Raspberry Lemonade Champagne Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

6 ounces raspberries, plus more for garnish
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons chilled Limoncello
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cups chilled champagne
1 cup chilled sparkling water
ice*
lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Directions:
*Note: You can omit the ice if all your ingredients are well chilled and you don’t have an ice strainer.

Make a simple syrup: In a small saucepan, mix 1 tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons sugar over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup is simmering. Transfer this to another bowl and stick it in the fridge to chill.

Muddle raspberries: Put most of the raspberries (reserving just a few for garnishing your drinks) into a medium bowl with 1 tablespoon sugar. Muddle them together with a muddler or the back of a spoon until the raspberries are all broken down and combined with the sugar. Divide this mixture into the bottom of 2 tall glasses.

Finish and assemble: In a cocktail shaker, mix Limoncello, lemon juice, champagne, sparkling water, 2 tablespoons of your chilled simple syrup, and ice (if your shaker is a smaller capacity, consider mixing just one drink at a time: 1 tablespoon Limoncello, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3/4 cup champagne, 1/2 cup sparkling water, 1 tablespoon simple syrup, and ice for each drink). Shake well for several minutes and pour into the two glasses, straining out the ice. Garnish with lemon slices and raspberries and serve immediately.