Lemon Drop Champagne Punch

Serves 8
Lemon complements just about everything beautifully, making it the logical flavor choice for a celebratory Champagne and vodka punch.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 lemons, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 bottle (750 milliliters) Champagne, chilled
  • 3/4 cup best-quality vodka, chilled
  • 4 ounces candied lemon peels

DIRECTIONS

  1. With a vegetable peeler, remove zest from each lemon in a long, continuous spiral. Juice lemons, and strain pulp (you should have 3/4 cup juice). Set aside.
  2. Heat sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add zest. Let syrup cool completely, about 2 hours.
  3. Pour Champagne, vodka, lemon juice, and syrup into a punch bowl; stir. Serve glasses of punch with candied peels.
cook's note
Lemons are easier to peel and will release more juice at room temperature than when chilled.
pantry
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