Limoncello Mint Champagne Cocktail

One of our Memorial Day drinks was a Limoncello mint champagne cocktail. A very seasonal and refreshing drink considering all the mint in the garden. Limoncello is an Italian sweet lemon liquor that we recently saw at the liquor store and as fate would have it a recent Bon Appetit issue had this drink recipe. I have since found several others that we could try.

The drink has a perfect balance of sweet, tart and mint flavors floating around the bubbles of champagne. The preparation was a little laborious for a drink as it takes some time to peel lemon rind off a whole lemon, but it was refreshingly good. Any sparkling wine would be good with this and add some crushed ice in the glass if it is hot outside. Enjoy these refreshing spring flavors.

Recipe

Limoncello Champagne Cocktails with Mint

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup limoncello
2 Tbsp sugar (extra for rims, optional)
1 lemon, for peeling strips
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 cup chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
Lemon and Mint for garnish

Put the mint, limoncello, sugar, and lemon strips in blender. Blend until mint is finely chopped (lemon peel will be coarsely chopped), 10 seconds. Strain into a small cup and discard the solids. Run a lemon wedge around rim of 2 glasses. Dip rims into additional sugar. Divide limoncello mixture and lemon juice between flutes. Top off the glasses with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon slice and mint leaf. Optionally add ice to keep chilled.

Servings: 2

Source: Bon Appetit