I recently hosted a party at my house for my daughter’s birthday. I knew I wanted to have something unique and fun to drink for the parents and adults in attendance, but I didn’t want it to be too complicated to throw together.
I kind of procrastinated on this aspect of the menu until the last minute, so this drink really came together with items that I already had on hand. I promise you: this drink is summertime bliss. Serve it as the recipe says or add a splash of vodka for a “drinks on the patio” kind of night. However you decide to serve it, you’ll for sure be feeling those #summervibes.
Blueberry Fizzy Lemonade || Your Perfect Summer Drink
Ingredients:
Blueberry Syrup (see below)
Lemonade
Ginger Ale/Ginger Beer (Love the Blue Sky brand that can be found at People’s Food Co-Op)
Lemon Slices
Ice
*Vodka or other mixer optional
First prepare the blueberry syrup
Bring at least two cups of blueberries and 1 cup of water to a boil in a saucepan. You can make more or less syrup: add 1/2 of water for each cup of blueberries. Once it comes to a boil, turn down the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. The blueberries will all have “popped” to release their juice.
Carefully strain the blueberries through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. It really helps if you line the strainer with cheesecloth beforehand. Press the mixture with a wooden spoon to release all the juices. Discard the cheesecloth when the majority of juice has been released from the blueberries and strained through the cheesecloth and mesh strainer. Carefully measure the liquid into a large measuring cup, take note of the measurement and return to the saucepan. Add 1/2 cup of sugar for each cup of juice. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring the blueberry juice mixture to a boil and decrease heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes or until thickened. Turn off heat and set aside until completely cool. (This step is super important, do not skip it.) I stored the syrup in a jar with a pour spout, but a mason jar or small pitcher would also work great.
**Disclaimer: Blueberries stain SO BADLY. Make sure you are wearing your least favorite clothes for this project.
Prepare drink:
Fill a mason jar, copper mug, or clear plastic cup (you can get an entire package of 120 cups and lids at Costco for $10), to the top with ice. Add at least 2 Tbsp of syrup, then add half lemonade and half ginger ale or ginger beer. If serving as an adult beverage, add a splash of vodka. Garnish with a lemon slice. Mix well. Enjoy!
