Smoke House Lemonade Recipe

Juice lemons

Roll lemons on the countertop to loosen juices, then cut in half and juice until you have 1 cup (about 6–8 lemons depending on size). Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and excess pulp if you prefer a smoother lemonade.

Make basic lemonade

In a large pitcher, dissolve 3 tablespoons granulated sugar into 1 cup hot water (not boiling) by stirring until fully dissolved. Add the strained fresh lemon juice and 2 cups cold water, stirring to combine.

Chill

Add 3 cups of ice to the pitcher or keep ice in a separate container to prevent dilution. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding up to 1 tablespoon more sugar or a splash more cold water if too strong.

Make smoked simple syrup

In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons light brown sugar with 1/4 cup water. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon smoked simple syrup or 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (start with less and add to taste). Let cool to room temperature.

Combine syrup with lemonade

Once the smoked syrup has cooled, pour it through a fine mesh strainer into the lemonade pitcher and stir well. Start by adding the full amount, then taste: if you want a more pronounced smoky note, add up to an additional 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke or another tablespoon of the smoked syrup mixture (do not overdo liquid smoke—it's potent).

Prepare glasses

If using smoked sea salt, moisten the rim of each serving glass with a lemon wedge, then dip the rim into a shallow plate of smoked sea salt to coat lightly.

Serve

Fill glasses with ice, pour the smoked lemonade over the ice, and garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. For an adult version, add 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) bourbon or mezcal per serving to the glass before pouring the lemonade, then stir gently.

Adjust and store

Taste and adjust sweetness or smoke level if needed. Store any leftover lemonade in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours; shake or stir before serving as separation may occur.