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Cool off with this zingy, herbaceous Amalfi daydream that pairs gin and limoncello.
About the cocktail
Thirsting for a Euro summer? Keen to recapture the holiday feeling? What if a cocktail could take you there? Step away from your Frequent Flyer points, put down the neck pillow and, instead, don your favourite shades and get ready to soak up some rays with an icy Amalfitano, a drink that transforms a camp chair in the backyard into a sunbed in Positano. The OG Amalfitano was created in 2020 for Pallini Limoncello by award-winning mixologist Alessio Aufiero. Hailing from Campania – home of pizza, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast – Alessio was the natural choice to design a lemon-centred cocktail for the family behind the world's best-selling limoncello. Amalfitano, a Collins-style cocktail, is a candied-lemon herbaceous delight that’s packed with mouthwatering Mediterranean zing. We found the original to be basil- and sugar-forward, so our mixologists have adjusted the recipe to bring down the intensity a smidge. The beauty of the Amalfitano is that, as is, it drinks like a radiant daydream, but if you desire more punch, it can be easily tweaked to your personal taste. Amalfitano is the name for someone who comes from Amalfi, so as long as you’re holding one, we like to think that it makes you an honorary local. What’s that saying – when life gives you lemons, make an Amalfitano? This tall glass of zesty goodness is guaranteed to bring a little sunshine to your next cocktail hour.
Watch: How to make an Amalfitano
Ingredients: cocktail
6 basil leaves 45mL London dry gin 15mL limoncello 25mL lemon juice 10mL sugar syrup 60mL lemonade Glass: Collins or highball Garnish: lemon peel and 4-6 basil leaves
Method
Add all ingredients, except the lemonade, to a cocktail shaker Add ice and shake until the outside of the tin is frosty Fill a tall glass with ice, and strain the drink into the glass Top with lemonade and stir gently Garnish with lemon peel and basil leaves
Dan’s top tips
Our expert mixologists have tweaked the Amalfitano to perfection. However, there’s still room to adjust it to your taste. Like it less sweet? Swap the lemonade for soda water. Want more basil? Muddle some in the bottom of the shaker. Need more zing? Lean into the lemon juice. Don’t like gin? Experiment with vodka, but you might lose some of the herbaceousness. It’s entirely up to you. Amalfitano’s summery, homemade-lemonade vibe lends itself to entertaining, so you might like to mix up a batch. To do this, grab a jug, measure out the desired upsized proportions of gin, limoncello, lemon juice and sugar syrup, and mix together thoroughly with a good amount of basil. To serve, pour it out into glasses over ice, top with lemonade and garnish, and you’ll have a very impressed bunch of friends – and more time to mingle. Just note, whether you're making a single serve or a big batch, always put the lemonade in last as any stirring will diminsh those delightful bubbles (and no one wants that).
image credits: Shelley Horan (photography), Raye Scerri (videography), Bridget Wald (styling), LSS (production)
