Frangelico Zesty Cocktail
It is now officially summer, which means patio season and fresh bevs are on the menu! Consider this post my petition for the Frangelico Zesty Cocktail to be the drink of the summer. I know you’re probably thinking, What the heck is a Frangelico Zesty Cocktail? Or even, what the heck is Frangelico? To answer those questions: a Frangelico Zesty is one of the most refreshing and smooth cocktails out there, and Frangelico is a hazelnut liqueur. If I lost you there, stick with me! I promise by the end of this post you’ll be rooting for the Frangelico Zesty to be the drink of the summer too.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients to Make a Frangelico Zesty Cocktail
- Equipment
- What is Frangelico?
- Step One—Prepare the Simple Syrup
- Step Two—Shake, Strain, & Serve
- More Refreshing Cocktails to Sip All Summer Long
- Frangelico Zesty Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients to Make a Frangelico Zesty Cocktail
To make a Frangelico Zesty Cocktail, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 ounces Frangelico liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- zest of one lime
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup, or adjust to taste
- Crushed ice
Simple Syrup (makes extra)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Microplane grater
- Cocktail jigger
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer
- Rocks glasses
What is Frangelico?
Before this past February, I had never heard of Frangelico either. My friends and I were out for a drink at a local hotel bar, and the Frangelico Zesty was on the cocktail list. Three out of four of us breezed over it and ordered something else, but my friend’s boyfriend took the risk and ordered a Zesty, and man, am I glad he did! We all tried sips of each other’s cocktails, and the Frangelico Zesty was the favourite by a landslide. I knew right then and there that I needed to remake this cocktail at home.
Frangelico is an Italian hazelnut liqueur. It is 20% alcohol, making it a relatively low ABV liqueur compared to common spirits like tequila or vodka. Being a hazelnut liqueur, Frangelico feels like an odd ingredient to mix with lime, but mixed together, the two create the most refreshing and balanced cocktail.
Step One—Prepare the Simple Syrup
In a small saucepan, prepare the simple syrup. Add equal parts of water and white sugar to the saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove the simple syrup from the stove and allow it to cool before transferring it to a jar for storage. Extra simple syrup can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
Step Two—Shake, Strain, & Serve
Shake the Frangelico, lime juice, lime zest, and simple syrup with ice.
Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice. Crushed ice is key for this cocktail; it would still be good with regular ice, but the vibe would not be the same. The creaminess of the Frangelico blends beautifully with the crushed ice to create a mildly slushy-esque texture. It is very good.
Strain the Frangelico Zesty Cocktail out of the cocktail shaker through a hawthorne strainer into the prepared glass. Serve, sip, and enjoy!
More Refreshing Cocktails to Sip All Summer Long
Did I do it? Did I convince you that Frangelico Zesty should be the drink of the summer? If not, here are some more delicious and refreshing cocktails to sip on all summer long:
Cucumber Lemonade with Jalapeño
If you make a Frangelico Zesty Cocktail, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see it! I love to see what you all are making.
Feel free to leave any questions, comments, or reviews below. I love to hear from you!
Frangelico Zesty Cocktail
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- microplane grater
- Cocktail jigger
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer
- Rocks glass(es)
Ingredients
Cocktail
- 2 ounces Frangelico liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- zest of one lime
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup, adjust to taste
- Crushed ice
Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, prepare the simple syrup. Add equal parts of water and white sugar to the saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove the simple syrup from the stove and allow it to cool before transferring it to a jar for storage. Extra simple syrup can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
- Shake the Frangelico, lime juice, lime zest, and simple syrup with ice.
- Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice. Strain the cocktail out of the shaker through a hawthorne strainer into the prepared glass. Serve, sip, and enjoy!
