✔ Updated · real measurements, pitcher version, easy mixers + an alcohol-free version
This Deep Eddy lemonade vodka recipe is one of the easiest summer drinks you can make: lemon-flavored vodka, cold lemonade and a squeeze of fresh lemon over ice, topped with lemon seltzer and finished with a sprig of rosemary. Prefer a ready-to-drink option? See our ranking of the best White Claw flavors.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Chill the vodka, lemonade and seltzer before you start and use large ice cubes. Cold ingredients melt the ice more slowly, so the drink stays crisp instead of watery.
It takes about 5 minutes and one glass. Deep Eddy Lemon is simply the lemon vodka many people reach for here; any lemon or citrus vodka works the same way. Please note that this drink contains alcohol, about 1 1/2 ounces of vodka per glass, so it is for adults of legal drinking age only. For anyone skipping alcohol, the alcohol-free version below keeps the same sparkling lemon and rosemary flavor.
Why You'll Love This Lemon Vodka Lemonade
- Ready in 5 minutes, with no shaker or blender needed.
- Bright and not too sweet, thanks to fresh lemon juice and a seltzer top.
- Easy to scale into a pitcher for a party or barbecue.
- Alcohol-free option: a sparkling rosemary lemonade with the same flavor.
What You Need for a Deep Eddy Lemonade
Just a handful of ingredients, and exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Lemon vodka: lemon- or lemonade-flavored vodka such as Deep Eddy Lemon. Any lemon or citrus vodka works, or use plain vodka with a little extra lemon juice.
- Lemonade: store-bought or homemade, well chilled. Pink lemonade or raspberry lemonade work too.
- Fresh lemon: a squeeze of juice for brightness and a few thin slices for the glass. Scrub the peel first, since the slices sit in the drink.
- Lemon seltzer or club soda: adds fizz and lightens the sweetness.
- Fresh rosemary: optional but recommended; its piney aroma pairs well with lemon.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Chill everything first. Cold vodka, lemonade and seltzer keep the ice from melting fast, so the last sip tastes as good as the first. I keep the vodka in the freezer door.
- Use large ice cubes. They melt more slowly than small cubes or crushed ice, so the drink is less diluted.
- Balance it to taste. Too sharp? Add more lemonade. Too sweet? Add more fresh lemon juice or seltzer.
- Wake up the rosemary. Clapping the sprig between your hands releases its oils. Thyme or basil also work if rosemary isn't on hand.
- Add the bubbles last. Stir the vodka and lemonade first, then top with seltzer and stir once so the drink stays fizzy.
- Lighter version: skip the lemonade and use 4 to 5 ounces of lemon seltzer with an extra squeeze of lemon for a lower-sugar lemon vodka soda.
Deep Eddy Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
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minutesAn easy lemon vodka lemonade: lemon-flavored vodka such as Deep Eddy Lemon stirred with lemonade and fresh lemon juice over ice, topped with lemon seltzer and finished with lemon slices and a sprig of rosemary. Contains alcohol; for adults of legal drinking age only.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz lemon- or lemonade-flavored vodka (such as Deep Eddy Lemon), chilled
3 oz lemonade, chilled
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 lemon)
2 to 3 oz lemon seltzer or club soda, chilled
2 to 3 thin lemon slices
1 cup ice cubes, large if possible
1 fresh rosemary sprig
Directions
- Scrub the lemon under warm running water to remove any wax and dirt, then pat it dry. Cut 2 or 3 thin slices from the middle and cut a wedge from one end for juicing.
- Fill a tall highball glass with ice and tuck the lemon slices down the sides of the glass.
- Pour in the lemon vodka, lemonade and fresh lemon juice (squeeze about 1/4 lemon, roughly 1/2 ounce). Stir for a few seconds to chill and combine.
- Top up with the lemon seltzer or club soda and give it one gentle stir so it keeps its fizz. Taste and add a splash more lemonade if you like it sweeter, or more lemon juice if you like it tart.
- Clap the rosemary sprig between your palms to release its aroma, tuck it into the glass and serve right away. This drink contains alcohol and is for adults of legal drinking age only.
Notes
- Don’t skip the lemon seltzer. Without it, the drink won’t be fizzy. There’s something refreshing and invigorating about a fizzy drink on a hot day, so make sure you’ve got a fresh bottle of lemon seltzer on hand whenever you want to make this cocktail.
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Easy Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka Drinks
Deep Eddy comes from Austin, and I still think of my summers there with every glass. Once you have a bottle of lemon vodka, these simple mixers give you a different drink every time. Each uses 1 1/2 ounces of lemon vodka over ice.
| Drink | Mix with | Garnish |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon vodka soda | 4 to 5 oz lemon seltzer or club soda and a squeeze of lemon | Lemon wheel |
| Spiked Arnold Palmer | 2 oz unsweetened iced tea and 2 oz lemonade | Lemon wedge and mint |
| Lemon cranberry cooler | 3 oz cranberry juice and a splash of seltzer | Lemon slice and a few cranberries |
| Lemon mule | 4 oz ginger beer and 1/2 oz fresh lime juice | Lime wedge and mint |
| Raspberry lemonade | 3 oz lemonade and 4 to 5 muddled raspberries, topped with seltzer | Raspberries and lemon |
| Frozen lemonade | Blend with 3 oz frozen lemonade concentrate and 1 cup ice | Lemon wheel |
How to Make a Pitcher for a Party
This is my go-to cookout pitcher. To serve 8, stir 1 1/2 cups of lemon vodka, 3 cups of chilled lemonade and 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice in a large pitcher with a sliced lemon and a few rosemary sprigs. Chill for up to 4 hours. Just before serving, add 2 cups of cold lemon seltzer, stir gently once and pour into glasses filled with ice. Keep the ice in the glasses, not the pitcher, so the batch doesn't water down. Please drink responsibly and offer the alcohol-free version alongside.
Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade
The same bright lemon and rosemary flavor works without any alcohol, so everyone can have a glass. Make it as in the recipe with these changes:
- Leave out the vodka.
- Use 4 ounces of lemonade, 1/2 ounce of fresh lemon juice and about 3 ounces of lemon seltzer over ice.
- Garnish with lemon slices and a clapped rosemary sprig.
- For more alcohol-free drinks, try our virgin margarita, blue lagoon mocktail or virgin Shirley Temple.
More Lemonade Drinks and Cocktails
Try a Lynchburg lemonade or a passion tea lemonade, or browse our gin cocktails and Cointreau cocktails. Please drink responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mix with Deep Eddy lemon vodka?
Lemon vodka mixes well with lemonade, lemon or lime seltzer, club soda, iced tea, cranberry juice, ginger beer and raspberry lemonade. The simplest Deep Eddy lemonade is 1 1/2 ounces of lemon vodka and 3 ounces of lemonade over ice, topped with a splash of seltzer.
How much vodka goes in a vodka lemonade?
A standard vodka lemonade uses 1 1/2 ounces (one shot) of vodka to about 3 ounces of lemonade, plus a seltzer top. For a lighter drink, use 1 ounce of vodka and more seltzer. The drink contains alcohol and is for adults of legal drinking age only.
Can I use plain vodka instead of lemon vodka?
Yes. Use the same amount of plain vodka and add an extra 1/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice plus a strip of lemon peel to the glass. Any lemon or citrus-flavored vodka can replace Deep Eddy Lemon in this recipe.
How do you make a pitcher of Deep Eddy lemonade?
For 8 drinks, stir 1 1/2 cups of lemon vodka, 3 cups of lemonade and 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice in a large pitcher with lemon slices and chill. Just before serving, add 2 cups of cold lemon seltzer and pour over ice-filled glasses.
Is there an alcohol-free version?
Yes. Leave out the vodka and use 4 ounces of lemonade, 1/2 ounce of fresh lemon juice and 3 ounces of lemon seltzer over ice, with lemon slices and a rosemary sprig. It makes a sparkling rosemary lemonade that suits kids and designated drivers.
