The Limoncello Spritz recipe
for your table
Fill a large wine or spritz glass with ice cubes.
Pour the limoncello over it.
Top up with prosecco and a splash of soda; stir once.
Garnish with a lemon slice and, optionally, some mint.
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The story
Limoncello has been made for generations along the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, from the peels of the famous, fragrant lemons that grow there against the rocks. Traditionally, it is enjoyed neat and ice-cold as a digestif, from small glasses. The spritz version is a recent evolution: Italian bartenders began mixing the liqueur with prosecco for a lighter, longer drink, and social media did the rest. In the past few years, the Limoncello Spritz has become one of the fastest-growing summer drinks worldwide, and it continues to do so.
The right glass
For the spritz, choose a large stemmed glass of approximately 49 cl, with room for plenty of ice and that radiant yellow color. Do you also enjoy serving your limoncello neat? Then small, chilled liqueur glasses are essential, ice-cold straight from the freezer, just like on the Amalfi Coast. In our limoncello category, you will find glasses for both serving styles together. For large 49 cl stemmed glasses, you can also visit our Aperol spritz glasses.
RCR Timeless Spritz Glass 49 cl (6 pieces)
RCR Invino Liqueur Glass 10 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 78,90.
The right tools
For a Limoncello Spritz, besides the glass, use a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for precise measuring and large ice cubes. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Large cubes melt slowly, so your drink gets less diluted
Glass set (our choice 01) + 3 bar tools together € 82,80.
What do you make a Limoncello Spritz with?
For a Limoncello Spritz, you need prosecco. Well-known bottles include Villa Massa and Pallini. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it pairs with, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
The proportions matter: more limoncello makes it sweeter, while more soda makes it drier. Taste and adjust. Add a scoop of lemon sorbet and it moves toward a Sgroppino. Another lovely option is a sprig of fresh basil instead of mint, for an Italian herbal touch. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Servingtip
Store both limoncello and glasses in the freezer: the colder it is, the less sticky-sweet it tastes. A sprig of fresh mint or rosemary gives the spritz a surprisingly herbal edge.
Good to know
The 6-9-3 ratio explained
Six centiliters of limoncello, nine centiliters of prosecco, and three centiliters of soda: that’s one and a half parts bubbles to one part liqueur, topped off with half a part soda. The proportions deliberately differ from those of an Aperol Spritz, in which the liqueur gets less room. Limoncello is sweet and syrupy, so the prosecco literally needs to lift it, while the soda makes the whole drink easy to drink. If you use 8 cl of limoncello, you’ll end up with a liqueur with bubbles. First fill the glass generously with ice, then pour in the limoncello, followed by the prosecco and soda.
How much alcohol is in a Limoncello Spritz
Expect 12 to 13 percent ABV in the glass. The 6 cl of limoncello at typically 28 percent ABV provides 1.7 cl of pure alcohol, while the 9 cl of prosecco at 11 percent adds another 1 cl, for almost 2.7 cl in total. With the soda and melting ice, you end up with a glass of around 22 cl, equivalent to just over two standard drinks. This makes the spritz considerably stronger than an Aperol Spritz, which comes in at about 10 percent ABV. Homemade limoncello at 32 percent ABV or higher can quickly push the drink toward 15 percent ABV.
Limoncello Spritz or Aperol Spritz
The same structure, but a different liqueur and a different weight. The Aperol Spritz follows 3-2-1 with 9 cl prosecco, 6 cl Aperol at 11 percent ABV, and 3 cl soda, keeping it light and bitter. The Limoncello Spritz uses the same quantities, but the liqueur is 28 percent ABV and sweet rather than bitter, making the drink fuller and stronger. In terms of flavor, citrus stands opposite herbal bitters and orange. If you find the Aperol Spritz too bitter, this is a good choice, while anyone looking for that counterbalance should stick with the original orange version.
Which limoncello should you choose
Check the alcohol percentage and origin on the label. Pallini Limoncello from Amalfi is 26 percent ABV and relatively mild, while Villa Massa from Sorrento is 30 percent ABV and distinctly more lemony. Both are widely available in the Netherlands. Homemade limoncello is often sweeter and stronger, so reduce the amount to 5 cl. A good bottle is slightly cloudy because the lemon oil does not dissolve, while crystal-clear, bright yellow limoncello usually contains coloring and flavoring instead of real zest. Store the bottle in the freezer so it is immediately at serving temperature.
Limoncello Spritz ratios at scale
If you're making it for a group, simply stick to the Limoncello Spritz ratio: per glass, use 6 cl limoncello, 9 cl prosecco, and 3 cl soda, or 2-3-1 by volume. For six glasses, that comes to 36 cl limoncello, 54 cl prosecco, and 18 cl soda. Add the prosecco and soda just before serving; otherwise, the spritz will already be flat by the third glass. Chill the bottles and glasses beforehand, and fill each glass generously with ice first so the ratio remains correct without immediately adding melted ice.
Adjusting the Limoncello Spritz ratio
What is in Limoncello Spritz besides limoncello, prosecco and soda? Nothing, and that is precisely why your bottle determines the final result. A 26 percent limoncello tastes milder than a 30 percent one, so taste before garnishing. How do you make Limoncello Spritz less sweet? Choose a prosecco brut instead of an extra dry, since the latter contains more residual sugar, and add an extra splash of soda. If it turns out watery, that was usually because there was not enough ice: a full glass of cubes melts more slowly than a few loose ones.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Limoncello Spritz?
A Limoncello Spritz consists of 6 cl limoncello, 9 cl prosecco and 3 cl soda water, poured over plenty of ice and garnished with a lemon slice and some mint. You need no other ingredients: the lemon liqueur already provides both the sweetness and the citrus flavor.
How do I make a Limoncello Spritz per glass?
Fill a large wine or spritz glass with ice cubes, pour in 6 cl limoncello, top with 9 cl prosecco and 3 cl soda, and stir exactly once. Garnish with lemon and mint. A glass of approximately 49 cl leaves room for the ice; see our limoncello glasses.
What is the right ratio for a Limoncello Spritz?
Two parts limoncello to three parts prosecco and one part soda, or 6-9-3 in centiliters. If you find it too sweet, add more soda; if you want it fuller, add a little more limoncello. Always taste before garnishing, because limoncellos vary widely in sweetness and alcohol content.
What do you make Limoncello Spritz with?
With limoncello, prosecco and soda water, plus plenty of ice, a lemon slice and fresh mint. A dry prosecco brut works best because the limoncello already provides the sweetness; cava works too. Store the limoncello in the freezer for a less cloyingly sweet taste in the glass.
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