If you love the tangy, sweet flavour of limoncello, then this limoncello sour cocktail is for you. With its smooth, creamy finish and bright citrus flavour, it’s a simple drink I love to make when hosting a dinner party or planning a low key date night at home.
This simple cocktail recipe combines two of my favourite drinks; an amaretto sour and a limoncello spritz. It’s light and tangy with a sweet and creamy finish.
I always seem to have a bottle of limoncello on my liquor shelf but sometimes it’s not the right time for a spritz and I really wanted another way to use it. This limoncello sour feels a little more sophisticated and night time appropriate.
It’s got that classic creamy finish you expect from a sour, and a light and refreshing citrus taste. If you prefer tart drinks over super sweet, then you’ll love this one.
So next time you’re wanting a limoncello cocktail recipe that isn’t a spritz, give this one a try!
Key Ingredients
This limoncello sour cocktail uses simple ingredients to get that classic combination you find with a sour of sweet, sour, liquor, with a creamy finish. Plus it can be customised based on your tastes.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Limoncello – Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made with lemon zest, sugar, and vodka. There are many brands available, some being sweeter than others so it comes down to personal taste preference.
- Gin or Vodka – this is personal preference. I like gin, therefore I like this drink with gin, however my husband doesn’t, so I make his with Vodka. Both work really well.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice adds the citrus / sour element to this cocktail.
- Egg white – this adds the creamy, frothy element that’s iconic in a sour (and I promise, it doesn’t taste eggy!). For a vegan option, you can use aquafaba instead, with the same results.
- Simple syrup (optional) – depending on your limoncello, you may want to skip the simple syrup as it can make the drink too sweet. However if you prefer a sweeter drink or your limoncello isn’t super sweet, adding it can balance the flavours nicely.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Just like my amaretto sour, this cocktail is very quick and simple to make. If you decide you need it a little sweeter, you can see that post for instructions for how to make simple syrup, but it’s a simple 1-1 ratio of sugar to water.
When making a sour cocktail, it’s recommended to start with a dry shake in order to get the best creamy texture. So add your limoncello, gin or vodka, lemon juice, egg white and simple syrup if using, to a cocktail shaker and shake well.
🍸Tip! The dry shake helps emulsify the egg white so you get a thick, creamy foam so don’t skip it. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker you can use a jar with an airtight lid instead!
Then, add in a handful of ice and shake again until the shaker is frosty and your cocktail is nice and cold.
Strain the drink into a glass. Finish with a thin slice of lemon on top!
Recipe FAQs
Yes. If you’d prefer not to use egg white or want a vegan version, you can substitute aquafaba (the liquid from a tin of chickpeas). Use the same amount as egg white and follow the recipe as written.
I love to serve this in a coupe glass, but a rocks glass like an amaretto sour is served in is just as good if that’s what you have.
It depends. Limoncello varies a lot by brand. Some are quite sweet, others more tart. I recommend making the drink without simple syrup first, then adding it only if you feel it needs it.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More easy cocktails:
Gingerbread Whiskey Sour
Lemon Spritz Mocktail
Hugo Spritz
Classic Aperol Spritz
Limoncello Sour
Equipment
Ingredients
- 90 millilitres / 3 ounces limoncello
- 45 millilitres / 1 ½ ounces gin or vodka
- 30 millilitres / 1 ounce lemon juice
- 30 grams / 1 egg white
- 15 millilitres / ½ ounce simple syrup optional
- Lemon slices to garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the limoncello, gin or vodka, lemon juice, egg white and simple syrup if using. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds without ice until foamy.
- Add a handful of ice to the shaker and shake again for another 10-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
- Strain into a glass and garnish with a thin slice of lemon. Serve immediately while cold.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
Made this recipe? Leave a review!