La Vespa (The Wasp)
This drink is a twist on a Prohibition-era classic known as the Bee’s Knees, which is made with gin, lemon juice, and honey. Well, since we had the honey built in, we thought this was a natural!
1.5 oz. Letterpress Limoncello
1.5 oz. gin
0.5 oz. lemon juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with lots of ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish: Orange peel or a thin slice of lemon floated on top.
Variation: For the summeriest of summer drinks, muddle five leaves of basil into the mixture before adding ice and shaking. Strain over fresh ice in a large tumbler. Garnish with basil leaf.
Italian Job
Everyone loves a good sparkling wine cocktail, right? Especially on a hot day or to go with brunch. Our limoncello lends itself beautifully to just such drinks. (This particular drink was created by Seattle bartender Ryan Minch.)
1 oz. Letterpress Limoncello
3-4 oz. sparkling rosé or other dry sparkling wine (very cold)
1 dash of orange bitters
Combine ingredients in a Champagne flute or coupe glass.
Garnish: Grapefruit peel (or lemon, if that’s all you have, but trust us when we tell you that the grapefruit peel is magical)
Compline
Created by Seattle bartender Andrew Dalan, this cocktail riffs on the Vesper, a drink containing gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc. It is also the real drink of James Bond. In fact, Ian Fleming had his favorite bartender create the drink for Mr. Bond, who orders it in Casino Royale: “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”
Since “vespers” are the morning prayers, Dalan chose to name this drink “Compline,” the evening prayers.
1.5 oz. Letterpress Vodka
1 oz. Lillet Blanc
.5 oz. Letterpress Limoncello
2 dashes Bittermen’s Hopped Grapefruit Bitters*
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish: Lemon peel
*If you don’t have these bitters (and, let’s be honest, most people don’t), most other fruit bitters work well. Just don’t use Angostura, but don’t leave out the bitters!
Hot Toddies!
Think limoncello is just for the summer? Think again! Traditional toddies use brown spirits, lemon juice, and honey as their start. With our honey-sweetened limoncello, toddies seemed natural; these will keep your insides toasty on those cold winter nights. (The links below will take you to the recipes on our Instagram account…)
Toddy #1 – A nice mellow sipper. Just limoncello, hot water, lemon, and bitters.
Toddy #2 (The Seattle Toddy) – This all-Seattle version adds 2bar bourbon and Scrappy’s bitters into the mix.
Toddy #3 – A little nerdier. For this one, we turn to gin and green Chartreuse for a nice herbal warmer.
Toddy #4 – This one is a little bit toddy and a little bit tiki. Limoncello, rum, allspice dram, pineapple and lemon juice, and (optional) cubeb cocktail spice.