A pink vodka lemonade in three minutes: 45 ml vodka to 180 ml raspberry sparkling lemonade over plenty of ice. One can makes two drinks, with no syrup and no lemons to squeeze.
- Cocktail 45 ml vodka
- 3 min
- 2 drinks
- Easy
Recipe
Raspberry vodka lemonade recipe
Ingredients
Makes 2 drinks
No raspberry lemonade on hand? Plain sparkling lemonade with a few muddled raspberries does the job.
Method
- Fill the glasses Two tall glasses, filled to the brim with ice.
- Pour the vodka 45 ml (1 ½ oz) vodka into each glass, right over the ice.
- Add the bubbles Top each glass with half the can of raspberry sparkling lemonade, about 180 ml (6 oz).
- Stir once One gentle lift from the bottom with a bar spoon.
- Garnish A skewer of 3 raspberries and a lemon wheel.
Pour the vodka over the ice first. The lemonade does most of the mixing, so one stir is enough and you keep as many bubbles as possible.
Three ratios, and the pitcher for 8
| Ratio | Vodka | Raspberry lemonade | How it tastes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 60 ml (2 oz) | 180 ml (6 oz) | Strong, you taste the vodka |
| 1 to 4 | 45 ml (1 ½ oz) | 180 ml (6 oz) | Balanced, our pick |
| 1 to 6 | 30 ml (1 oz) | 180 ml (6 oz) | Light, made for a long afternoon |
| Pitcher for 8 | 360 ml (12 oz) | 4 cans (1.4 L) | With 1 cup raspberries and 1 sliced lemon |
When to serve a vodka lemonade
The happy hour glass, or the pitcher you set in the middle of the table when people show up. Pink, bright and not too sweet: vodka barely tastes like anything, so the lemonade does all the work.
Tips for a well-balanced vodka lemonade
- Start at 1 to 4: you can always add a splash of vodka, but you can't take it back out.
- For the pitcher, mix the vodka and fruit up to 2 hours ahead in the fridge. Add the 4 cans only when serving, and pour into glasses full of ice, not ice in the pitcher.
- A mid-range plain vodka is all you need. Skip very sweet flavoured vodkas; a citrus vodka, on the other hand, plays up the lemonade.
Vodka lemonade variations
Alcohol-free
Swap the vodka for 45 ml sparkling water, or leave it out and pour half a can over ice with the berries. Same colour, same glass.
Darker
A blackberry sparkling lemonade makes a deeper vodka lemonade that looks great at night. Same measures: 45 ml vodka to half a can.
Sparkling screwdriver
A clementine sparkling lemonade tastes like a screwdriver with bubbles. Same measures: 45 ml vodka to half a can.
Vodka lemonade: your questions
How do you make a vodka lemonade?
Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in 45 ml vodka, then top with 180 ml raspberry sparkling lemonade. Stir once and garnish with raspberries and a lemon wheel. One can makes two drinks.
How do you make a vodka lemonade?
Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in 45 ml vodka, then top with 180 ml raspberry sparkling lemonade. Stir once and garnish with raspberries and a lemon wheel. One can makes two drinks.
How much vodka goes in a vodka lemonade?
We recommend 45 ml vodka to 180 ml lemonade, a 1 to 4 ratio. For lighter go down to 30 ml; 60 ml is the most we'd use.
Can I make it ahead?
Partly. Mix the vodka and fruit up to 2 hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. Add the lemonade at the last minute or the cocktail goes flat.
Alcoholic versions are for people of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly. Our sparkling lemonades are always alcohol-free.
