A good friend has a rather prodigious Meyer lemon tree which bears lots of fruit twice a year. What do you do with lots of lemons? Make Limoncello, then drink it over ice or use it as an ingredient for cocktails (click to view post on how to make Limoncello). It can easily replace many of the liqueur ingredient in many drinks. Just be mindful to adjust based on the strength and sweetness of the Limoncello.

This first cocktail makes an excellent summer apéritif.

Lillet and Limoncello
1.5 oz. Lillet
0.5 oz. Lemon Juice
0.75 oz. Limoncello
2 Basil Leaves
0.5 oz. Ginger Beer

Put the first 4 ingredients together in a mixing glass, fill with ice and stir vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, top with Ginger Beer (soda would also work) and garnish with a palm-slapped basil leaf. Note: this drink also works with Cocchi Americano in place of Lillet.

The Brandy Sidecar typically uses an orange liqueur mixed in with lemon juice. This version replaces the orange liquer with Limoncello.

Brandy Limoncello Sidecar
1.5 oz. Brandy
0.75 oz. Lemon Juice
0.75 oz. Limoncello

Put all the ingredients together in a mixing glass, fill with ice and stir. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with sugar (optional) and garnish with a lemon rind.

This variation of the Pont Neuf Cocktail uses Limoncello in place of St. Germain.

Pont Neuf
2 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Limoncello
1/2 oz. Meyer Lemon Juice

Stir all ingredients together with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail or Martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or rind.

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