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Ingredients
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Base Hard Seltzer
Lemonade Flavoring
Sparkling / Finishing
Method
Base Hard Seltzer
- 1
Combine spirit and water
In a large clean pitcher or mixing container, combine 1.5 cups neutral grain spirit or vodka with 1.5 cups filtered water. This dilutes the spirit to a pleasant strength appropriate for a hard seltzer base (roughly 5–7% ABV depending on original spirit).
- 2
Sweeten
Stir in 0.5 cup 1:1 simple syrup until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust sweetness — you can add up to an additional 2 tablespoons if you prefer sweeter lemonade seltzer.
Lemonade Flavoring
- 3
Prepare lemon juice and zest
Zest one or two lemons to yield about 1 tablespoon zest total. Halve and juice lemons until you have about 0.75 cup (6 fluid ounces) fresh lemon juice. Strain seeds and excessive pulp through a fine mesh if you want a clear seltzer.
- 4
Balance acidity
Whisk the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest into the spiked, sweetened base. If you want a brighter, more shelf-stable tartness, dissolve 1 teaspoon citric acid into the mixture and stir until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust: add up to 1 additional tablespoon simple syrup or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid to reach your preferred balance.
Sparkling / Finishing
- 5
Chill
Refrigerate the flavored hard seltzer base for at least 30 minutes so flavors meld and the mixture is cold. Alternatively, chill in an ice bath for 10–15 minutes.
- 6
Bottle or mix with carbonation
To serve, fill four tall glasses each with 1 cup ice. For each glass: pour 3/4 cup of the chilled hard-seltzer lemonade base into the glass, then top with 1 1/2 cups (about 12 fl oz) chilled carbonated water or club soda to achieve a light, bubbly finish. Gently stir once to combine — avoid vigorous stirring to preserve carbonation.
- 7
- 8
Batch bottling option
If you prefer pre-bottled individual servings, mix the base and lemon flavoring, then gently top with chilled carbonated water in bottles just before sealing. For better carbonation retention, mix base and chill thoroughly; fill bottles leaving headspace, chill, and cap. Consume within 24–48 hours for best carbonation and freshness.