This easy, refreshing whiskey lemonade cocktail gets a boost of sweetness and flavor from a spoonful of apricot preserves.

Whiskey lemonade in a short glass with a large square ice cube.

This simple whiskey cocktail is one of my go-to summer drinks. It's bright, refreshing, and easy to customize!

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Ingredients
Variations and Substitutions
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments & Reviews

Ingredients

Find a full ingredients list with exact quantities in the recipe card below.

Whiskey. I tend to use bourbon in this recipe (Elijah Cr a ig is my go-to bourbon for mixed drinks), although it's also good with a rye whiskey or lightly peated scotch.
Triple sec or simple syrup. We use Cointreau for most of our cocktail recipes; you can also use homemade simple syrup (or sub a fruit syrup à la our blackberry whiskey cocktail).
Lemon Juice. Squeeze your own from fresh lemons for the best flavor.
Apricot jam adds extra sweetness and a lovely depth of flavor to these cocktails. Look for a very smooth jam or jelly, which will mix more smoothly than a chunky version.

Silver cocktail shaker pouring whiskey lemonade into a short glass with a large ice cube inside.

Variations and Substitutions

Garnish with a sugar rim or a slice of lemon if you like.
For a sweeter cocktail, add another splash of triple sec or a pinch of fine white sugar.
Substitute prosecco for the club soda or tonic water (à la our raspberry basil bourbon spritzers), or skip the bubbles entirely and serve these cocktails up for a boozier spin.
No apricot jam? Use another fruit jam or jelly, or substitute a drizzle of honey.

Whiskey lemonade in a short, thick glass with a large ice cube.

📖 Recipe

Whiskey Lemon Cocktails

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

Author: Jessie Johnson
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 cocktails 1x
Category: Cocktails
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

An easy whiskey lemonade cocktail perfect for summer.

Ingredients

Scale

2 ounces (¼ cup) Cointreau or triple sec
2 ounces (¼ cup) whiskey
2 ounces (¼ cup) fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon apricot jam, jelly, or preserves
Lots of ice
4 ounces (½ cup) tonic water or club soda

Instructions

In a shaker, combine triple sec, whiskey, lemon juice, apricot preserves, and lots of ice. Shake well to chill, then strain into prepared glasses.
Top each cocktail with a splash of tonic water or club soda. Serve immediately.

Notes

Serve these cocktails up (without ice) or over a few ice cubes depending on your preference.

A note about apricot jam. Look for apricot jam/jelly/preserves with a very smooth texture: It will incorporate into the drinks more efficiently than a chunky version. If you don't have apricot jam, use another fruit jam or swap it for a bit of honey.

What whiskey should I use? We recommend Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon for most cocktail recipes. Maker's Mark is a good alternative. This recipe is also tasty with a rye whiskey or lightly peated scotch.

Substitutions. Swap the whiskey for your favorite gin, vodka, or a nonalcoholic spirit. Use a homemade simple syrup or fruit syrup instead of triple sec. Add a Tablespoon of lime juice for more tartness; add a teaspoon of fine sugar or a dash of honey for more sweetness. Use prosecco in place of tonic water/club soda, or omit the bubbles and serve these cocktails up (without ice in the glass) for a boozier version.

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 232
Sugar: 22.6 g
Sodium: 12.6 mg
Fat: 0.2 g
Carbohydrates: 25.9 g
Protein: 0.2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2013. It was updated in 2026 with additional photos, notes, and a few minor adjustments. A previous version of this recipe included 1 Tablespoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of fine white sugar; upon further testing, our team decided that eliminating those ingredients achieved a nearly identical result while reducing the prep work. Feel free to add the lime and sugar if you prefer that version!