The 3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Cocktail I’m Making All April Long

While April is considered solidly spring, it’s the month most likely to play with your emotions. Since we’re all expecting spring with its longer, sunny days, mild temperatures, and vibrant blooms, it’s disappointing when that’s not the reality. Depending on where you live, you might get an April snow shower, the odd 85-degree day, or nonstop rain. Or you get all of the above in one week.

If you’re anything like me, you do your best to ignore the weather and force yourself into spring mentally. I do some spring cleaning, I do some planting, and I transition my cooking from winter to warmer weather dishes. That includes my cocktails, which go from spiced and rich to light and fruity.

On my most recent trip to Trader Joe’s, a sleek bottle of Sicilian limoncello caught my eye. At just $10.99, how could I say no? After dropping it in my cart, I scoured the seltzer options, seeking inspiration. It came swiftly in the form of TJ’s lemon and ginger seltzer ($3.29 for four). Made with real juice, I knew it would pair perfectly with the limoncello and a little gin. 

Now I’m into having a lemon gin refresher after work. It’s just sweet enough, just boozy enough, just tart enough—and the bubbles make it fun to drink. The ginger in the seltzer plays nicely with the gin, while the lemon adds zip. The fresh lemon is optional but adds real brightness if you have it handy.

I’ll be making this one well beyond April and into summer. It’s ideal for the start of barbecue season.

How To Make My Trader Joe’s Lemon Gin Refresher

For one cocktail, you’ll need:

Fill a glass two-thirds full with ice. Add the gin and limoncello. Squeeze one lemon wedge into the glass and drop it in, if using. Top with the seltzer and give a brief stir. Serve.

Easy Variations

The most obvious swap is the gin. If you’re not a fan or don’t have any on hand, vodka is a good option. For a low-ABV version, leave out the gin altogether. Note that limoncello does contain alcohol, so excluding the gin does not make it non-alcoholic.

If you like tart drinks, add extra fresh lemon. For a slight flavor twist, use a different variety of Trader Joe’s seltzer, such as blood orange. Just make sure to use the kind that contains real juice, since their sparkling flavored waters can taste artificial when combined with gin.