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This spiked strawberry lemonade is the perfect cocktail for sipping on the patio! Made in a pitcher with homemade sparkling strawberry lemonade and bourbon (or vodka!), it’s refreshing, boozy, tart, and sweet. Make it for a BBQ, beach day, or summer dinner party!

Three glasses of spiked strawberry lemonade on a wood tray next to lemons, strawberries, and white blossoms with a white background.

When it comes to summer cocktails, I have a couple of stipulations. First, they must be good and boozy. And secondly, they can’t have more than a handful of ingredients. We’re going for effortless, easy-breezy here. I need something that I can mix up super quick for a dinner party like sour spaghett cocktails, berry and lemon rosé sangria, or this boozy lemonade!

The first time I met my husband’s family, his cousin made a huge pitcher of bourbon lemonade that almost made me die. It was so good. Inspired, I dug up my old lemonade recipe from culinary school and then added strawberries because everything is better with strawberries.

Drinking this lemonade is genuinely like being a kid again, except now’s there’s bourbon. It’s nostalgic, tart, sweet, fizzy, and all around the epitome of a summer cocktail. Over the weekend, we drank this cocktail while floating the Truckee River and BBQing and it was truly a perfect summer situation.

I also became friends with a guy named Pirate Steve, but that’s a story for another day.

Fresh lemon juice

A white bowl of strawberries, white bowl of sugar, bottle of bourbon, bottle of sparkling water, mint, and lemons on a white counter.

Grab a big bag of fresh lemons because you need lots of juice! This lemonade just isn’t the same with store-bought juice, so make sure you’re using fresh-squeezed. Then, grab some strawberries, granulated sugar, plain sparkling water, bourbon (or vodka), and fresh mint for garnish.

Simple syrup

Three steps to making simple syrup. In photo one, hands pour sugar into a pot on a white stovetop next to lemons. In photo 2, the hands are pouring water into the pot. In photo 3, simple syrup bubbles in a silver pot.
Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it bubble for about 1 minute. Cool completely.

How to make lemonade

Three steps to preparing vodka strawberry lemonade. In photo 1, hands slice strawberries on a wood cutting board next to lemons. In photo 2, a woman blends the strawberries in a blender. In photo 3, a citrus press juices lemons into a liquid measuring glass on a wood board.
Slice the strawberries & place them in a blender. Purée until smooth. Then, use a citrus press (or just your hands!) to juice the lemons.

    For a smoother cocktail, strain the strawberry purée before you add it to the drink. Just pour the purée through a fine mesh sieve to remove any seeds and extra pulp. Gently push the juice through the sieve with a rubber spatula to get as much strawberry juice as possible.

    Three images making strawberry lemonade cocktail. In photo 1, hands pour lemon juice into a pitcher of strawberry puree on a white table next to lemons and white flowers. In photo 2, hands pour club soda into the pitcher. In photo 3, hands pour bourbon into the pitcher.
    Mix the strawberry purée, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling water, & bourbon or vodka in a large pitcher. Mix gently to combine. Serve over ice and garnish with mint.

    Add the sparkling water right before you serve this cocktail. Otherwise, it will lose its fizz if it sits too long!

    Single cocktail

    Don’t need 8 whole drinks? Totally fine, this strawberry lemonade cocktail is super easy to make as a single drink! Just muddle a few berries in a glass with a muddler or the handle of a wood spoon. Fill the glass with ice and add lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling water, and bourbon. Stir well & enjoy!

    A hand pouring a pitcher of spiked strawberry lemonade into a glass on a wood tray next to another glass of lemonade. The wood try is on a white counter next to lemons, strawberries, and mint.

    Make-ahead in a pitcher

    You can definitely mix up a pitcher of this lemonade in advance if you want to save time before a party! Just combine the strawberry purée, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bourbon or vodka. Mix, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, add the sparkling water & serve.

    Non-alcoholic lemonade

    If you want to make this recipe without alcohol, you totally can! When I’m throwing parties, I like to make a non-alcoholic batch for kids or friends who don’t drink. For regular sparkling strawberry lemonade, just leave out the alcohol altogether. No need to replace it with anything.

    A glass of spiked strawberry lemonade next to two more glasses on a wood tray. The wood tray is on a white background next to lemon slices, sliced strawberries, and white flowers.

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    Spiked Strawberry Lemonade (with Bourbon or Vodka!)

    Yield: 8 cocktails
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    This spiked strawberry lemonade is one of my favorite cocktails for summer sipping! Made in a pitcher with homemade sparkling strawberry lemonade and bourbon (or vodka!), it's refreshing, boozy, tart, and sweet. It's perfect for BBQs, beach days, or summer dinner parties!
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    Ingredients

    Pitcher Cocktail

    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, hulled & roughly chopped
    • 1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice
    • 4 cups sparkling water (cold)
    • 12 ounces bourbon or vodka
    • Fresh mint, lemon slices, and sliced strawberries, for garnish

    Single Cocktail

    • 2 strawberries, hulled & roughly chopped
    • 1 1/4 ounces fresh lemon juice
    • 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup
    • 1/2 cup sparkling water
    • 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or vodka
    • Fresh mint, lemon slices, and sliced strawberries, for garnish

    Equipment

    • Large pitcher
    • Blender or food processor (optional)
    • Citrus press (optional)

    Instructions 

    Pitcher Cocktail

    • To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar with 1 cup of still water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves completely. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Then, remove the simple syrup from the heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl. Let it cool completely.
    • Meanwhile, add the strawberries to a blender or food processor and purée until the strawberries are very smooth. Alternatively, mash the strawberries with a muddler or wooden spoon until smooth.
    • To a large pitcher, add the strawberry purée, lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, sparkling water, and bourbon. Mix gently to combine.
    • Serve the lemonade over ice and garnish with lemon slices, sliced strawberries, and fresh mint. Enjoy!

    Single Cocktail

    • Add the strawberries to a tall glass. Use a muddler or wooden spoon to mash the strawberries until they're smooth.
    • Fill the glass with ice and add the lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling water, and bourbon or vodka.
    • Stir the cocktail gently to combine. Garnish with lemon slices, sliced strawberries, and fresh mint. Enjoy!

    Notes

    For a smoother drink, strain the strawberry purée through a fine mesh sieve. Gently push the purée through the sieve with a rubber spatula to get as much strawberry juice as possible.
    If you prefer a less sweet cocktail, start by adding about 3/4 of the simple syrup. Sip and add more syrup to taste.
    If you want a less tart cocktail, use 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. For a less boozy cocktail, start with 1 cup of bourbon or vodka and add more to taste.
    Want a non-sparkling cocktail? Just use still water instead of sparkling. 
    Cuisine: American
    Course: Drinks
    Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
    Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 174kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 0.6g, Fat: 0.4g, Saturated Fat: 0.2g, Sodium: 32mg, Potassium: 128mg, Fiber: 1.3g, Sugar: 17.4g, Calcium: 17mg
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    This recipe was originally posted on July 10, 2018.