Italian summer in a balloon glass.

Why you are pouring this tonight

The Limoncello Spritz is the spritz for a thirty-degree Saturday afternoon at a wedding on the Amalfi coast, except you are at a backyard barbecue in Marrickville and that is fine because the drink does not know the difference. Limoncello, prosecco, soda, ice, lemon wheel, mint sprig. Bright, sweet, less aggressive than an Aperol Spritz.

Use real Italian limoncello, not the supermarket Australian-made knock-off which tastes of artificial lemon flavour and regret. Pallini Limoncello at any decent bottle shop. Use the driest prosecco you can find (Dal Zotto Pucino) to balance the sweetness of the limoncello. Build over ice in a wine glass: limoncello first, prosecco second, soda last. Lemon wheel and slap-mint sprig. Pair with fritto misto, antipasto, lemon ricotta cake, the kind of long Italian Saturday lunch that turns into an evening without anybody making a decision.

What changes from the Aperol Spritz

Aperol out. Limoncello in. Fresh mint and a lemon slice replace the orange.

What to pour it alongside

Grilled seafood, light salads, a whole lemon tart.

The recipe