Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail

Summer is in full swing, and this strawberry whiskey lemonade cocktail is just what summer needs.

With fresh strawberries and homemade shrubs, this whiskey summer drink is great to sip on after work, sitting by the pool, or hanging at The W.

Grab the recipe below. 

Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail

Serve up this strawberry whiskey lemonade cocktail for a fun twist to lemonade.

This is a tart and sweet whiskey cocktail that is great for using up fresh lemons and strawberries for the summer. 

Why I Recommend Making This Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade 

• Homemade strawberry shrubs to flavor cocktail
• An adult lemonade drink
• Refreshing 
• Simple to whip up
• Great for entertaining 

How to pick ripe strawberries? 

It is important to use fresh strawberries that are ripe for this drink. Otherwise, it will provide a sour flavor, not sweet. 

• Reach for bright red berries. 
• Look for bruising or soft spots. If you find soft spots, they mean the area has bruising and can be spoiled. 
• The size of the berries does not matter; you want any size as long as they are ripe. 
• If they are white or green, that means they are not quite ripe. 
• Look all over the berries and make sure there is no mold on any of the berries. 

How to Make a Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail

1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces whiskey 
• 2 tbsp strawberry shrubs (recipe listed below)
• 2 dashes of aromatic bitters 
• 3 ounces lemonade 
• wheels of lemon
• halved slices of fresh strawberries
• ice

Directions:

1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker, 2 tbsp strawberry shrubs, 1 1/2 ounces whiskey, 2 dashes of aromatic bitters, and 3 ounces lemonade. 
2. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
3. Next, strain into a serving glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a wheel of sliced lemon and a halved strawberry slice on a cocktail stick. 
5. Serve. 

Homemade Strawberry Shrubs

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 1/2 cups of sliced strawberries
• white wine vinegar (see step #5)
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate syrup
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Into a saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 1/2 cups of sliced strawberries.
2. Cook the mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and allow the mixture to steep for five minutes or until cool enough to handle safely.
4. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a medium-sized bowl. Pour and press the mixture through the sieve to collect the juice. Measure the amount of juice you have.
5. Add white wine vinegar equal to half the volume of the juice (e.g., if you have 8 ounces of juice, add 4 ounces of white wine vinegar).
6. Add 1 tablespoon of pomegranate syrup and 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar. Mix thoroughly.
7. Pour the strawberry shrubs into a Mason-jar-style glass with a screw lid. Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to two weeks. For best freshness, keep refrigerated and tightly sealed.

Can I Make This Whiskey Lemonade Without Strawberries 

If you do not want to use strawberries in the recipe, substitute raspberries or blueberries. You will also swap them in the shrubs recipe. 

What are strawberry shrubs for cocktails? 

White wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, strawberries, and even pomegranates come together to make a sweet syrup you will mix in the cocktails. 

You can buy some at your grocery store or make your own.

Store the shrubs in an airtight container for about two weeks.

Then, splash some in your drinks for a sweet and tangy flavor. 

What brand of whiskey should you use for cocktails? 

You are welcome to use any of your favorite whiskey brands, such as Jack Daniels or Jim Beam.

Feel free to use your favorite brand. Even a Crown Royal would work to flavor your cocktail. 

Can I Make This Recipe Into A Pitcher 

The recipe below is for one cocktail. Go right ahead and multiply it if you would like a pitcher.

So feel free to double, triple, etc., the recipe to fit how many you want to serve. 

What If I Don’t Have Strawberry Shrubs? 

If you don’t have strawberry shrubs or the ingredients to make them, you can use simple syrup instead.

It will sweeten the cocktail without the shrubs. 

The shrubs have many more flavor components, but this will work without using them for the recipe. 

Can you make this drink non-alcoholic? 

Of course, you can make a simple strawberry lemonade instead of a cocktail. You can use water or lemon-lime soda to replace the whiskey in the drink recipe. 

Now that you have the recipe, give our strawberry summer drink a try! 

Find more drinks using strawberries

Watermelon Basil Cocktail

Strawberry Soda

Strawberry Pineapple Margarita

Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail

Serve up this strawberry whiskey lemonade cocktail for a fun twist to lemonade. This lemonade cocktail is made with whiskey, lemonade, strawberries, etc. 

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cocktails

Cuisine: American

Servings: 0

Calories: 149kcal

Author: This Worthey Life

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x4x5x

• 1 1/2 ounces whiskey
• 2 tbsp strawberry shrubs  (recipe listed below)
• 2 dashes of aromatic bitters
• 3 ounces lemonade
• wheels of lemon
• halved slices of fresh strawberries
• ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
• Pour in 1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey, 2 tbsp strawberry shrubs, 2 dashes aromatic bitters, and 3 ounces lemonade.
• Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Strain into a serving glass filled with ice (a highball or rocks glass works well).
• Garnish with a wheel of sliced lemon and a halved strawberry slice on a cocktail stick.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade Strawberry Shrubs

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of water

1 cup of sugar

2 1/2 cups of sliced strawberries

white wine vinegar (see step #5)

1 tablespoon pomegranate syrup

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Into a saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 1/2 cups of sliced strawberries.

Cook the mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and allow the mixture to steep for five minutes or until cool enough to handle safely.

Place a fine-mesh sieve over a medium-sized bowl. Pour and press the mixture through the sieve to collect the juice. Measure the amount of juice you have.

Add white wine vinegar equal to half the volume of the juice (e.g., if you have 8 ounces of juice, add 4 ounces of white wine vinegar).

Add 1 tablespoon of pomegranate syrup and 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar. Mix thoroughly.

Pour the strawberry shrubs into a Mason-jar-style glass with a screw lid. Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to two weeks. For best freshness, keep refrigerated and tightly sealed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 0.4mg | Sugar: 10g | Iron: 0.01mg

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Created 7/2021 | Updated 6/2024