Remember back in your youthful days when nothing made you feel better during the summer than a refreshing glass of lemonade and some ice cream? Those days may seem like a distant memory as we trudge along deep into adulthood, but they don’t have to be.
One of the best parts about growing up is that we don’t have to settle for basic lemonade anymore. We’re adults now which means we can kick things up a notch and add a little boozy something, something to one of our favorite childhood treats.
We rounded up a few alcohol-infused recipes are just begging to be sipped on in the sunshine by you and your crew. From bourbon and raspberries to white wine and strawberries, trust us, you’ve never had lemonade like this.
01
Layered Lemonade Drops
INGREDIENTS:
6 oz. vodka, divided
3 c. lemonade, divided
2 c. Frozen Mango
2 c. chopped strawberries
3 c. ice
Lemon and strawberries for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
Fill blender with mango, 2 ounces vodka, 1 cup lemonade, and 1 cup ice. Blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to a separate container and freeze for 30 minutes. Clean blender.
Fill blender with strawberries, 2 ounces vodka, 1 cup lemonade, and 1 cup ice. Blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to a separate container and freeze until ready to serve. Clean blender.
Fill blender with remaining vodka, lemonade, and ice. Blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to a separate container and freeze until ready to serve.
Pour each mixture into serving glasses in layers starting with the mango mix, then adding the strawberry lemonade mix, and ending with the lemonade mix.
Garnish with lemon slices and strawberries.
via Delish
02
Sparkling Spiked Peach Lemonade
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 large peaches
6 cups sparkling water
1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups vodka
DIRECTIONS:
In a small pot, combine the sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.
Remove the skins from 2 of the peaches, reserving the third. Cut an “X” in the bottom of each one, and place them in a pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds. Transfer the peaches to an ice bath, and peel when cool enough to handle. Slice each peeled peach in half and remove the pits. Cut peaches into cubes, place them in the blender or food processor and puree until liquified.
In a large pitcher, combine the pureed peaches, the cooled simple syrup, the sparkling water, the lemon juice and the vodka. Stir to combine. Add ice and stir again.
Cut the remaining peach into thin slices. Stir a few of the slices into the lemonade and use the others to garnish the glasses.
via The Kitchn
03
Lemonade Rum Punch
INGREDIENTS:
4 oz. lemonade
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. coconut rum
1 oz. dark rum
DIRECTIONS:
Pour lemonade, pineapple juice, and coconut rum into a large glass filled with ice, using a spoon to gently stir the drink. (Or pour into a cocktail shaker, shake and pour into a glass filled with ice.). Top glass with the dark rum, so it floats on top and slowly blends into the rest of the drink, giving it an ombré effect. Serve.
via Delish
04
Strawberry Lemonade Spritzers
INGREDIENTS:
1oz (2 Tablespoons) Strawberry Simple Syrup
1-1/2oz (3 Tablespoons) fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
4oz (1/2 cup) Moscato wine
4oz (1/2 cup) club soda
ice
strawberry slices, optional
For the Strawberry Simple Syrup:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
5 strawberries, hulled and chopped
DIRECTIONS:
For the Strawberry Simple Syrup: Add sugar, water, and strawberries to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil then turn the heat down to medium and simmer for 2-3 minutes, mashing strawberries with the back of a spoon. Strain into a bowl or jar then cool completely and chill.
Stir the chilled strawberry simple syrup and lemon juice together in a wine glass. Pour in the wine, then club soda. Add ice and strawberry slices, if using, then stir.
via Iowa Girl Eats
05
Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade
INGREDIENTS:
2 ounces bourbon
2 ounces lemon juice
1-ounce blackberry puree, strained
1-ounce simple syrup
Dash of aromatic bitters
Dash of sparkling wine
Mint, to garnish
Blackberries, to garnish
Lemon slices, to garnish
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all of the ingredients except the sparkling wine over ice and shake. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of mint, fresh blackberries, and lemon slices.
via Host the Toast
06
Raspberry Lemonade Champagne Punch
INGREDIENTS:
1 can (about 12 ounces) raspberry lemonade concentrate
1 bottle (750 ml) champagne, chilled
3 cups ginger ale (or club soda)
1/2 cup vodka
1 pint fresh raspberries
lime or lemon wedges (for garnish)
DIRECTIONS:
In a punch bowl or large pitcher, stir together the lemonade concentrate, champagne, ginger ale, and the vodka. Pour the raspberries on top. Pour into glasses garnished with a lime or lemon wedge.
via Eat, Drink, Love
07
White Wine Strawberry Lemonade Sangria
INGREDIENTS:
2 lemons, thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 cup strawberries, sliced lengthwise
1 (750 ml) bottle Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup light rum
3 cups lemon-lime soda
DIRECTIONS:
Place lemon slices to a large pitcher, then the apples, then the strawberries. Pour the wine and rum over the top. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 – 5 hours. Remove from refrigerator and add the lemon-lime soda. Add a few pieces of the fruit to your glass and pour sangria over to serve.
via California Unpublished