Classic Lemonade
Muddle ∙ 3 min ∙
Classic Lemonade is a non-alcoholic highball of muddled mint, lemon juice, and sugar syrup topped with soda water and citrus slices. Tart lemon leads, softened by syrup and a cool mint lift, while the soda water keeps it light and fizzy for a hot-afternoon refresher.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the glass, muddle: Orange slice 1 pc and Grapefruit slice 1 pc
- Add the remaining ingredients: Sugar syrup 25 mlLemon juice 25 mlFresh mint leaves 7 pcsSoda water 120 ml
- Add ice
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Muddle the orange and grapefruit slices in the base of the glass first; the mint goes in whole afterwards with the syrup, lemon and soda, so it perfumes the drink without being torn.
- Build over full ice to the top of the highball glass before adding soda water, then top and stir once with a single upward motion to preserve carbonation.
- Add the orange and grapefruit slices after the soda water so their oils sit on the surface, boosting aroma as the drink is sipped.
- Slap the mint sprig garnish between the palms before placing it on top to release fragrance right at the glass rim.
History
Lemonade's earliest documented ancestor traces to medieval Egypt, where records from 10th- to 13th-century Cairo describe qatarmizat, a drink of lemon juice and sugar made and sold by the city's Jewish community, sometimes exported abroad. The lemon itself had reached Egypt by around 700 AD, arriving from farther east, and sweetened lemon-water drinks are believed to have circulated in the Islamic world before this written evidence appears. The drink later spread to Europe, and it debuted commercially in Paris on August 20, 1630, when street vendors began selling a version made with sparkling water, lemon juice, and honey from tanks carried on their backs. The beverage became so popular in the city that in 1676 the vendors organized into a guild, the Compagnie de Limonadiers, granted a monopoly on selling the drink there. From this Parisian trade, lemonade spread across Europe and eventually to England and North America, evolving into the simple lemon juice, sugar, and water preparation known today.
FAQ
How do you make a classic lemonade?
Muddle fresh mint leaves with lemon juice and sugar syrup in a highball glass, then top with soda water and add ice. Finish with an orange slice, a grapefruit slice, and a mint sprig garnish. The mint is muddled gently, not crushed hard, so it releases aroma without turning bitter or grassy.
What is in a classic lemonade?
Sugar syrup, lemon juice, and fresh mint muddled together, then topped with soda water and finished with an orange slice and a grapefruit slice. It is non-alcoholic, built in a highball glass, and garnished with a mint sprig.
Is a classic lemonade shaken or stirred?
Neither — it is muddled. The mint, lemon juice, and syrup are muddled directly in the glass to release the mint's oils before the soda water and ice go in, which keeps the drink's fizz intact.
What glass is a classic lemonade served in?
A highball glass, built over ice and garnished with a mint sprig alongside the orange and grapefruit slices.
What alcohol goes well with lemonade?
Vodka, gin, and light rum all mix well with lemonade, since their clean or botanical character does not fight the citrus and mint. This particular recipe is served non-alcoholic at 0% ABV, but the same mint-lemon-syrup base works as a mixer for a spirit of choice.
Is classic lemonade suitable for vegans or people avoiding gluten?
Yes, this recipe is vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free, and it contains no alcohol, at around 100 calories per serving.