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This Italian limoncello margarita recipe takes one of the most famous southern Italian exports, limoncello, and marries it with one of the most famous cocktails, the margarita. It’s zesty, refreshing, and one of my absolute favorite summer cocktails!

My grandmother’s family came from Calabria, aka the toe-of-the-boot in southern Italy. Growing up with an Italian live-in-grandmother means you get first-hand access to the best parts of Italian culture, and I wanted to know it all. Lemons are a HUGE part of Italian culture, specifically on the Amalfi coast. They show up absolutely everywhere, but especially in drinks. This cocktail fuses my classic margarita recipe and my homemade limoncello recipe, thanks to a dash of inspiration from Disney’s Epcot theme park, too!

why you’ve gotta try this limoncello margarita recipe:

🇮🇹 a love letter to Italy. My favorite part of crafting cocktails at home is finding new ways to smash classic flavors together. This margarita celebrates a classic Italian liqueur in an unexpected way by mixing it with tequila.

🍋 zesty & refreshing. Citrus + summer = a perfect paring for warmer weather, and this margarita is here to help you bask in the sunshine!

🤌 high quality. My main beef with most theme park and restaurant margaritas is that they’re made with gold tequila that isn’t specifically 100% agave tequila (aka mixto tequila). This cocktail uses high quality tequila for a drink that won’t remind you of regret from your college shot-takin’ days.

📚 the backstory on this cocktail (aka everyone’s favorite part of a food blog)

I also grew up in Orlando, so being a Disney World Annual Passholder is very much a regular thing. As such, I’ve become sort of a connoisseur of cocktails in Walt Disney World. One cocktail that actually surprised me was Epcot’s limoncello margarita in the Italy Pavilion. Specifically, the version that is sold in Tutto Gusto, the hidden gem of a wine bar (there is another version they sell at a cart along the walkway from a pre-mixed container and it is NOT the vibe 🙅🏻‍♀️).

Those who know Epcot know the importance of going inside the bars for the best drinks (don’t get me started on people who don’t know about La Cava), and Danielle and Marco are your new BFFs if you want a drink that doesn’t disappoint. Skip the popular espresso martinis and grab this margarita—but ask for it to be made with silver tequila, trust me! If you already stopped by Mexico on your way to Italy, “tomorrow you” will be glad you stuck with tequila for the day. 😝

🛒 ingredients

Overhead view of ingredients for a limoncello margarita: silver tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, lemon sugar, lemons, limoncello, ice cubes, and limes on a wooden board with a blue striped towel. Labels identify each item.
  • limoncello – this Italian lemon liqueur is the key to this cocktail. If you want to go full homestead and make your own limoncello, I highly recommend doing so! You can also use a store-bought limoncello, but stick to the classic kinds, not the creamy varieties.
  • silver tequila – make sure to choose a tequila that is specifically marked as being 100% agave, and choose a silver tequila for the cleanest flavor profile. Darker tequilas have been aged, and this can change the taste of the drink. We want the full focus to be on the limoncello and citrus, so let’s keep it light with the liquor!
  • lime juice – you simply can’t make a marg without freshly squeezed lime juice, please promise me you won’t use store bought shelf-stable sweet and sour mix okay?! If you can’t use fresh squeezed juices, opt to use a high quality brand of refrigerated lime juice. I know you might have been expecting to see lemon juice here, but trust me, lime juice helps to balance out the flavors better!
  • simple syrup – a little dash of classic simple syrup balances out the acidity in the lime juice and limoncello. I tested this recipe with regular simple syrup and citrus infused syrups, so if you want to kick up the zesty flavor you can use something like key lime syrup or lemon syrup!
  • ice – YES ice is an ingredient in cocktails and it’s important to use the best quality you can! I like using larger cubes in my shaker and smaller cubes in my cocktail glass.
  • lemon sugar – while this is totally optional, I love making this drink with a lemon sugar rim because it adds a bit of sweetness to the tart cocktail. I prefer to only rim 1/2 of the glass max, which allows you and your guests to decide if you’d like to enjoy the flavor of the sugar with each sip or just use it as a garnish.

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 step-by-step process for making limoncello margs

A hand with blue nail polish holds a glass rimmed with salt above a wooden board featuring limes, lime juice, a glass, and a bowl of salt—perfect ingredients for crafting a refreshing limoncello margarita.

1: Prep your glass first by rimming it with lemon sugar and filling it with ice.

A hand pours a clear liquid from a metal jigger into a crystal glass of ice, set on wood. Bottles, a lemon, and hints of limoncello margarita ingredients sit in the background against a blue tiled wall.

2: Add tequila, limoncello, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

3: Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well chilled.

4: Strain into the prepped glass.

5: Garnish with a lemon wheel.

6: Serve your cocktails immediately.

Hint: You can use a lemon wheel or a lemon wedge, or even a lemon twist made of lemon peel!

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💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ How and when to serve your limoncello margaritas:

  • summer parties – hosting a summer bbq or pool party? Bring out this margarita and get ready for the complements to roll in! You can even make it even lighter by mixing in some sparkling water or Topo Chico for a limoncello style ranch water!
  • Italian dinners – pair this drink with light Italian pastas like pesto pasta or a fun spread of appetizers like pizza burrata dip and crispy crostini crackers.
  • big batch – you can prep a big batch of this cocktail in advance, but be sure not to store it for more than 24 hours. Freshly squeezed lime juice tends to get very acidic or bitter as it sits longer.

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

  • bitter or acidic – if your drink is too tart, you can add in a few drops of saline solution for drinks to balance it out. Seriously, the stuff is magical!
  • quality tequila matters – this is my soapbox moment I won’t stop talking about: use high quality tequila!!! 📢 If you don’t like the tequila on its own, you probably aren’t going to like it in a drink either. Brush up on your types of tequila here, and make sure to choose the best quality you can for your margaritas.
  • pick the right limoncello – some store bought limoncellos are syrupy sweet, and others are creamy, which is why I prefer to make my own. It allows me to be in control of the flavors, ensuring it’s well balanced and blends into other drinks nicely.

♻️ customize your lemon margaritas

  • reposado tequila – if you prefer to use an aged tequila, you can use reposado instead of blanco tequila. Reposado tequila is aged in barrels unlike silver tequila, which gives it a richer, deeper, more robust flavor.
  • citrus syrup – if you are a fan of super tart flavors, you can make these margaritas using lime syrup or lemon syrup, too!
  • add more fruit – you can muddle in some fresh summer berries, like strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries, for an even more seasonal spin on this drink!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

  • cocktail shaker – the shaking action not only combines ingredients but also creates the perfect level of dilution from the ice.
  • citrus juicer – a good quality citrus juicer will help you extract the maximum amount of juice from your limes.
  • cocktail glass – I prefer to serve my margaritas in a rocks glass or double old fashioned glass instead of those kitschy cups you see all over Pinterest. 😅

🫙 can you store margaritas?

You can prep your margs up to 24 hours in advance, but I don’t recommend storing them for longer than that. Fresh citrus juices can get bitter when stored longer than 24 – 48 hours, so it’s best to drink this cocktail shortly after making it for the best flavor.

💬 q+a

Why isn’t there orange liqueur in this margarita?

This drink has the focus on limoncello, which replaces triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier in a traditional margarita.

Can I use lemon juice instead of lime juice?

I tested this drink using lemon juice and lime juice, and I preferred the version with lime juice as it had a nod to the flavors of a classic margarita. Lemon juice did work, too, but it was just a bit too lemony for my taste.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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A glass of limoncello margarita with ice and a sugared rim, garnished with a lemon slice, sits on a coaster. Another glass and several whole and sliced lemons are in the background on a wooden board.

Italian Limoncello Margarita (Amalfi Lemon Margarita)

This Italian limoncello margarita is a refreshing fusion of Italian limoncello liqueur and a classic margarita, perfect for summer sipping. It combines the bright citrus notes of limoncello with the balanced flavors of a traditional margarita.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Beverages, Cocktails
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mexican
Keyword: al fresco, lemon, lime, tequila, tequila cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 228kcal
Author: Lindsey Neumayer

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces tequila silver or blanco tequila, 100% agave recommended
  • 1 ounce limoncello chilled
  • 0.75 ounces lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 0.25 ounces simple syrup
  • ice for shaking and serving
  • 1 slice lemon optional, for garnish
  • lemon sugar optional, for garnish

Instructions

Prep Your Glassware

  • Garnish glass. Rim 1/4 – 1/2 of the glass with lemon sugar.
    lemon sugar
  • Prep glass. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice.
    ice

Mix Your Margarita

  • Prep shaker. Fill a cocktail shaker with whole ice cubes (not crushed).
    ice
  • Add ingredients. Add tequila, limoncello, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
    1.5 ounces tequila, 1 ounce limoncello, 0.75 ounces lime juice, 0.25 ounces simple syrup
  • Shake well. Shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds until well chilled.
  • Strain into glass. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass.
  • Garnish & serve. Garnish with a lemon slice if desired. Serve immediately.
    1 slice lemon

Nutrition Information

Servings: 1
Calories: 5mg
Total Fat: 5mg
Saturated Fat: 5mg
Trans Fat: 5mg
Cholesterol: 5mg
Sodium: 5mg
Carbohydrates: 5mg
Fiber: 5mg
Sugar: 5mg
Protein: 5mg

The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.

Lindsey Neumayer is a culinary content creator at A Recipe For Fun based in Central Florida. She is a classically trained baking and pastry student from Valencia College who also has over 14 years of experience in the fields of education, training, & development. She uses her expertise in education and the culinary arts to share easy-to-follow recipes that you can recreate with confidence at home!

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