make something yummy: lemonade stand cocktail

Yesterday’s post on lemon yellow has me thinking about all things lemony! Though I normally associate lemonade with summertime, the truth is lemons, and other citrus fruits, are in abundance this time of year. The lemon tree in my backyard is bursting with fruit and making lemonade is a great way to use them up.

This lemonade-based cocktail is one that I created a couple of years ago for a birthday celebration for Susie. Since I always have lemons on hand (thank you beautiful tree!), it quickly became a cocktail staple in my house. This recipe makes 2 cocktails, but you can easily make a larger batch in a pitcher to serve at parties.

Lemonade Stand

• 4 ounces citrus flavored vodka

• 1 ounce Bärenjäger honey liqueur

• 6 ounces fresh lemonade

• 4 ounces sparkling lemonade*

• Fresh mint sprigs

• Lemon wedges

• Ice

In a cocktail shaker or large glass, combine citrus vodka, honey liqueur, lemonade and a generous helping of ice. Stir to combine  Pour liquid and ice into two glasses. Top off with the sparkling lemonade.  Garnish with mint sprig and a lemon wedge.

Makes 2 cocktails.

* Sparkling lemonade is available at Trader Joe’s, specialty beverage sections at most grocery stores and even at Target under the “Archer Farms” label.

A delicious variation to this recipe that I served this past weekend is to make it a Strawberry Lemonade cocktail.  To do that, asyour first step, put several strawberry slices and fresh mint into the glass or shaker.  Muddle them together using a muddler or spoon ( I use the pestle from my kitchen mortar & pestle) and then continue with the other recipe steps.  Muddling will break up the strawberries and release a lot of the flavor from the mint.

P.S.  I’ll have to do a Party Peek post on the party I threw Susie, for which this cocktail was invented. along with 2 others:  The Pixie Stix Martini and The Root Beer Float. It was barrels of fun!  Look for that in coming weeks.

- Heidi