Kentucky Lemonade

Mint julep might be the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, but it can be a little too boozy for a hot day of race events. For an easier all-day sipper, try Kentucky lemonade. This summertime lemonade recipe is made with lemon juice and ginger ale, and can optionally be spiked with bourbon. Like a mint julep, it also leans heavily on fresh mint to make it even more refreshing.

You could mix up this fizzy lemon drink by the glass, but it really excels as an easy batch cocktail. A two-ingredient simple syrup sweetens lemon juice into homemade lemonade, which is then infused with mint and left to chill as a nonalcoholic punch or a whiskey-laced one. As the race festivities begin, set out glasses and ice cubes, mix in bubbly ginger ale, and the batched Kentucky lemonade is ready to pour.

Kentucky Lemonade Ingredients

• Sugar: Equal amounts of granulated sugar and water create a neutral simple syrup that sweetens without competing with the bright lemon and fresh mint.
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is worth the effort for Kentucky lemonade, but bottled juice can stand in if needed. To juice lemons the easy way, pull out a food processor.
• Mint: Fresh mint leaves give this Kentucky lemonade drink its signature flavor. Mint comes in numerous varieties. Use spearmint for a sweeter-tasting beverage, peppermint for a more potent one, or lesser-known varieties like chocolate mint, pineapple mint or intense black mint for subtle flavor variations.
• Bourbon: Spirits are optional in this Kentucky lemonade recipe, but if you add them, use bourbon to keep with the classic cocktail. This American whiskey usually has a sweeter taste than Irish, Scotch or rye whiskey.
• Ginger ale: Ginger ale adds a hint of spicy ginger flavor, but it’s really about the bubbles. For the freshest fizz, keep the bottle sealed until you’re ready to pour.
• Ice cubes: Cubed ice chills this lemonade down to the last sip. Keep things simple with a standard cube shape, or try making them with fun ice cube trays.

Directions

Step 1: Make the simple syrup

In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer them for one to two minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.

Step 2: Infuse the flavors

Remove the syrup from the heat, then add the lemon juice and fresh mint leaves. If desired, stir in bourbon. Refrigerate the mixture for one hour or until it’s chilled.

Step 3: Add bubbles

Just before serving, strain the mixture into a 2-quart pitcher, then stir in the ginger ale. Serve the lemonade over ice. If desired, top it with lemon slices and additional mint leaves.

Editor’s Tip: Add the ginger ale to the pitcher just before serving to keep the lemonade sparkling. If you won’t be emptying the pitcher within a few hours, mix half the lemonade mixture with ginger ale and return the rest to the refrigerator until the next round.

Kentucky Lemonade Variations

• Muddle the mint: Muddling fresh mint releases its oils and freshens this Kentucky lemonade mocktail or cocktail. Place a few mint leaves in the bottom of a glass, add a splash of lemonade and lightly crush the leaves with a wooden spoon or muddler before you top up the glass.
• Build on the citrus: Add triple sec along with the bourbon for a boozy, more citrusy version of Kentucky lemonade. Add a splash of syrup from a jar of Luxardo cherries to give it a hint of cherry flavor and color, or just use the cherries themselves as garnish. Triple sec and the cherry syrup are quite sweet, so if you add them, you may want to reduce the amount of simple syrup.
• Flavor the lemonade: Traditional Kentucky lemonade is made with sweetened lemon juice, but flavored lemonade can be used to add a fun twist. Mix up a batch of fresh peach lemonade to replace the simple syrup and lemon juice, or try strawberry lemonade infused with basil instead of mint.

How to Store Kentucky Lemonade

Kentucky lemonade should be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed jar rather than an open pitcher so it doesn’t pick up odors. Strain the lemon mixture before storage to prevent the mint from becoming overpowering. Store it without the ginger ale, which goes flat a few hours after it has been opened and mixed.

How long does Kentucky lemonade last?

Nonalcoholic Kentucky lemonade concentrate lasts for up to six days in the refrigerator. Adding bourbon might help it last longer, but it will taste freshest if it’s consumed as soon as possible. Kentucky lemonade only stays fizzy for a couple hours after the ginger ale is added.

Can you make Kentucky lemonade ahead of time?

To make one or more batches of Kentucky lemonade ahead of time, strain out the mint after an hour of chilling and return the concentrate to the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. Make just the simple syrup in advance to serve Kentucky lemonade on repeat over a few days or weeks. Unflavored simple syrup keeps well in the fridge for up to two weeks. Mix it with lemon juice and bourbon one hour before serving, and muddle fresh mint leaves in the glasses. Always wait until party time to add the ginger ale.

Kentucky Lemonade Tips

What’s the best bourbon to use for Kentucky lemonade?

Bourbon choice for Kentucky lemonade is a matter of taste, but Kentucky bourbon is a good place to start if you don’t already have a favorite bottle. This category includes many well-known brands, including smooth Maker’s Mark, complex Woodford Reserve, and bold, rye-heavy Bulleit. This Kentucky lemonade drink works well as a mixer for blended bourbon, but you can choose a single-barrel or small-batch bottle for a tasty—and potentially pricier—upgrade. You don’t have to stick with bourbon; Irish and rye whiskey can also be used to create potent whiskey lemonade variations.

What type of glass is best for Kentucky lemonade?

Several types of cocktail glasses work well for Kentucky lemonade. With one batch divided into six servings, each pour works out to about 8 ounces, so choose a glass that will hold this with plenty of extra room for ice. Options include a tall, straight-sided highball glass or a narrower Collins glass. These shapes keep the lemonade cold and the ginger ale fizzy. Offer cool and classy servings of Kentucky lemonade in copper Moscow mule mugs or metal julep cups, or go for vintage glassware like county fair drinking jars. But don’t sweat it if the closest-sized glasses in your kitchen are classic drinking tumblers.