10 Best Lemonade Cocktails for Summer
Updated: Apr. 19, 2024
Brighten up summer cookouts with a batch of lemonade cocktails. This lineup of tart drinks includes spiked lemonade, slush and citrusy punch.
Brunch on the patio, snacks at the pool, the adult punch bowl at graduation parties…there isn’t one place where lemonade cocktails won’t fit right in. Here, you’ll find basic lemonades, pretty punches and sweet sangrias. Not all of these cocktails are spiked versions of lemonade recipes; rather, many use lemonade as a mixer.
You’ll use all parts of the lemon in these recipes: lemon zest, peels, juice and even slices for garnishing. To avoid dried out, discolored lemon skins, store lemons properly. Kept in the fridge, they’ll be bright as can be for curled lemon peels or sunny slices submerged in a glass.
Spiked Pink Lady
Why reserve lemonade and strawberries for the summertime? They’re just as refreshing during the holiday season. Add two more ingredients to create a crowd-pleasing cocktail. —Silvia Garcia, New York, New York
Spiked Lemonade
Rum gives a tropical addition to this fabulous homemade lemonade. If you have vodka on hand, try that instead of the rum. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Kentucky Lemonade
Mint and bourbon give this drink a bit of a Kentucky kick, and ginger ale makes it a fizzy party punch. —Cathy Justus, Taylor, Michigan
Bubbly Champagne Punch
This champagne punch, served at my wedding, continues to this day to be the elegant drink we serve at special events. —Anita Geoghagan, Woodstock, Georgia
Rhubarb Lemonade Slush
My family loves rhubarb, and this is such a fun way to enjoy it. It’s nice to have in the freezer and bring out when guests drop by. Even people who aren’t crazy about rhubarb enjoy it. —Cathie Beard, Philomath, Oregon
Pink Sparkling Wine Punch
A long-standing tradition in our home, this sparkling punch makes spirits bright. Garnished with fresh strawberries and lime, it makes a colorful Christmas cocktail and summertime sipper alike. —Karen Kuebler, Dallas, Texas
Perfect Lemon Martini
Time to relax with a refreshing lemon drop martini! The combination of tart lemon and sweet liqueur will tingle your taste buds. —Marilee Anker, Chatsworth, California
Cranberry White Sangria
I tinkered with the ingredients in this sangria until it was perfect. It’s also good with peach, apple or cherry wine and a dash of vodka. —Patti Leake, Columbia, Missouri
Cranberry-Orange Vodka Slush
Years ago, my mother made a rosy and refreshing party drink I’ve never forgotten. The sparkle comes from fruit juices, vodka and lemon-lime soda. —Melinda Strable, Ankeny, Iowa
Peach-Basil Cooler
Mix peaches and basil with champagne for a cool and refreshing lemonade cocktail (or club soda for a mocktail). —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, FloridaLemonade Cocktail FAQ
What alcohol mixes best with lemonade?
The simplicity of lemonade means it pairs well with about anything. Bourbon or whiskey balance zesty lemon with warm oaky flavors. Tequila and gin complement lemonade with citrusy, botanical notes. Vodka is probably the most basic pairing, making it a typical crowd-pleaser. Sparkling wines will add a bubbly element to lemonade.
If you don’t know what your guests prefer, set out a lemonade cocktail station with pitchers of regular lemonade, plenty of garnishes and various liquors. They’ll have fun stirring up their own cocktails.
How do you cut lemons for a cocktail garnish?
Cocktail garnishes are sometimes more fun than the cocktail itself! Spearing cherries and rimming glasses with sugar or salt will always be classic, but lemonade cocktails deserve a lemon garnish.
There are a few ways to use lemons for your drinks. The easiest is to cut thin slices and dunk them into the glass with ice cubes. For a pretty flourish on the glass, cut a small notch in the peel up to the center of the flesh so the slice can sit on the rim. When you have more time to prep, try making candied citrus. The slices look beautiful when placed on top of the cocktail.
Perhaps the most elegant is the lemon twist. Use a paring knife to gently peel the rind from the pith of the lemon in a 1/4-inch strip. Twist the strip of lemon skin tightly and it should keep its form. Hook it on the rim of the glass.
Originally Published: July 30, 2018
