Limoncello Margarita Cocktail
A wonderful lemony margarita cocktail with Limoncello and lemonade combined with tequila and orange liqueur. The Limoncello Margarita Cocktail has great pucker power!
This Limoncello Margarita Cocktail is everything a lemon lover would love! It’s a fantastic light margarita with a nice little bit of pucker power.
I make no bones about my love for margaritas; the truth is I could start a new blog devoted to the margarita. There is something about tequila and citrus that just lends itself so beautifully to combinations with every fruit flavor under the sun. And I’ve done a lot of them; all starting with my eternal favorite, this basic but amazing BEST Margarita ever!
Despite the fact that today is a bit gloomy and cooler than I would love, much like too many days in Denver this year, I am swinging into summer mode and wanted to share this simple, light and really refreshing Limoncello Margarita with you . My inspiration was simple. I had a bottle of Limoncello. Really, that was it!
I usually love the margaritas I make; once you find a pattern that works, it’s hard to make a big mistake. I might be highly prejudiced though so have found a willing testing partner in my neighbor Amy. She is always game to help me with a cocktail project and it gives us some time to visit and chat too.
I called to see if she wanted to come over and share and she called me back because she wanted to see if I wanted some of the pulled pork she had made for dinner. I didn’t know she was going to bring me soft tacos made with that pulled pork but I did not complain; how perfect was that timing?
I was SO ready for a meal and some girlfriend banter so we sat outside, enjoyed a cocktail (OK, OK…we each had two – the best sign of approval!) and had the perfect meal to go with them. Which, by the way is why I’m writing this post this morning; I was filled with that warm glow from a great meal AND cocktail and just wanted to veg; can you blame me?
Though I typically try to keep a fair amount of both lemons and limes on hand, last night I had just enough lemon to make a concoction for the rim with salt, sugar and lemon zest so I reached into an old trick bag I have used before when I want to speed up the process a bit…lemonade concentrate.
My standard margarita requires a fair amount of time to develop it’s perfect flavor from fresh squeezed juices and zest but when in a pinch for time? I’ve often substituted limeade and lemonade for the fresh squeezed juice in that cocktail and it’s why I keep those handy…they worked beautifully again.
This Limoncello Margarita Cocktail is definitely one for the lemon lover. Where lime is most often the citrus used in margaritas, this cocktail is all lemon, all the time.
It’s so thoroughly drinkable that it could almost be confused with lemonade. I did say almost…be careful out there; it’s still better to sip this baby! You must try this one. It’s easy and the perfect end to a perfect day. Cheers!
More Margaritas!
More Limoncello Recipes!
- Limoncello and Raspberry Sparkling Slushy Cocktail
- Limoncello and Herb Barbecue Chicken Thighs
- Limoncello Sorbet
- Vodka, Limoncello, and Prosecco Sangria with Raspberries
PIN IT! ‘Limoncello Margarita Cocktail’
Limoncello Margarita Cocktail
Ingredients
To Rim the Glasses
- ¼ cup coarse sugar I use cake decorating sugar
- ¼ cup margarita or Kosher salt
- Zest from one lemon
For the Cocktail:
- 2 oz frozen lemonade concentrate
- 2 oz cold water
- 2 oz Orange Liqueur
- 3 oz Blanco or Silver Tequila
- 2 oz Limoncello
- ½ oz Simple Syrup heat 1/2 cup of water with one cup of sugar until sugar dissolves. Add 1/2 cup of ice and stir until melted. Store leftover syrup in fridge
- Zest from one lemon
Garnish
- Lemon Slices
Instructions
- To Make the Rimming Sugar
- Combine the sugar, salt & lemon zest. Spread on a cookie sheet in a thin layer and allow to dry. (You can rim the cocktail before it is dry but if storing any leftovers; leave it out until completely dry to the touch).
- To Prepare the Cocktails
- Rub the rim of a cocktail glass with lemon and dip into the lemon salt/sugar mixture.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice (I put ice into a plastic bag, cover it with a cloth and pound it with a meat mallet!)
- Pour the cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill the shaker with ice; cover and shake until the container is ice cold.
- Pour the mixture into the ice filled glasses and garnish each with a lemon slice.
Oh my gosh, I absolutely adore a refreshing limoncello margarita! It’s hands down one of the most amazing drinks to cool off with during the summer.
Can’t wait for a hot day to try this. 😋 My go to“ Lemon drop Martini“ recipe as follows: 3oz Gin, 2oz Lemonchello, pour over Ice, and top with as much or as little Italien lemon soda as you wish. Can be a Martini, or a long drink, if you are a guzzler like I am. 😁
Ooh that sounds divine and easy; I love easy!
I do have an amazing recipe for Lemon Drop Martini…not as easy but probably the best I’ve ever had…worth trying, promise.
https://creative-culinary.com/lemon-drop-martini-cocktail-recipe/
Can’t wait to try these! I just made homemade limoncello and I can’t wait to try these with it!
How fun; hope you love them as much as I do!
I have what is probably a stupid question.
Do we use the frozen concentrate as is, or mixed with the water it calls for on the can?
Use it as is…the recipe calls for some water so you want to add the undiluted concentrate. Cheers!
Do you thaw the frozen lemonade concentrate before using?
This was a lovely drink. Do you have recipe to yield a pitcher?
I don’t really but it’s easy enough to multiply the ingredients. Each recipe as shown makes 2 cocktails, so just figure how many you would like and multiply. Want 10? Multiply by five.
Except the rimming sugar…doubling it should make enough for 8-10 cocktails.
Hope that helps!
Too bad about the food poisoning! Not. Fun. At. All. Sounds like you’re going to have a good time tomorrow, though. And we’ll have a good time when we make this wonderful looking drink! Really good cocktail — thanks.
This is so elegant, beautiful and delicious! Made as written. I thought it was more refreshing than the usual margarita which can sometimes be too cloyingly sweet. The rimming sugar and zest are extra nice, not too sweet or salty. This was perfect! I love Limoncello everything so thank you for the wonderful margarita recipe!
Isn’t it wonderful Nancy? I just love them especially in the summer. Glad you enjoyed it too, thanks for letting me know!
Just go ahead and make mine a double.