Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade

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This easy, refreshing strawberry whiskey cocktail is perfect for summertime! Make a quick homemade strawberry simple syrup, then shake it up with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and your favorite whiskey. Also great as a mocktail! (Recipe for 21+. Please drink responsibly)

This strawberry whiskey lemonade is one of our go-to summer cocktails. It's great as a quick recipe for a few friends, and it's easy to scale up for a crowd if you're throwing a holiday party!

A simple homemade strawberry syrup gives this cocktail a beautiful bright color and fruity flavor. A splash of whiskey adds depth and complexity for a fun twist on our fan-favorite blackberry whiskey lemonade!

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Ingredients
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Step by Step Instructions
FAQs
More Refreshing Summer Cocktails
📖 Recipe
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Ingredients

For a full ingredients list with exact quantities, scroll to the recipe card below.

This is a very straightforward recipe, but we want to highlight a few things before you jump in:

Use a whiskey you like to drink! We use Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon to test most of our whiskey cocktails: it's well balanced, fairly affordable, and pairs well with just about anything. For a more booze-forward cocktail, use a stronger, spicier rye whiskey (we like Rittenhouse Rye!) You could also opt for an Irish whiskey here - our best advice is just to use a whiskey that you know you like!
Fresh lemon juice is essential here. Skip the bottled stuff and squeeze the lemon juice yourself: We promise these drinks will be so much better.
Use fresh strawberries at the height of their summer season. They'll be sweeter, more flavorful, and give your strawberry syrup a bolder color.
Sugar adds sweetness to the simple syrup; swap it for maple syrup or honey if you like.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Use frozen strawberries if fresh strawberries are not in season. Just note that you may need to extend the cook time for your simple syrup if you're using frozen berries!
Swap the strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or peaches. You can also use a combination of your favorite berries here, à la our Triple Berry Margaritas!
Add fresh basil, fresh mint, or thyme to the cocktail shaker to give these drinks an earthy twist.
Switch up the alcohol. While we love the depth of flavor that whiskey brings to this lemonade, you can absolutely swap it for vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or your favorite non-alcoholic spirit.
Adjust the sweetness. You can add an extra drizzle of the simple syrup if you like to have your cocktails more on the sweet side. If you like a more tart cocktail, add some extra lemon juice. Everyone’s taste buds are different: Play around with the ratios until you find a balance you love!

Step by Step Instructions

Make the strawberry simple syrup

Cooking strawberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan.

Add strawberries, sugar, and water to a small saucepan (Image 1, above) and stir everything together (2).

Bring the mixture to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until strawberries have softened and you have a bright pink syrup (3). Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool, then strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve (4) and set it aside.

Save the leftover strawberry pieces

Once you strain the syrup, you'll be left with a handful of soft strawberry pieces: Save these for smoothies or throw them into a batch of crockpot strawberry jam!

Strawberry simple syrup in a measuring cup.

Make the cocktails

Add strawberry syrup, whiskey, and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well, then strain the strawberry whiskey lemonade into prepared glasses and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Make the strawberry syrup up to a week ahead of time! Cook and strain as directed, then let the syrup cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it. This syrup also freezes well!

FAQs

Can I make this whiskey lemonade ahead of time?

You can make the simple strawberry syrup in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for easy drink assembly when you're ready to serve! If you're hosting a larger party, mix the simple syrup and lemon juice in a pitcher just before guests arrive. Set this in the bar area along with ice, sliced lemons, and an assortment of spirits so your guests can mix their cocktail of choice.

What can I do with leftover strawberry syrup?

This recipe makes quite a bit of strawberry syrup! Leftover syrup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Use the leftovers for additional strawberry whiskey lemonade or other cocktails and mocktails, add the syrup to fruity salad dressings, or use it as a sweetener in smoothies.

Can I make this cocktail without a cocktail shaker?

Yes! Use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid to shake cocktails together. You can also use a large cup filled with ice: Add the ingredients, stir well with a long spoon, and strain into your serving glasses.

Cocktail topped with strawberry and lemon garnish.

More Refreshing Summer Cocktails

📖 Recipe

Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews

Author: Jessie
Prep Time: 10 minute
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 Cocktails 1x
Category: Cocktails
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Easy and refreshing strawberry whiskey lemonade with quick strawberry simple syrup, whiskey of choice and lemon juice!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Strawberry Syrup:

1 cup sliced strawberries
½ cup sugar
½ cup water

To Assemble the Cocktails:

4 ounces (½ cup) strawberry syrup
8 ounces (1 cup) whiskey
8 ounces (1 cup) lemon juice
(optional) fresh strawberries and lemon slices, for garnish

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Instructions

Make the Strawberry Syrup:

Stir together strawberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan over low heat.
Bring strawberry mixture to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until strawberries have softened and sugar has dissolved, about 15 minutes. Remove saucepan from the heat and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
Strain syrup into a bowl or measuring cup through a mesh strainer to remove the strawberry pieces. Save strawberries for smoothies or jam later in the week!

Assemble the Cocktails:

In a large shaker, combine strawberry syrup, whiskey, and lemon juice. Add a handful of ice and shake to combine.
Pour whiskey lemonade over ice into drinking glasses. Garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices (optional) and serve immediately.

Notes

Top each drink with a splash of tonic water or club soda if you'd like to stretch the drinks a bit or lighten them up.

The simple syrup in this recipe makes plenty of syrup for these drinks. If you have extra strawberry syrup, use it for additional cocktails or in smoothies and salad dressings. Leftover syrup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or so or freeze for up to 3 months.

If fresh strawberries aren't in season, frozen strawberries are fine to use in this recipe.

Add some fresh basil or thyme to the shaker to give these cocktails an earthy twist.

I don't like especially sweet drinks, so this is a fairly tart cocktail. If you'd like to make it a little sweeter, add an extra drizzle of the simple syrup! Want an even brighter note of lemon? Add some extra lemon juice. Everyone's taste buds are different, so feel free to play around with the ratios until you have a balance you love.

If your cocktail shaker is on the smaller side, you may want to mix these cocktails in two batches.

Please drink responsibly.