Limoncello Spritz cocktail recipe

The Limoncello Spritz is part of the wider Spritz family, which was made popular in northern Italy, particularly in the area around Venice. The Spritz has its origins in the 19th century, when northern Italy was still claimed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The soldiers who came south to what we now know as Italy weren’t equipped to handle the strength of the local wines, so they diluted the wine using soda water. This created a drink with about the same alcohol content as beer, and so the Spritz was born.

Many famous Spritzes have come before the Limoncello Spritz (often mixed with bitter liqueurs), but this baby brings a twist – it heroes Limoncello (we love Limoncello di Capri in ours) and mixes it up with the classic Spritz elements of prosecco and soda. For the uninitiated, Limoncello is an Italian liqueur that’s having a major moment.

Limoncello is one of Italy’s great gifts to the world. It’s produced in southern Italy, generally along the stunning Amalfi Coast, and it’s Italy in a glass. While this Spritz is sweet and sour, it doesn’t come with the bitter kick of some other Spritzes, so it’s an excellent pick for something that’s lighter on the taste buds. It’s also a pretty perfect choice on a sunny day.  

Limoncello di Capri is the main character of our Limoncello Spritz. It’s bright yellow and might remind you of the sun in Capri (where it was born). It was first crafted by Vincenza Canale in the early 1900s, who served her homemade lemon liqueur (‘limonillo’) to guests at her famous Mariantonia Hotel. Vincenza’s recipe – AKA Limoncello di Capri – is still the same today (it’s just that damn good). 

Limoncello di Capri is produced from the peels of the prized Ovale di Sorrento I.G.P lemon (think of them as the IT girls of lemons), they’re oval-shaped, and are grown on the slopes of Capri on Italy’s Sorrento peninsula. The certification guarantees the quality and origin of the lemons, and ensures they’re the absolute best when it comes to aroma, essential oils and the right balance of zesty and sweet – there’s no Limoncello di Capri without them. You can expect a lot of zingy citrus (obviously), some lemon curd and a smidge of lemongrass.

The simplicity of the Spritz means it’s easy to alter the recipe to suit the tastes for you and your guests. You can add more Limoncello di Capri for an intense lemon flavour, or go easy on the liqueur and add more prosecco for extra bubbles. Soda water will further dilute the mixture, so you can also go easy on the wine and liqueur, and get your fizz from the soda.

Some people might be tempted to add sugar syrup to this mix, which can work well, especially if you have a sweet tooth. But we encourage you to try this Spritz without it in there first because the zing that comes from Limoncello really shines.

Once you’ve perfected this Limoncello number, you might like to try other Spritzes. Whether it’s the Vermouth, Elderflower or something else, there’s a Spritz to suit. Check out our round-up of the best Spritzes to make for a few more ideas.