Limoncello doesn’t have to be chilled. Because it has a high alcohol and sugar content, it is safe to drink at room temperature. However, chilling it is standard.
Using a warm glass is fine if you don’t have time to chill anything, but a cold glass helps draw out the limoncello’s flavor. At the very least, mitigate a warm glass by chilling the limoncello in advance. Another way to chill a glass is by filling a bucket with ice. Place the glass upside down in the ice for up to 30 minutes. Alternatively, freeze the glass for up to 4 hours. As long as the glass is empty, it won’t break. Frozen glasses stay colder for much longer than ice-filled glasses.
Stemmed glasses are more effective at keeping limoncello cool, but they’re easier to break. They also hold the same amount of liquor as any ordinary shot glass, so they’re hardly necessary.
Limoncello is typically served plain without ice. Try adding ice to it if it tastes too warm or your glass warms up. You may enjoy serving limoncello as a shot rather than at a specific time. Don’t be afraid to enjoy it however you like.
This drink isn’t usually prepared with ice, so if you plan on using ice to chill the glasses, pour it out before opening the limoncello.
Prosecco has a dry but sweet flavor similar to green apples and melons. Some fruit that goes well with it includes blueberries, raspberries, and lemons.
For instance, include more limoncello to make the cocktail taste tart, or use a higher ratio of Prosecco to make the lemon flavor more subtle. To serve a bunch of cocktails at once, mix the liquor in a pitcher. Whisk together about 3 cups (710 mL) of Prosecco with 1 cup (240 mL) of limoncello. [8] X Research source
The garnish is open to interpretation. Add a lemon slice, for instance, to represent the limoncello.
The garnish is open to interpretation. Add a lemon slice, for instance, to represent the limoncello.
A martini isn’t served with ice, so make sure either the glass or the liquor are well-chilled for the best results.
A martini isn’t served with ice, so make sure either the glass or the liquor are well-chilled for the best results.
You may have seen a bartender dip a glass in sugar. This works, but it also causes a lot of sugar to drop into the glass. This can ruin your drink because the extra sugar will affect the sweetness of your martini.
Any type of vodka works, but try flavored vodka to give the cocktail flavor. Citrus-flavored vodka emphasizes the tart flavor of the limoncello, for instance. Other mix-ins are optional. For example, use lemonade in place of the lemon juice and add half-and-half to make a lemon meringue martini. [13] X Research source If you choose to use carbonated lemonade, do not shake your martini. Shaking carbonated drinks can cause your shaker to explode.
If you aren’t sure what a rocks glass looks like, it’s the short, rounded glass often used for whiskey and similar shots. A standard rocks glass holds 6 to 8 fluid ounces (180 to 240 mL) of liquor.
Grill the thyme to further customize the drink. Heat a grill to about 500 °F (260 °C), a medium-high setting. Hold the thyme against the grill for about 15 seconds until it looks lightly charred and smells fragrant. If you don’t have a muddler, use another blunt object, such as the end of a wooden spoon.
Adjust the ratios of liquor to suit your taste. For instance, tone down the limoncello by reducing it to 1⁄2 fluid ounce (15 mL) and increasing the amount of gin. Instead of lemon juice, try using lime juice to give the cocktail a broader citrus flavor. Leave the juice out if you prefer your drink to be less tart.
Plan on serving the cocktail in a chilled glass so you have a way to pour the ingredients out immediately. The ice will melt over time, watering down the drink and ruining its flavor.
Some cocktail shakers have built-in strainers. The strainer looks like a small grate with holes and is located underneath the lid. You don’t need to do anything special to use them.
A limoncello-gin drink, or limoncello Collins, is typically served with the club soda. If you don’t have any, leave it out. The cocktail will taste a little heavier, but including ingredients like muddled herbs makes up for it.
Use other garnishes that reflect your cocktail. For instance, add a fresh sprig of thyme if you muddled grilled thyme earlier.
