan Pear cocktail. 

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Pear-flavored vodka

• 0.75 oz Limoncello

• 0.75 oz Ginger liqueur

• 0.5 oz Simple syrup

• 1 oz Orange juice

• Mint leaves (to garnish)

• Dried pear slices (to garnish)

• Ice (crushed, for serving)

Method

1. Add vodka, limoncello, ginger liqueur, simple 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

The classic Highball cocktail 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

• 1.5 oz Limoncello

• 1 tbsp Absinthe

• 2 dashes Orange bitters

• Club soda (to top)

• Lemon twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add limoncello, absinthe, and bitters

3. Top with club soda

4. Garnish with a lemon twist