summary

We love to have a summer cocktail at the ready for entertaining and this one is both pretty and delicious. We’ve taken the flavors of limoncello and made a fast and fresh spritz cocktail with lemon and prosecco. Easily turn this into a zero-proof cocktail by omitting the vodka and substituting the prosecco with soda water.

ingredients

2 ounces fresh lemon juice
2 ounces top-shelf vodka
½ ounce thyme simple syrup
1 ounce prosecco
Thyme sprigs, for garnish
Thyme Simple Syrup Ingredients:
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup water
2 sprigs thyme

directions

To make the thyme simple syrup, combine the sugar, water and thyme sprigs in a small pan and set over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling the pan a few times, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and steep for 1 hour. Strain the thyme leaves and set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the lemon juice, vodka and simple syrup. Shake vigorously and pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with the prosecco and garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.

notes

To make a big batch of this cocktail, simply multiply each ingredient by 6. Combine 1½ cups lemon juice, 1½ cups vodka and 6 tablespoons simple syrup. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. To serve, stir the pitcher and then divide into 6 ice-filled glasses. Top each glass with 1 ounce prosecco (you’ll need a total of ¾ cup) and garnish each glass with a sprig of thyme.

Thyme simple syrup can be made a week ahead and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Use different flavors in the simple syrup, such as rosemary or jalapeño.

Basil would also be lovely in this cocktail instead of garnishing with thyme. Add a few basil leaves to the cocktail shaker.

You can use regular or Meyer lemons for this recipe. Meyer lemons will give you a brighter yellow color.

If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.