Limoncello Mojito Cocktail

Here’s the best limoncello cocktail: a Mojito! The lemon liqueur makes a incredibly refreshing drink paired with rum and fresh mint.

Got limoncello? This ultra-strong lemon liqueur is often drunk as shots at the end of a meal. But ever tried it as a limoncello cocktail? This Limoncello Mojito is a way to make a uniquely refreshing drink with this famous citrus liqueur! Make it into this classic Cuban cocktail: its bright lemon flavor pairs perfectly with fresh mint and white rum. The limoncello adds a pure lemon flavor that’s impossible to get from lemon juice alone. Add ice and bubbles, and you’ve got a drink you won’t be able to stop sipping. This became an instant favorite around here: one of our favorite drinks this summer.

What’s in this limoncello cocktail?

This limoncello cocktail is a play on a Mojito, a classic cocktail that originates from Havana, Cuba! The origins of this drink are cloudy: some say it was invented in the 1500’s, others claim the 1800’s with the birth of the Bacardi rum company. Its place as an iconic cocktail was solidified by the 1930’s when Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize it.

The mojito makes the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, meaning that it has a an official definition. This limoncello spin simply adds in the Italian liqueur. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Mint
Lime juice
Simple syrup
Limoncello
White rum
Soda water

What’s limoncello?

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur that tastes like biting into an actual lemon! It’s the second most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari. You can get it everywhere in Italy, and it’s customary to drink a shot after a big Italian meal. Limoncello has become very popular in the US, so you should be able to find it easily at your local liquor store.

In all honesty, limoncello is so strong straight up that I usually pass it up. But mixed into this lemoncello cocktail, it’s absolutely brilliant!

Cocktail skill: how to muddle mint!

The main skill you need to know to make this limoncello cocktail is how to muddle. What’s muddling? Muddling is gently mashing herbs or fruits to release their juices. This helps the flavors incorporate better than if you just threw a mint sprig right into the drink. Here are a few things to note when you muddle mint:

Do it right in the cocktail shaker. Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, you can use a large metal cup or bowl.
Gently mash the mint! Using a wooden cocktail muddler or unfinished wooden spoon, gently mash the mint a few times to release the juices. Do not mash the mint with a lot of force! The key is using a light touch.

A few more tips for a Mojito

Here are a few last tips on how to make a killer limoncello mojito!

Use a hurricane glass if you have one: it’s the classic type of glass for a Mojito. But a highball glass works too!
Add a mint sprig. It’s just more fun to drink with a big sprig of mint!
Serve with clear ice for a stunning drink. Clear ice is crystal clear artisan ice that you can make in your home freezer. It makes drinks look like professional cocktails you’ll get at a fancy bar. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.

More limoncello cocktails

Want to keep using your limoncello in cocktails? Here are a few other ideas:

Spiked Lemonade Make homemade lemonade, then add vodka and limoncello. It’s ultra refreshing!
Limoncello Martini This flavored vodka martini is 100% full of citrusy, tangy lemon flavor: like eating a lemonhead!

When to serve this lemoncello Mojito cocktail

This limoncello cocktail is tangy and refreshing: ideal for summer or parties! Try it as a:

Summer drink
Brunch drink
Afternoon drink
Dinner party drink
Before dinner drink (aperitif)