Dirty Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

This cocktail was born out of an evening of mixology experimentation with some special taste-testers, our dear friends, Bobby & Stephanie, as well as my sister, Christine.

We all knew we wanted a summer-time, porch-sipping, easy-drinking, sparkling cocktail – because who doesn’t love a little bubbles? After a lot of trial and error, this Dirty Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade was born. And let me tell you, that trial and error was well worth it because this cocktail is good. SO. GOOD. I have a feeling we’ll be sipping on this for many summers to come.

This is a rum-based drink, topped with ginger beer, and since I know not everyone is a fan of these ingredients, I’ve included a few substitutions. But even if you don’t like rum or ginger beer, I suggest you still give it a try, you won’t regret it.

What You’ll Need

Fresh strawberries and mint, rum, lemonade, elderflower liquor (St. Germain) and ginger beer.

Getting Started

After removing the tops from the strawberries, cut into 1/2″ pieces and add to a rocks glass. Roughly rip the mint leaves, adding to the rocks glass with the strawberries. Muddle well, then top with ice.

Mix the Cocktail

Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then add the rum, lemonade and elderflower liquor. Shake well, then strain into rocks glass. Stir to combine, then top with ginger beer. If you’re not a fan of ginger beer – use any other sparkling drink (sparkling wine, tonic water, ginger ale, etc.).

The rum can also easily be replaced with any clear liquor, like tequila, vodka or gin.

Enjoy!

Dirty Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 2 ripe strawberries
• 4-5 mint leaves
• 1.5 oz white rum*
• 3 oz lemonade
• 1/2 oz elderflower liquor
• Ginger beer*

Instructions

1. After removing the tops from the strawberries, cut into 1/2″ pieces and add to a rocks glass.
2. Roughly rip the mint leaves, adding to the rocks glass with the strawberries.
3. Muddle well, then top with ice.
4. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add rum, lemonade and elderflower liquor.
5. Give it a good shake!
6. Strain into rocks glass filed with ice.
7. Gently stir to combine.
8. Top with ginger beer.
9. Enjoy!

*if you don’t like rum, this cocktail would also work well with any clear liquor, like tequila, vodka or gin; the ginger beer can also be replaced with any sparkling drink, such as sparkling wine, tonic water, or ginger ale.