Pitcher Blueberry Lemon Vodka Spritz Cocktails

These blueberry lemon vodka spritz cocktails are made in a big pitcher for a simple, 5-minute drink for a crowd. With juicy berries, fresh lemons, vodka, and sparkling lemonade, this drink is tart, bright, and lovely for sipping on the patio. Seriously, this recipe has gone viral on Pinterest and Instagram multiple times – it’s so delicious and refreshing!

Back when my mama and I went to Italy, we drank what I can only imagine was gallons of Aperol spritzes. The New York Times just deemed this the worst cocktail ever, which R U D E, but we were totally hooked. Even after my mom left Italy and I departed on my 18-week Europe trip, I would still occasionally order an Aperol spritz for the mems.

Now that I’m back in the states, spritz-y cocktails are my go-to for parties. I mean, 1. You can make them in bulk for all-day sipping. 2. They’re the easiest ever. And 3. If you use sparkling water, you’re basically hydrating yourself while drinking. *Science*.

With all of this in mind, I set out to create a pitcher-perfect summer cocktail inspired by my beautiful, lovely mama. And to know my mom is to know that she loves anything with berries or lemon. The result is this fizzy, fruity, tart, & not-too-sweet cocktail you can sip all summer long!

Love a pitcher cocktail? You should definitely try my peach pink gin spritz, this summery berry lemon rosé sangria, or this fizzy spiked strawberry lemonade!

Just 5 ingredients you’ll need

To make this recipe, you will need fresh or frozen blueberries, fresh lemons, store-bought or homemade simple syrup, vodka, and sparkling lemonade. For a less sweet cocktail, use lemon sparkling water instead!

Most simple syrup recipes are 1:1, but when I was in pastry school, we made rich simple syrup which is a 2:1 ratio. It’s my favorite for desserts and cocktails! To make rich simple syrup, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup water. Bring it to a boil for 1-2 minutes & cool. Easy!

Let’s make this 5-minute cocktail

If you don’t have a muddler, use the handle of a wooden spoon instead! You just need something thick enough to smash the berries a bit.

Single cocktail

If you don’t need a whole pitcher, it’s all good! You can totally make one blueberry lemonade cocktail at a time. Even better, you don’t need a cocktail shaker or anything fancy. Just a glass!

1. Add 1/4 cup of blueberries and 2 lemon slices to a rocks glass. Pour 1/2 ounce of simple syrup over the top & muddle until the berries are half broken up.
2. Add 2 ounces of vodka and stir everything together well. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Finish the drink with 4 ounces of sparkling lemonade or lemon sparkling water. Enjoy!

Make-ahead

This drink is an amazing make-ahead cocktail for a get-together! You can mix it up the night before or a few hours before a party. This also gives the vodka time to infuse with the berries and lemon – so good!

1. Muddle the berries, lemon slices, and simple syrup in a pitcher.
2. Add the vodka and stir well. Cover and refrigerate.
3. Then, right before serving, add the sparkling lemonade.

Make sure you add the sparkling lemonade right before serving. Otherwise it will lose fizziness as the drink sits in the fridge!

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

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Originally posted on May 10, 2019.