Description
A vibrant and refreshing Blueberry Vodka Lemonade made with homemade blueberry simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of vodka. Perfect for summer gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup vodka (good quality recommended)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6–8 lemons)
- 4 cups cold water, plus more to adjust sweetness
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Blueberries, Sugar, and Water: In a medium saucepan, combine the 1 ½ cups of fresh blueberries, ¾ cup of granulated sugar, and ¾ cup of water.
- Bring to a Simmer: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
- Simmer and Macerate: Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes. As it simmers, gently crush the blueberries with the back of a spoon or a potato masher. This will help release their juices and flavor into the syrup. You’ll notice the mixture thickening slightly and turning a beautiful deep purple color.
- Strain the Syrup: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a heat-proof bowl. Pour the blueberry mixture through the sieve, pressing down on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the blueberry pulp.
- Cool Completely: Let the blueberry simple syrup cool completely before using it in the lemonade. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the bowl in the refrigerator. The syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Juice the Lemons: Juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. I usually find that 6-8 lemons are enough, depending on their size and juiciness.
- Combine Lemon Juice and Water: In a large pitcher, combine the 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 4 cups of cold water. Stir well to combine.
- Add Blueberry Simple Syrup: Pour the cooled blueberry simple syrup into the pitcher with the lemon juice and water. Stir well to combine.
- Taste and Adjust Sweetness: Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness to your liking. If it’s too tart, add more simple syrup (you can make a plain simple syrup by dissolving equal parts sugar and water). If it’s too sweet, add more lemon juice or water. Remember that the ice will dilute the lemonade slightly, so it’s better to err on the side of being slightly sweeter.
- Add Vodka to the Pitcher: Pour the 1 cup of vodka into the pitcher with the lemonade. Stir well to combine.
- Chill the Lemonade: Place the pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the lemonade to become nice and cold. You can also add ice directly to the pitcher, but keep in mind that it will dilute the lemonade more quickly.
- Prepare Glasses: Fill glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour the Lemonade: Pour the Blueberry Vodka Lemonade into the ice-filled glasses.
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish with fresh blueberries, lemon slices, and/or fresh mint sprigs. These garnishes add a pop of color and enhance the overall presentation.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the Blueberry Vodka Lemonade immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference by modifying the amount of sugar in the simple syrup.
- Experiment with other berries like raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries.
- Infuse the simple syrup with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil.
- For a non-alcoholic version, omit the vodka and add sparkling water or club soda.
- The blueberry simple syrup and lemonade base (without vodka) can be made ahead of time.
- Frozen blueberries can be used in a pinch.
- Add lemon zest to the simple syrup for extra lemon flavor.
- Use blueberry-infused vodka for an extra layer of blueberry flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes