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!

Limoncello Margarita

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.

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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.

Limoncello Margarita

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.

More Margaritas!

Limoncello Margarita

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!

PIN IT! ‘Limoncello Margarita Cocktail’

Limoncello Margarita Served in a Martini Glass
Limoncello Margarita Garnished with Lemon Wedge
Limoncello Margarita

Limoncello Margarita Cocktail

Barbara Baker
A wonderful lemony margarita cocktail with Limoncello and lemon juice combined with tequila and orange liqueur. The Limoncello Margarita Cocktail has great pucker power!
4.26 from 50 or more votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Liqueurs
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Cocktails
Calories 500 kcal

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.

Cheers!

    Notes

    You will have leftover of the lemon rimming salt. Be sure it is completely dry before storing in a plastic bag. Great for any margarita! Do the same with lime zest and have my two favorites on hand!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Limoncello Margarita Cocktail
    Serving Size
     
    1
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    500
    % Daily Value*
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Calories
    500
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Some Oldies but Goodies!

    15 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Your love for margaritas is evident in your enthusiastic description! Tequila and citrus do indeed form a fantastic base for a wide range of flavors, making margaritas a versatile and enjoyable cocktail choice. It’s great to hear that you’ve explored numerous combinations, with your eternal favorite, the BEST Margarita ever.

    2. 5 stars
      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.

    3. 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. 😁

    4. Can’t wait to try these! I just made homemade limoncello and I can’t wait to try these with it!

      1. 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!

    5. 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.

    6. 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!

      1. Isn’t it wonderful Nancy? I just love them especially in the summer. Glad you enjoyed it too, thanks for letting me know!

    4.26 from 39 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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