✔ Updated · fresh-lemon recipe, pitcher batch, strength notes + mocktail
Lynchburg lemonade is a sweet-tart Tennessee classic: whiskey, triple sec, fresh lemon and fizzy lemon-lime soda over a tall glass of ice. It's an alcoholic cocktail for adults of legal drinking age, and I've included a pitcher batch and a mocktail too.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Use fresh lemon juice and add the soda last, with just one gentle stir, so the drink stays bright and fizzy.
Why You'll Love This Lemonade
- Five ingredients, no shaker and no special tools.
- Sweet, tart and fizzy, with the whiskey warming things up underneath.
- Easy to batch as a pitcher for a summer porch party.
What Is Lynchburg Lemonade?
Lynchburg lemonade is a highball cocktail named after Lynchburg, Tennessee, the small town where Jack Daniel's is made. The classic build is one part whiskey, one part triple sec, one part sour mix and four parts lemon-lime soda.
I use fresh lemon and a little simple syrup instead of bottled sour mix, which tastes brighter and less sugary. Living in Tennessee, a pitcher of this on the back porch is my favorite way to welcome grown-up guests on a hot evening.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Use fresh lemons. Bottled juice tastes flat next to fresh. I squeeze a bowl of lemons before guests arrive so I'm not juicing all evening.
- Go big on ice. Large cubes melt slower, so the last sip isn't watery. Chill the soda too.
- Soda goes in last. Pour it over the top and give one gentle stir. Stir hard and you lose the fizz that makes this drink.
- Adjust the sweetness. Lemon-lime soda is sweet already. Taste before adding the simple syrup and skip it if you like it tart.
- Know the strength. With 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey plus triple sec, one glass holds roughly one and a half standard drinks. It tastes like lemonade, so pace yourself and never drink and drive.
Lynchburg Lemonade
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minutesA Lynchburg lemonade made with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and a touch of simple syrup, topped with lemon-lime soda over plenty of ice. An alcoholic cocktail for adults of legal drinking age, with an alcohol-free version below.
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey (or another Tennessee whiskey or bourbon)
1 ounce triple sec
1 ounce fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1/2 ounce simple syrup (or 1 ounce sour mix in place of the lemon and syrup)
4 ounces lemon-lime soda, chilled
to fill the glass ice cubes
lemon wheel and fresh mint, for garnish
Directions
- Squeeze the lemon and strain out the seeds. You need 1 ounce of juice.
- Fill a tall glass or mason jar with large ice cubes.
- Pour in the whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup, and stir for 10 seconds to chill.
- Top with the chilled lemon-lime soda and give it one gentle stir so you keep the fizz.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of mint and serve right away.
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Lynchburg Lemonade Pitcher (8 Drinks)
Stir everything except the soda in a large pitcher and chill for up to 4 hours. Add the soda right before serving so it stays fizzy, and pour over ice-filled glasses. Keep a pitcher of the mocktail below next to it, clearly labeled, for non-drinkers and anyone driving.
- 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) Tennessee whiskey
- 1 cup (8 ounces) triple sec
- 1 cup (8 ounces) fresh lemon juice, from about 6 to 8 lemons
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) simple syrup, or to taste
- 4 cups (32 ounces) cold lemon-lime soda, added just before serving
- Lemon slices, mint and plenty of ice
Alcohol-Free Lynchburg Lemonade (Mocktail)
For a zero-proof version, fill a tall glass with ice and add 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce orange juice (standing in for the triple sec) and 1/2 ounce simple syrup. Top with 5 ounces lemon-lime soda and garnish with lemon and mint.
A splash of cold brewed black tea adds the warm, toasty depth the whiskey usually brings. For more alcohol-free ideas, try our virgin strawberry daiquiri.
More Lemonade Drinks
- Vodka lover? Try Deep Eddy lemonade vodka drinks.
- A fruity, alcohol-free Starbucks passion tea lemonade copycat.
- Southern sipping: our McDonald's sweet tea copycat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jack Daniel's go with lemonade?
Yes. The whiskey's sweet, caramel and vanilla notes balance tart lemon really well, which is exactly why Lynchburg lemonade is so popular. For a quick shortcut, pour 1 1/2 ounces of Tennessee whiskey over ice and top with 5 ounces of good lemonade.
What is in a Lynchburg lemonade?
A Lynchburg lemonade is made with Tennessee whiskey, usually Jack Daniel's, triple sec, lemon juice or sour mix, and lemon-lime soda over ice. It's named after Lynchburg, Tennessee, home of the Jack Daniel distillery.
Is Lynchburg lemonade a strong drink?
It's moderately strong. One glass has 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey plus an ounce of triple sec, roughly one and a half standard drinks, but the soda and lemon make it taste light. It's for adults of legal drinking age only, so sip slowly.
How do you make Lynchburg lemonade for a crowd?
For 8 drinks, stir 1 1/2 cups whiskey, 1 cup triple sec, 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup simple syrup in a large pitcher and chill. Just before serving, add 4 cups cold lemon-lime soda and pour over ice-filled glasses.
How do you make an alcohol-free Lynchburg lemonade?
Skip the whiskey and triple sec. Stir 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce orange juice and 1/2 ounce simple syrup over ice, then top with 5 ounces lemon-lime soda. A splash of cold brewed black tea gives it the deeper flavor of the original.
