Our limoncello martini is the ultimate way to enjoy limoncello. It’s bright, boozy and even a bit creamy. It’s like a lemon meringue pie in a glass! 

We recently had the chance to meet the 5th generation (and first female) President and CEO of Pallini, Micaela Pallini. Who, FYI, is the (first female) president of Federvini, the Italian industry association for wine and spirits. Total bad ass.

The Pallini brand recently unveiled their Limonzero, a non-alcoholic version of their world renowned limoncello. The flavor and body of the Limonzero is astonishing and one of the best non-alcoholic products we have tasted to date. Our Limoncello martini is delicious made with Pallini Limoncello or Limonzero—whatever suits you!

Ingredients 

Limoncello 

Any limoncello will do—just be sure to use one that you enjoy drinking on its own since it’s the main flavor player here. We like Pallini the best—which is also readily available. Limoncello is best served chilled, so store it in the refrigerator if you have space. 

Vodka

Vodka adds booziness without stealing the show. Plus, we only add 1 ounce per martini, which is less than most limoncello martinis. We find it’s the ideal amount for creating a boozy martini that still screams lemon. 

Lemon Juice 

The best limoncello martinis have a bit of fresh lemon juice added. You don’t need much—just ½ an ounce—but that little bit really kicks up the flavor. 

Cream

Cream is not a traditional ingredient in limoncello martinis, but we like the frothy body it adds. It’s optional, so you can use it or skip it. If you like the idea of a foamy top but don’t want to use cream, you can also use half an egg white per cocktail.

How to Make

Our limoncello martini makes use of the double shake (if you use the cream or egg white). This means you first dry shake all the ingredients together before adding ice and shaking again to chill. The dry shake combines all of the ingredients and aerates the cream—giving the drink a nice foamy texture. 

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker
  2. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. 
  3. Fill the shaker halfway with ice and shake again to chill. 
  4. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Serve immediately. 

Serving 

To keep the drink chilled as long as possible, we recommend serving the martini in a chilled glass. Simple pop the glassware in the fridge or freezer 5–10 minutes before serving. 

Serve this cocktail for all kinds of occasions including date night, girls nights, book clubs, bridal showers and more. 

More Italian-Inspired Cocktails to Try

FAQs

What’s the difference between a limoncello martini and a lemon drop martini?

The Lemon Drop Martini is made with vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. While a Limoncello Martini is made with vodka, limoncello, and lemon juice (our version also adds heavy cream, which is optional). 

What’s the best limoncello to use?

We like Pallini limoncello the best. It’s bright, citrusy and made with lemons from the Amalfi coast. Plus, it’s rooted in history. Pallini limoncello is based off of a 100 year old family recipe and is the world’s best selling limoncello brand. The Pallini company, founded in 1875, is based in Rome and is the only distillery in the capital of Ital. Pallini is known for Mistrà (anise-based liqueur) and its incredibly popular limoncello.

Limoncello Martini

4.67 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield 1 cocktail
Category Cocktails / Drinks
Cuisine Italian

Description

A light, refreshing and ever so slightly creamy Limoncello Martini recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces Pallini limoncello
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
  • ½ ounce heavy cream

Instructions

  • Add limoncello, vodka, lemon juice and heavy cream to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
  • Fill shaker half way with ice and shake again until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds.
  • Strain cocktail into a martini glass and serve.

Nutrition

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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