This is how we bring sunshine and style to a simple, refreshing cocktail.
I’m nearly done with my strawberry phase — maybe one more recipe tomorrow, then a little break. Strawberries are irresistible right now. I’m sitting here eating them straight from the store container while we remain kitchenless, and good strawberries always feel like a small, perfect joy. You know exactly what I mean.
This cocktail is totally summer in a glass. I’m so ready for warm evenings, even if my schedule doesn’t change much. I still carry that “summer vacation” mindset from years of school — like needing to go to bed early on school nights and staying up late on weekends. Clearly, I’m twelve at heart.
This summer I’m most looking forward to low-key moments: dinner on the back patio, a simple happy hour, or a cold drink while the sun sets. Some days are already in the high 70s or 80s, so boozy lemonade feels right. It’s perfect for kicking off Memorial Day or celebrating Mother’s Day — I’ll happily accept this drink as a Mother’s Day gift, thank you very much.
Also, I’m assembling a huge 2017 summer playlist. It’s enormous and very necessary.
For this recipe, I recommend buying a good-quality lemonade. You’ll be making several of these for friends, and a quality store-bought lemonade keeps things simple and consistent. That said, homemade lemonade is lovely too — I have a strawberry mint lemonade recipe you can use if you want to make everything from scratch. Limeade is my personal favorite since it reminds me of margaritas, but it does take a lot of limes to make a big batch.
You do need to prepare a strawberry puree and strain some strawberry “juice,” so purchasing lemonade is a reasonable shortcut — especially since this drink includes alcohol. Speaking of which, lots of ice is crucial. Crushed is ideal if you can manage it, but plenty of cubes will also do. Super-cold lemonade and gin are a perfect match.
This cocktail is incredibly refreshing. If gin isn’t your thing (I get it — some people don’t love the botanicals), you can easily swap in vodka and get an equally delicious drink.
Strawberry Gin Lemonades
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Ingredients
- 2 to 3 tablespoons strawberry puree
- 1 to 2 ounces gin
- 3 ounces strawberry juice
- 4 ounces lemonade
- sliced strawberries and lemons for garnish
strawberry puree
- 2 cups quartered strawberries
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
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Fill each glass with a spoonful or two of the strawberry puree, then add plenty of ice. Pour 1 to 2 ounces of gin over the ice and stir gently to combine with the puree. Add a few ounces of the strained strawberry juice, then top each glass with lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh strawberries, add a straw, and serve.
strawberry puree
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Blend the strawberries and water until smooth. Pour half the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to separate the juice from solids — this is your strawberry juice. Reserve the remaining puree to spoon into the bottoms of the glasses. Any extra puree can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days.
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All that’s left is a pool and an umbrella. Cheers.