Limoncello Spritz: the original recipe — and the alcohol-free version
Limoncello Spritz has long caught up with Aperol Spritz in many Italian bars: lighter, fresher, more lemony. The good thing about it - you only need three ingredients and two minutes. Here is the original recipe in the classic 3:2:1 ratio, plus the answer to the most important question: Which Limoncello should you use?
Limoncello Spritz — the recipe
Ingredients for 1 glass:
- 90 ml Prosecco, well chilled (3 parts)
- 60 ml Limoncello, well chilled (2 parts)
- 30 ml soda water or mineral water with high carbonation (1 part)
- Ice cubes, 1 lemon slice, optionally 1 sprig of fresh mint or rosemary
Preparation:
- Fill a large wine glass completely with ice cubes.
- Pour in Limoncello, then slowly add the Prosecco.
- Top up with soda, stir gently once, garnish with a lemon slice. Done.
Important: First the Limoncello, then the Prosecco — this way both combine without losing carbonation.
Which Limoncello is suitable?
The Spritz stands or falls with the Limoncello. Industrial products often only taste sweet and perfumed — an artisanally produced lemon liqueur, on the other hand, brings real citrus fruit and a subtle bitter note to the glass. From our range, the following are suitable:
- Limoncello il Convento — the classic from Sorrento, made from hand-processed lemons from the monastery garden, with a pleasant bitter note.
- Limoncello Artigiano from Feinbrennerei Sasse — artisanally distilled, with a strong citrus note.
How to make it authentically Italian
Three details distinguish the bar-style Spritz from the improvised version at home:
- The 3:2:1 ratio. Three parts Prosecco, two parts Limoncello, one part soda. If you prefer it lighter, use only one part Limoncello — but it shouldn't get sweeter.
- Everything ice cold. Limoncello belongs in the fridge anyway (especially after opening), and so does Prosecco. Warm ingredients dilute the drink because the ice melts too quickly.
- The large glass. A bulbous wine glass with plenty of ice — not a champagne flute. The ice cools, hardly dilutes, and lets the aroma breathe.
Limoncello Spritz alcohol-free
The good news: hardly any Spritz can be made as convincingly alcohol-free as this one — the lemon carries the flavor, not the alcohol. You need two components:
- An alcohol-free lemon liqueur like the Wellpaero Limoncello – alcohol-free from Feinbrennerei Sasse.
- An alcohol-free sparkling wine or champagne as a Prosecco substitute — we compared which ones really taste like sparkling wine here.
Preparation as above, same ratio. More ideas for alcohol-free aperitifs can be found in our 10 alcohol-free cocktail recipes — and if you miss the orange classic: Aperol Spritz is also available alcohol-free.
Three variations for the summer
- With rosemary: A sprig in the glass gives a resinous, Mediterranean note — excellent with lemon.
- With mint and lime: Moves the Spritz towards Hugo — fresher, a little greener. If you like it reproducible, instead of fresh leaves, use 1 cl Bacanha Organic Mint Syrup and a splash of Lime Syrup.
- As a Sgroppino variation: A small scoop of lemon sorbet instead of soda in the glass — half drink, half dessert.
For the alcohol-free version, take a look at the Bacanha organic syrups: The Verbena syrup brings a citrusy-herbal depth that counteracts the missing Limoncello body — one teaspoon is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you classically drink Limoncello?
Pure, ice cold, from small glasses — traditionally as a digestif after dinner in Italy. The Spritz is its aperitif sister: diluted, sparkling, for the early evening light rather than the finish.
Can I use sparkling wine or champagne instead of Prosecco?
Yes. Dry sparkling wine works well, champagne is allowed, but almost too good — the fine perlage is lost next to the strong lemon. Most important is: dry (brut), not semi-dry.
How much alcohol does a Limoncello Spritz have?
Depending on the Limoncello (25–34% Vol. is common), the finished glass will contain about 11–14% Vol. — comparable to a glass of wine. The alcohol-free version above comes in at 0.0 to 0.5% Vol.
