Unusual/Creative Limoncello Uses (no more f**king lemon-tinis)

[TheStarvingArtist]

Hey all!

So I'm consulting with a bar that has a glut of pretty nice homemade limoncello. I'd love to put a limoncello cocktail on the menu, but have seen SO many cocktails of vodka/limoncello, limoncello/chambord, champagne/limoncello, that I'd love to put together an interesting use for it. Sadly, most of my research just brings me back to more vodka and champagne.

Anyone doing anything cool with Limoncello?

T

[mkayahara]

Can you find any kola tonic? I've always wondered how limoncello would sub for lemon syrup in some of the Savoy cocktails.

[TheStarvingArtist]

Ooh neat idea.. sadly, Michigan is remarkably limited in the products available to the nearly non-existant mixology culture here. With extra time, I could run to Chicago for a special grab, but it's not something I can reliably source here.

[EvergreenDan]

Maybe go brown? Rye, Lemoncello, and a healthy dose of Angostura might be nice, combining the peppery-spice, citrus, and pie-spice flavors. Or a bit of an amaro insead of the Angostura -- Campari, Cynar, Ramazzotti, Averna all seem promising. You might need some additional acid if the Lemoncello is quite sweet.

Fernet also seems like it would go wtih Lemoncello, but that would be a fairly narrow-appeal cocktail.

[blue_dolphin]

This probably falls into the boring vodka-lemon category but I really like the combination of rosemary and lemon in the Tuscan Rosemary Lemon Drop, particularly the bright rosemary note released when the the fresh rosemary gets shaken with the cocktail. Maybe you could make less boring in some way?

[Mark Muller]

I second the motion to go brown. Whatever whiskey you prefer (bourbon, rye, scotch, canadian, etc) plus limoncello plus fresh citrus juice to make a whisky sour of a sort. Brandy would work too - think a side car variation with limoncello subbing for the orange liqueur. If you could get your hands on some sour oranges I would use them for the citrus juice, inverting the usual lemon juice + orange liqueur with sour orange juice + lemon liqueur.

[tanstaafl2]

Not original drinks but my favorite uses of limoncello sans vodky include this variation of a Tequila Mockingbird from the Commander's Palace in New Orleans and a drink from a nearby Decatur restaurant called "My Favorite Mechanic is a Woman".

Edited August 13, 2012 by tanstaafl2 (log)

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Have you considered using Limocello as a sweetening agent for absinthe-based drinks? It strikes me that a Lemon Fairy would be quite tasty (I'll report back as soon as my latest batches of both liqueurs have aged sufficiently).

Edited to correct atrocious spelling.

Edited August 13, 2012 by Panaderia Canadiense (log)

[Christopher396]

How about 1 1/2 oz limoncello, 3/4 oz Campari, 2 oz lemon juice and 1 oz syrup? Kind of a lemon drop with a bite. I make this with my homemade limoncello.

[KatieLoeb]

Limoncello can rectify your iced tea or Arnold Palmer quite nicely. Limoncello, lavender syrup, fresh lemon juice and club soda makes for a very refreshing savory Adults Only lemonade alternative. Ditto for substituting thai basil, rosemary or thyme syrup into that mix.

A Gianni Giorno (loosely, John Daly) with limoncello, lemonade and iced tea would be the perfect summer drink.

Edited August 16, 2012 by KatieLoeb (log)

[Emily_R]

This is vodka-based, but at least a little different... I had a drink I enjoyed that was limoncello, pomegranate vodka, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. I don't know the proportions, but it was delicious...

[devillighter]

I have enjoyed Robert Hess's Renaissance in the past:

http://www.cocktailc...27/renaissance/

I've got some homemade limoncello and an open bottle of Punt e Mes at home, may have to make this one again.

Edited August 16, 2012 by devillighter (log)

[EvergreenDan]

I tried:

1/2 oz rye (overproof would be good, I used Rittenhouse)

1/2 oz Punt e Mes

1/2 oz Campari

1/2 oz Lemoncello (I used Luxardo, but I don't know how it compares with others)

3/4 oz Lemon juice

Very nice. Obviously in the Paper Plane camp. The lemon flavor is mild enough to stay behind the other big flavors, and the Lemoncello "Pledge" flavor disappeared.