From the Arnold Palmer to lemon drops shots, we love a cocktail that tastes like summer. And with its vibrant sweet-tart lemon flavor, the limoncello martini is like sipping on pure sunshine.
How to Make a Limoncello Martini
Its key ingredient, limoncello, is an Italian liqueur produced primarily in Southern Italy, but you can also make it at home from scratch. Limoncello gets its sunny taste from lemon zest, which imparts a robust lemony flavor. It's yummy for sipping solo, making this martini extra special.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces limoncello
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, limoncello, vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Related: Tastefully Tart Lemon Drop Martini
Limoncello Martini Variations
Mix it up with tasty twists on the original.
- Experiment with the proportions of limoncello to vodka, but aim to keep approximately 2 to 2½ ounces total.
- Add more lemon juice if you desire a tarter flavor.
- If you want your limoncello martini to be on the sweeter side, add more simple syrup.
- Use honey instead of simple syrup if you want a more floral touch.
- For an even stronger floral touch without much sweetness, use elderflower liqueur instead of simple syrup.
- For a more robust lemon flavor, use citron vodka.
Simple Limoncello Martini Garnishes
Just because the limoncello martini calls for a lemon ribbon doesn't mean you need to listen.
- Stick with the lemon garnish and use a lemon peel or twist.
- For a bolder lemon note, use a wheel, wedge, or slice.
- A dehydrated lemon wheel or slice offers a unique look.
- Add a sugar rim for a sweeter garnish. Do so by rubbing the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge. Place the sugar in a saucer, then dip the rim of the glass in the salt or sugar to coat evenly. You can do this with just part of the rim or the entire rim.
Liquid Sunshine
Say "salute!" and soak up the sun with every sip of this cocktail. Indulge in the sunny sweetness of a limoncello martini, a delightful upgrade from the classic lemon drop martini. Bursting with vibrant lemon flavors, this deluxe concoction offers a refreshing twist without the overpowering tartness.
