Strawberry Limoncello Spritz Cocktail
This refreshing twist on a limoncello spritz is the perfect drink to have in your hand while soaking up the summer sunshine. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you’ll have a light and easy cocktail recipe that is sure to please any (grown-up) palate.
Why I Love This Recipe
Sweet strawberries and tart lemon is the perfect summer flavor combo in my book. This cocktail gives me grown-up strawberry lemonade vibes and I’m into it.
If you like refreshing cocktails, this recipe has you covered. Limoncello topped with sparkling wine, sparkling water, and ice makes a light and fresh cocktail without being too sweet.
This is the ideal drink for porch sipping. Honestly, it tastes better in the sunshine when the glass starts to sweat. Call me weird.
Plus, even though it looks pretty, this cocktail is actually super easy to make. You may have yourself having more than one. (But like, please drink responsibly. *wink* I’m serious.)
Cultural Notes
What is a “spritz” anyway?
There is no set recipe for a spritz cocktail, but the basic formula is this: wine + sparkling water + bitter liquor
This fizzy drink can be traced to Italy, where it is enjoyed as an aperitif (a dry drink served before a meal to get your appetite going).
You may have heard of an Aperol Spritz (prosecco + Aperol or Campari + soda), but did you know there are other versions of spritz cocktails?
There are endless regional variations on spritzes. Read this article for the lowdown on tons of them.
With that being said, this limoncello spritz recipe isn’t traditional, but it is delicious. If you find other spritz cocktails (like a standard limoncello spritz, Aperol spritz, or a Hugo) too dry, you might like this one better. The strawberries make this drink just sweet enough.
Preparation Tips
For the full recipe with ingredient amounts, be sure to scroll down to the recipe card!
Gather ingredients
- Fresh strawberries – You’ll need one per serving to muddle and one to slice for garnishes.
- Limoncello – I used Il Tramonto because it was what was available to me locally, but you can use whatever storebought kind you like or make it homemade!
- Ice
- Dry sparkling wine – Prosecco, champagne, or cava will work.
- Sparkling water – If you want extra limoncello flavor, use La Croix Limoncello, but other types will work too. I would recommend opting for strawberry, lemon, or unflavored.
- Lemon slices
Muddle + stir
Start by muddling one strawberry in a glass. You want the strawberry to be broken down as completely as possible, with no big chunks left.
I would recommend using a sturdy jar like a highball or rocks glass. (A mason jar is also just fine.) If you’d prefer to sip from a wine glass, I’d recommend muddling the strawberry in a separate cup before adding it to the glass. (We don’t want any broken wine glasses!)
Pour + serve
Once your strawberry is muddled, pour in the limoncello and add ice. Stir to cool the limoncello. (Believe me, it’s so much better this way.) Then, add sparkling water and prosecco.
Finish it off by garnishing with lemon and strawberry slices.
Recipe Modifications
- Make it a mocktail – Replace the limoncello with lemonade and the sparkling wine with more sparkling water or non-alcoholic white wine.
- Use a different sparkling wine – No prosecco? Cava and champagne will also work. If you like sweet drinks, you can also try a sweet sparkling wine like Moscato.
- Make it sweeter – Add a sprinkle of sugar to the strawberry while muddling and/or use a sweet white wine.
- Make it drier – Not into sweetness? Choose a dry sparkling wine and use half of a strawberry.
- Make for a crowd – Multiply by the number of servings desired and make in a pitcher instead. (I’d recommend multiplying by 6.) Just be sure to stir thoroughly.
- Use different berries – This drink would taste lovely with any berry – raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry.
Strawberry Limoncello Spritz
Equipment
- muddler
- cocktail jigger
- highball or rocks glass
Ingredients
- 1 small strawberry
- 1 oz limoncello
- 1 cup ice
- 1 oz sparkling water lemon or limoncello flavored
- 2 oz Prosecco or other dry sparkling wine
Toppings
- 1 small lemon slice
- 1 small strawberry slice
Instructions
- Add strawberry to the bottom of a glass (a highball or rocks glass works best) and muddle until it is broken up into small pieces.
- Pour in limoncello, add ice, and stir to cool.
- Top with sparkling water and prosecco, stir. Garnish with a slice of lemon and strawberry.
Notes
- Please note that nutrition facts are an estimate and can vary widely based on amounts and specific types used.
- You can use any type of glass you like, but if you’re muddling in the glass, I’d recommend a highball or rocks glass, since they’re more sturdy. If you’d prefer to use a wine glass, I would muddle your strawberry in a different glass and then add it to the wine glass.
