Vodka Lemonade

Homemade vodka lemonade is sweet tart and ultra refreshing! It’s a tasty summer cocktail that works any time of year.

Here’s a tasty refreshing lemon cocktail that’s perfect for summer, but works any time of year: Vodka Lemonade! Make up a pitcher of homemade fresh lemonade, then spike it with a little vodka. It comes out fresh and sweet tart, and very easy to drink. It’s so easy to drink, in fact, that you might have to be careful with this one! The vodka adds just the right boozy finish without too much spice. It’s great for entertaining, or for an afternoon refresher. Here’s how to make it!

What’s in vodka lemonade?

This vodka lemonade is one of those two ingredient cocktails where the ingredients are in the name. You know, like Gin and Tonic? Or Vodka Cranberry? Yes, the ingredients are really all in the title. Here’s what you’ll need for vodka lemonade:

• Fresh squeezed homemade lemonade (lemons, sugar, and water)
• Vodka

Making lemonade at home is a key to this recipe, though you can use store-bought as a shortcut. But we recommend making it homemade because the flavor is much better. There are two variations: pitcher style, and by the glass.

How to make homemade lemonade: pitcher or by the glass

The key to vodka lemonade is a high-quality homemade lemonade. This recipe makes a pitcher of 8 to 9 cups, which is 8 servings of vodka lemonade. It’s got just the right amount of sugar, but it’s not too sweet. You can also make it by the glass, if you’re making only one serving at once. Here’s what to do:

• Juice the lemons. This is the most time consuming part of the process! A citrus press juicer makes quick work of it.
• Mix the sugar with warm water. There’s no need to make a simple syrup on the stove. Just mix sugar and warm water.
• Add the cold water and lemon juice. That’s it! Go to our homemade lemonade recipe for the quantities for a pitcher and by the glass.

The vodka to use

You can use any type of vodka for this vodka lemonade! This drink is more about the tangy lemon flavor than the alcohol, so your vodka doesn’t have to be top notch. The rule we recommend is: the better the alcohol, the better the drink! Go for a mid-price range alcohol, which is usually indicative of the quality. We used Tito’s vodka.

Variations on vodka lemonade

There are lots variations on a spiked vodka lemonade. Here are a few lemonade variations you can try:

• Spiked lemonade: Use both vodka and limoncello to make a citrus-forward drink! Go to Spiked Lemonade.
• Bourbon lemonade: Make a bourbon cocktail by using bourbon instead. Go to Bourbon Lemonade.
• Gin lemonade: Make the same recipe below, but use 2 ounces gin instead.
• Vodka limeade: Make limeade instead! Use our Fresh Limeade or Cherry Limeade and spike it with vodka.
• Sparkling lemonade: Add soda water for a sparkle! See Sparkling Lemonade.
• Arnold Palmer: Add iced tea to make this classic! Go to Arnold Palmer.
• Pink or fruity lemonade: Add vodka to Raspberry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade or Pink Lemonade.

01

Spiked Lemonade

02

Bourbon Lemonade

03

Sparkling Lemonade

04

Strawberry Lemonade

When to serve vodka lemonade

This vodka lemonade is tangy and refreshing: perfect for summer and as a party drink! Try it as a:

• Summer drink
• Afternoon drink
• Dinner party drink
• Before dinner drink (aperitif)
• Brunch drink

Print

More vodka cocktails

There are so many famous vodka cocktails to use up a bottle! Here are a few more we’d recommend:

• Vodka Tonic or Vodka Soda Two of the easiest mixed drinks of all time! Both two-ingredient cocktails are bubbly, citrusy, and refreshing.
• Vodka Cranberry Cocktail Another seriously easy drink! It’s also called a Cape Codder.
• Vodka Spritzer A blend of bubbles, fruit and cranberry make the most refreshing sip.
• Vodka Gimlet A variation on the classic gin gimlet with a smoother flavor! It’s got just three ingredients: vodka, lime and syrup.
• Lemon Drop Martini, Pomegranate Martini, Cucumber Martini, Espresso Martini or Watermelon Martini Different flavor spins on the vodka martini: each unique!