Drinks Cocktails Gin Cocktails Limoncello Sorbet Float 5.0 (2) 1 Review This simple summer cocktail plays double duty as dessert. By Lucy Simon Lucy Simon Lucy Simon is a New York-based wine, spirits, and food writer has been with Food & Wine since the spring of 2021. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 6, 2024 Tested by Craig Ruff Tested by Craig Ruff Craig has both a culinary education and professional training from his time in restaurants. He is an avid reader of food media and a dedicated cook. During his time in culinary school and in restaurants, he has much experience testing and developing recipes. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Food & Wine / Photo by Greg Dupree / Prop Styling by Thom Driver / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer Total Time: 2 mins Servings: 1 drink Jump to recipe This lemony cocktail float marries the flavors of a French 75 with an added citrusy, floral zing from Italian limoncello. Topping the glass off with sparkling wine yields a bright and bubbly summer sipper, while the finishing scoop of lemon sorbet blurs the line between tipple and dessert in the most satisfying way. Stirring together the limoncello, gin, and lemon juice along with cubes of ice before straining the drink serves two purposes: It chills down the ingredients and also slightly dilutes the alcohol. 15 Lemon Cocktails That Taste Like Sunshine Since this drink relies on store bought sorbet (though you can certainly make your own) adjust the sweetness of the cocktail depending on how sugary the sorbet is. Add more lemon juice to tamp down the sweetness, or a touch more limoncello to add more. Though this recipe makes just one drink, don’t forget that you can easily scale the proportions up to serve a crowd. If you’re opening a bottle of sparkling wine, why not use all of it? Frequently Asked Questions What is limoncello? Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur. It’s sweet, intently lemony, and typically enjoyed chilled in small glasses after dinner as a digestivo. What is a French 75? This cocktail is inspired by the French 75, a classic cocktail made of gin (or cognac), champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. It’s named after the 75-millimeter field guns used in World War I; originally under the name Soixante-Quinze, the drink is said to have been created at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in the early 20th century. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen If you’re not a fan of gin’s floral notes, consider trying vodka instead for a more neutral spin on the drink. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 1/2 ounces limoncello 2 ounces gin 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 4 ounces sparkling wine 1/4 cup lemon sorbet Directions Stir together limoncello, gin, and lemon juice in an ice-filled mixing glass until mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted, about 30 seconds. Strain mixture into a rocks glass or a wine glass. Top cocktail with sparkling wine and lemon sorbet, and serve with a spoon. Rate It Print