What is a Limoncello Spritz made of?
What is a Limoncello Spritz made of?
Limoncello is the second most popular liqueur in Italy (after Campari). Even before it started being commercially produced, homemade Limoncello was commonly found in most households on the Sorrentine peninsula and Amalfi coast. The recipe may have originated among fishermen or monks as recently as the early 20th century.
In this article, you’ll find out how Limoncello is produced and used. By the end, you’ll be able to choose your favourite product in the Dolceterra Limoncello collection to make a spritz like a real Italian. You’ll even be able to choose your favourite limoncello spritz recipe and make it at home!
What is Limoncello like?
At room temperature, Limoncello usually tastes exceedingly sweet. When chilled, however, it makes a refreshing drink for summer afternoons. It can also be used to make an excellent sorbet.
Drinking Limoncello is nearly like drinking lemonade, and it’s easy to drink much more than you realise, especially when it’s well chilled. But take care! This ‘lemonade’ has an alcohol content of 25-30%.
For those who are serious about avoiding all alcohol, this delicious Quick Matcha Lemonade Recipe is just as refreshing and easy to make at home.
How is Limoncello made?
A neutral grain spirit is the alcohol produced by germinating, fermenting and then distilling wheat, rice, barley or corn (or sometimes other grains). This neutral spirit can be aged to produce whiskey, or steeped in Juniper and herbs to produce gin.
Limoncello is made by soaking lemon peel in a neutral spirit for a few weeks. Only the outer layer of the lemon’s peel is used, not the bitter pith just under the peel. The resulting liqueur has a tangy, citrusy taste, which obscures the taste of the alcohol.
The traditional home of the drink is the western coast of southern Italy, but it is produced and enjoyed all over the world. Not surprisingly, many people have developed their own recipes for homemade limoncello.
The Spritz
The spritz is a Northern Italian cocktail. Usually, it consists of Prosecco or another sparkling wine, fruit juice or liqueur, and soda water or sparkling water – but it is highly customisable. You can easily use different ingredients to give your spritz your own unique twist.
Your basic Limoncello spritz recipe calls for Limoncello, Prosecco, and club soda. It can be sweetened to taste using syrup or agave, and works well with rosemary, thyme, or mint for a garnish. Even berry purée or candied lemon peel can be used.
For a basic wine spritz on the other hand, start with the ice, pour in some Moscato, add lemon or lime soda, and garnish with a lime wedge. The increasingly popular Aperol Spritzes consist of equal parts Aperol and Prosecco, topped with a little club soda and a slice of orange. To make a Swedish Rosé Spritz, substitute rosé, elderflower liqueur, and lemon seltzer water.
Final Word
The Limoncello spritz, with its light, citrusy taste, makes a perfect sparkling cocktail to enjoy with brunch, as an aperitif, or as an after-dinner drink. It goes well with almost everything!
