Marionberry Hard Lemonade combines fresh-squeezed lemonade with decadent marionberry infused vodka for an easy to make, easy to drink, refreshing cocktail!
I may be a regular contributor here on Real Housemoms, but I’m also a real-life friend of the owner and creator of this blog, the fabulous Aubrey. At least once a month, Aubrey, another friend we love, and I go out to breakfast and we always enjoy a delicious bloody mary. It was at our last breakfast that I realized, out of all the posts I’ve written for this blog, I have never done a boozy drink post for Real Housemoms. How could this be? So, this post is long overdue.
This cocktail starts with simple syrup. If you don’t know what simple syrup is, its basically equal parts sugar and water that has been heated just enough to dissolve the sugar. I use this stuff all the time to sweeten my cocktails, so it’s easiest for me to just use a cup of sugar and a cup of water and to store what I don’t use in the refrigerator. This is the stuff you’ll want to use to make homemade lemonade too, which is basically what this drink is with a healthy splash of marionberry infused vodka. My simple syrup is on the browner side not because I burned it, but because the sugar I use is organic evaporated cane juice and it isn’t very white to begin with. I use this sugar because I’m a total food snob and damn proud of it.
Start with a nice tall glass and fill it with ice cubes. Again, because I’m a total food snob, I’m even particular about my ice cubes and I totally prefer really big cubes
in a drink like this. They just look pretty and they melt slower. Now, if I was a professional bartender, I would surely put all of these ingredients in a cocktail shaker, but I’m not. I’m an over-committed super busy mom who just wants a delicious drink, so the shaker is rarely brought out in our house. I’m totally happy just stirring everything right in the glass. One less thing to wash, right?
I started by adding the simple syrup, then the lemon juice, then the marionberry vodka, then water. If you’re not in the Pacific Northwest like we are, you may not have even heard of Marionberries before. They’re wonderful and the best kind of blackberry you’ll ever eat. You can always use any kind of berry-infused vodka for this recipe or, of course, infuse your own vodka. Garnish with a lemon slice and some fresh basil, because fewer things smell better than fresh basil, and a pretty yellow paper straw will make this drink taste even better if that were even possible.
This cocktail is slightly dangerous because it doesn’t taste one bit boozy. I know one ounce of vodka isn’t much, but when you can’t taste it at all, there’s a good chance you’ll have more than one cocktail. It’s okay – I totally approve.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce simple syrup see how to make it in the instructions
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce berry infused vodka I used marionberry infused vodka
- 4 ounces water
- ice
- Lemon slices and fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- To make simple syrup, just combine equal portions of sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat and swirl occasionally while it heats. As soon as the sugar has dissolved, you're done. Store covered in the refrigerator for several weeks.
- To make the cocktail, combine simple syrup, lemon juice, berry infused vodka, and water in a glass with ice. Give it a stir and enjoy!
- If you don't have any berry infused vodka, you can make your own by smashing blackberries in vodka, allow to sit overnight in the freezer or refrigerator, then strain through a fine mesh strainer.
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