Lynchburg Lemonade
A refreshing, bubbly and sour whiskey cocktail ∙ Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 16.7% ABV ∙
Lynchburg Lemonade is a highball of Tennessee whiskey, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and lemon-lime soda, named for the town where Jack Daniel's is made.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour all ingredients into the chilled glass: Tennessee whiskey 40 mlTriple sec 25 mlLemon juice 25 mlLemon-lime soda 50 ml
- Fill the glass with ice
- Garnish with a lemon slice
Tips
- Add the ice gently on top of the poured liquids so the soda keeps its fizz; a quick lift with a bar spoon brings the whiskey up from the bottom.
History
Lynchburg Lemonade was created in 1980 by Tony Mason, owner of a restaurant and lounge in Huntsville, Alabama, who named it for Lynchburg, Tennessee, the home of the Jack Daniel's distillery. Mason mixed Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey with triple sec, a sour mix, and lemon-lime soda, and served it to customers in mason jars at his bar.
The drink became the center of a legal dispute after a Jack Daniel's sales representative allegedly learned Mason's recipe and the distillery began promoting it as a Jack Daniel's cocktail. Mason sued for misappropriation of trade secrets in the 1987 case Mason v. Jack Daniel Distillery, arguing he had kept the formula confidential among his own bartenders. The case cemented the drink's association with the Jack Daniel's brand even as its origin remained tied to Mason's own bar rather than the distillery itself.
FAQ
What alcohol is in Lynchburg Lemonade?
Tennessee whiskey, plus triple sec, which adds a little more alcohol and sweetness. With the lemon juice and soda, the drink comes to about 16.7% ABV: a light highball, not a strong spirit-forward drink.
What are the ingredients in Lynchburg Lemonade?
40 ml Tennessee whiskey, 25 ml triple sec, 25 ml fresh lemon juice and 50 ml lemon-lime soda such as Sprite or 7-Up.
How do you make a Lynchburg Lemonade?
Pour the whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice and lemon-lime soda into a chilled Collins glass, fill it with ice, and garnish with a lemon slice. Add the ice gently so the soda keeps its fizz, and give it a quick lift with a bar spoon to bring the whiskey up from the bottom.
