A Super Simple Summertime Boozy Lemonade
Whether you’re ordering a cocktail at the bar or making your own concoction at home, the world of mixology can leave many of us well…mixed up. On the House, is a series where with the help of bartenders, sommeliers, and mixologists we explore the role a good drink plays in our culture and share some must-try recipes. In our first installment, Vanessa Santiago, lead bartender at The Barrow House in Clifton, New Jersey, shares her favorite no-fuss, refreshing cocktail. Cheers!
As a bartender, who literally makes drinks for everyone all the time, I definitely need one of my own when I get home. However, the last thing I want to do at the end of a shift is make a cocktail that requires a ton of work. Two things that I always keep on hand in my home, apart from fun liquors and amaros, are simple syrup and lime or lemon juice. Perfect for a boozy lemonade!
Image by Kateryna T
Ingredients
1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 water (for the simple syrup)
2 oz of your favorite spirit such as whiskey, vodka, or tequila. (I’ve enjoyed many a whiskey lemonade on several summer nights. It’s probably my favorite combination when I’m feeling like keeping it extra simple without any frills.)
Directions
First up, is the lemonade. The lemons require a bit of elbow grease. Start by rolling them out to get their juices going, slice them up, and start juicing! Be sure to get rid of the seeds and if you’re feeling extra fancy you can go ahead and strain your juice to get rid of the extra pulp.
Now you’re going to make a simple syrup. It’s called a simple syrup because it is super simple. We’re going to start with putting equal parts water and sugar into a saucepan and get those to a rolling boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir. Keep that going until all the sugar has dissolved. Transfer it into a storage safe container with a lid and let it cool. You can store simple syrup in the fridge for up to a month.
Once cooled, add 1 oz of lemon juice, 1 oz of simple syrup, and 2 oz of the spirit of your choice into a shaker with ice.
Pour into a glass over ice and enjoy!
Pro Tip: if you find your cocktail too sweet, try adding a few dashes of Peychaud's Bitters to balance out the sweetness!
Image by Julia Peretiatko.
