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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!

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 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.
If you prefer a non-sparkling cocktail, use still water instead of sparkling.
To make this cocktail in advance, combine the strawberry purée, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bourbon or vodka. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add the cold sparkling water immediately before serving.
To store leftovers, cover the pitcher and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep in mind the sparkling water may lose some of its fizziness the longer it sits.
Cuisine: American
Course: Drinks
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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