Best Lime Oncello Spritzers With Mint Recipes

GIADA'S LIMONCELLO MINT SPRITZERS

Steps:

• Coarsely crush the ice cubes, then fill 4 tall skinny drink glasses halfway full with the ice.
• Add 1/4 cup mint leaves to each glass and, using a muddle stick or the handle of a wooden spoon, crush the mint leaves together with the ice (this is called "muddling").
• Add 1/2 cup limoncello to each glass, and stir.
• Add 1/4 cup of club soda to the top of each drink, and serve.
• Note: on the show, Giada made her own limoncello from limes rather than from lemon, vodka, and simple syrup, with a week or marinating; if you can find a lime-based limoncello in the store, wonderful (we've only made it ourselves at home) - but otherwise you can use conventional limoncello.
• Also, you could quarter a lime and put each quarter on the edge of the glasses, so that guests could add a squeeze of lime juice into their spritzer.

LYCHEE-MINT SPRITZERS

Steps:

• Muddle 8 mint leaves with 2 teaspoons sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add 4 canned lychees, 1/4 cup syrup from the can, 3 ounces vodka and a squeeze of lime juice; shake with ice. Strain into 2 ice-filled glasses; top with seltzer. Repeat to make more drinks. Garnish with mint and lime.

LIME SPRITZER

Steps:

• For the simple syrup: Heat the sugar, water, lime zest, and ginger in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat to boiling. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, and then remove from the heat. Add the lime juice and let the flavors infuse the syrup for at least 15 minutes while it cools. Strain the syrup, if you wish, and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the drink: Rub a lime wedge around the lip of the glasses to moisten and then dip in salt or sugar to decorate the glasses, if desired. Pour 1 or 2 tablespoons of the lime syrup into each glass and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a wedge of lime.
• Cook's Note: Sparkling wine can be used instead of water, if desired.