With summer's arrival, temperatures are on the rise, and everyone is thinking backyard bar-b-ques and outdoor entertaining. But with the increasing heat, a cool, refreshing cocktail is needed more than ever, and no one wants to be stuck mixing drinks instead of enjoying the party. The sweet, tart flavor of lemonade is a summertime classic, and these lemonade based punches are quick to make for a crowd.
Pink Lemonade Cocktail
- 1 12-oz. can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 3 12-oz. chilled bottles of beer (not dark beer - choose a pale ale or lager)
- 3/4 c. vodka, chilled
Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher or punchbowl with ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and citrus slices if desired.
Lynchburg Lemonade
Lynchburg Lemonade is a classic Jack Daniel's cocktail, named for the distillery's hometown in Lynchburg, Tennessee. It's as easy to make for a crowd as it is to make by the glass.
- 1 part Jack Daniel's whiskey
- 1 part sweet & sour
- 1/2 part triple sec
- 4 parts lemon-lime soda
Pour the whiskey, sweet & sour and triple sec into a punchbowl over ice, and top off with lemon-lime soda. Stir well. Serve garnished with lemon slices and maraschino cherries.
Sparkling Cranberry Blush
- 3 c. cold water
- 2 48-oz. bottles of cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
- 2 6-oz. cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 2 750ml bottles brut champagne, chilled
Combine the first three ingredients in a punch bowl and stir well. Add the champagne, and stir gently, not to destroy the bubbles. Serve immediately.
Lemonade Wine Punch
For ice:
- 1 6-oz. can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1 10-oz. jar of maraschino cherries
For punch:
- 2 6-oz. cans frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1 2-liter bottle lemon-lime flavored soda, chilled
- 1 750ml bottle red wine, chilled
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
To make ice: Mix together one can of pink lemonade concentrate with one can of water. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. Place a cherry in each cube. Freeze until solid.
To make punch: Combine two cans of pink lemonade concentrate, lemon-lime soda, and red wine in a punch bowl and stir to combine. Stir in the lemonade ice cubes. Garnish with the remaining maraschino cherries, and the orange and lemon slices.
Southern Punch
- 1 2-liter bottle lemon-lime soda
- 4 c. Southern Comfort
- 1 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1 6-oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
Combine all ingredients with ice in a punch bowl and stir well. Serve garnished with slices of lemon and orange.
Of course, lemonade punches aren't the only drinks that go well with summer. Also consider tropical rum drinks, the caiprinha, or the batida.
Angie Rayfield - Angie is a self-taught beer aficionado, who cheerfully confesses, "I didn't always love beer. In fact, I hated it. I only learned to drink ...
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