What does a Limoncello Spritz taste like?
A Limoncello Spritz tastes like sparkling lemonade for grown-ups: sweet, zesty lemon peel, bright bubbles from prosecco and soda, and only a light alcohol kick.
Limoncello Spritz
sparkling grown-up lemonade
Limoncello is a sweet Italian liqueur made by soaking lemon peels in alcohol, so it tastes like the zest more than the juice: bright, oily and candy-sweet. Topped with prosecco and soda, it opens up into something like a fizzy lemon drop. It's sweeter than it looks, with a gentle tartness rather than a sour punch. Some bars add mint or basil, which makes it fresher and more herbal. It's sunny, simple and goes down very easily on a hot day.
Where you’ll see it
On summer drink menus, Italian restaurants and rooftop bars, served in a wine glass over ice with a lemon wheel and often a mint sprig.
Order it if you love lemon and want something fizzy and sweet without any bitterness.
Quick questions
- Is a Limoncello Spritz sweet?
- Fairly. Limoncello is very sweet on its own, and the prosecco and soda only partly dry it out. Expect sweet lemonade, not a tart sour.
- How strong is limoncello?
- Usually around 25% to 32% alcohol on its own. In a spritz it's diluted with prosecco and soda, so the drink ends up light.