Ina Garten Limoncello Vodka Collins

Ina Garten limoncello vodka collins are an easy cocktail made with fresh lemon juice, vodka and Italian limoncello, ready in 15 minutes. Try these make-ahead summer cocktails for a friends get-together, a cookout or a patio party, since you can mix the pitcher hours before guests arrive.

Squeeze the lemons fresh instead of buying bottled juice, because the whole drink is built on that bright, sharp flavor. Bottled juice tastes flat and a little bitter, and the limoncello and vodka can't cover for it.

Ina Garten got this drink from her friends Deborah Burke and Peter McCann, who reworked an old-fashioned Tom Collins into a tall glass of grown-up lemonade. Her own tweak is the rim, since sugar alone was too sweet and salt alone too salty, but the two together made the drink even better.

Source: Cooking for Jeffrey (2016)

Ina Garten Limoncello Vodka Collins

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

230

kcal

Tart lemon juice, vodka and limoncello get topped with cold sparkling water for a crisp, fizzy cocktail. The salt-sugar rim adds a sweet and salty bite with every sip, and ice keeps it cold to the last drop.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 to 7 lemons), divided
  

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  

• 1 1/2 cups good vodka, such as Grey Goose
  

• 6 tablespoons sugar syrup (see note)
  

• 1/4 cup Italian limoncello liqueur
  

• 1 1/2 cups cold sparkling water, such as San Pellegrino
  

• Ice cubes
  

• Thinly sliced lemon rounds, for serving
  

Directions

• Rim the glasses: Pour 1/4 cup of the lemon juice into a shallow bowl, then mix 2 tablespoons kosher salt and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar on a small plate. Dip each glass rim in the juice, then lightly in the salt-sugar mixture, and set the glasses aside to dry.
• Mix the base: Combine 1 1/2 cups vodka, 1 cup lemon juice, 6 tablespoons sugar syrup and 1/4 cup limoncello in a large pitcher. You can chill it now, since the base holds well until you are ready to serve.
• Add the bubbles: Just before serving, pour in 1 1/2 cups cold sparkling water and stir gently. Adding it last keeps the drink fizzy instead of flat.
• Pour and serve: Fill each glass with ice cubes, then pour the cocktail over the ice. Garnish every drink with a thin lemon round and serve ice cold.

Tools for this recipe

• Bormioli Rocco glass pitcher with lid, Zulay metal lemon squeezer, Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 3-quart saucepan, Diamond Crystal kosher salt, 3 lb. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I make limoncello vodka collins ahead of time?

Yes, and it's a good one for parties. Get the glasses rimmed first, then stir the vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup and limoncello together in a pitcher and chill it for up to 4 hours. Add the sparkling water right before serving so it stays bubbly.

How do I make the sugar syrup?

Combine 1 cup sugar with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook just until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool before using. You will only need 6 tablespoons for this drink, and the rest keeps in the fridge for other cocktails.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

I wouldn't. Fresh lemon juice is the key to this drink, since it tastes bright and clean while bottled juice can taste flat. Plan on 5 to 7 lemons to get the 1 1/4 cups you need.

What can I use if I don't have limoncello?

Skipping it works if you add a little extra sugar syrup, though you lose some of the lemon aroma. Taste before you pour and adjust the sweetness to your liking.

Why mix salt and sugar on the rim?

Sugar alone made the drink too sweet and salt alone made it too salty. Mixed together, they balance each other and add a little contrast to the tart lemon in every sip.