The bright sweet flavor of limoncello and the spicy kick of rye whiskey team up with lemon juice to create a refreshingly sweet tart 3-ingredient Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour. It's lemonade all grown up!
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Why this recipe works
- Limoncello has its intensely sweet lemon flavor
- Rye whiskey adds a sharp zing of white pepper and caraway
- Limoncello cocktails are bright and refreshing
I have a bottle of homemade limoncello in the refrigerator door.
While I generally don’t drink whiskey cocktails, I also have a bottle of Spirit of York Rye Whiskey that my daughter and her new husband brought me from their honeymoon in Toronto. Friends, the Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour was born!
Making this variation on a Whiskey Sour cocktail is super easy, just mix and shake. This cocktail can get too tart if you're heavy handed with the lemon juice, so use less to start and adjust as necessary.
It's bright and refreshing. There's the sharp zing of spice from the rye balanced by the intense sweetness from the limoncello (check out my tasting notes).
Enjoy this bright cocktail - it's lemonade for grown-ups!
Recipe Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make this Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour Cocktail recipe:
Ingredient Notes
Limoncello: Essentially a sweetened infused vodka, homemade limoncello is easy to make or you can use a store bought version.
Rye whiskey: Choose your favorite expression. Here I'm using a Canadian whisky, Spirit of York.
[Side Note: Whiskey or spelled whisky? Canadian whisky doesn't have the "e," but whiskey from the US does. To avoid spelling confusion, know where your spirit is from.]
Garnish: If you want, you can top the cocktail with a splash of club soda. And don't forget to get a strip of zest from the lemon for garnish before juicing it.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make a whiskey sour with limoncello
Step 1: Get prepared
Place two low-ball glasses in the freezer to chill. This will keep the glass from warming the cocktail initially.
Zest a strip of lemon for the garnish. Juice the lemon into a small bowl using a citrus juicer. Set the juice aside.
Step 2: Shake the spirits
Add some ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in the rye whiskey, limoncello, and lemon juice. Shake vigorously for about a minute.
Step 3: Strain & sip
Remove the glasses from the freezer. Add more ice to the chilled glasses and strain the cocktail into the glasses. If you want a bit of bubbly zing, add a splash of club soda (if desired) and garnish with the lemon zest.
How does a Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour taste?
Glad you asked! Here are my tasting notes for this cocktail:
Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour
Type: Canadian
Keywords: Canadian Whiskey, Limoncello, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Lightly lemon, slight nutmeg
- Taste: Starts tart, gets to “lemon head” sweetness, then nutmeg and caraway peek through
- Finish: Lingering tartness behind the sweetness, fades quickly
Comments
The tartness is balanced nicely with the sweetness, and the spice from the rye adds interest.
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
Limoncello is lovely served ice cold as a wonderful post-meal sip or mixed into cocktails that long for a zip of sweet, lemony tartness. For an easy refreshing cooler, mix it with sparkling water or sparkling wine.
The strength of the limoncello varies based on the proof of the vodka and the sugar content. On average, assume that the alcohol content is between about 25% and 30%ABV.
Depending on the individual expression, rye whiskey has flavors that can include almonds, walnuts, anise (licorice), caraway, and white pepper. When you want to pair it, look for recipes that feature butter, caramel, cinnamon and/or nutmeg, lemon, orange, and bitters in their flavor profiles. Some mainstay cocktail recipes are the Old Fashioned, the Manhatten, and of course, the Whiskey Sour.
I hope you like this recipe! Let me know if you have any questions, and don't forget to leave a comment and rating. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
More recipes with citrus to try
Recipe
Limoncello Rye Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ounces rye whiskey
- 2 ounces limoncello, homemade or store bought
- 1 ounce lemon juice, from 1 lemon (or less, to taste)
- ice
- splash club soda, optional
Instructions
- Place two low-ball glasses in the freezer to chill.
- Zest a strip of lemon for garnish. Juice the lemon into a small bowl using a citrus juicer. Set the juice aside.
- Add some ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in the rye whiskey, limoncello, and lemon juice.
- Shake vigorously for about a minute.
- Remove the glasses from the freezer. Add more ice to the chilled glasses and strain the cocktail into the glasses.
- Add a splash of club soda (if desired) and garnish with the lemon zest. Serve and enjoy!
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