Raspberry lemonade—enlivened with tequila—may be the best of all summer porch or backyard patio drinks on a long, hot day. Thin-skinned and fragrant, Meyer lemons give this lemonade a delightful sweetness and perfume you will not find in store-bought lemonade.–Karl Petzke

Raspberry Lemonade with Tequila FAQs

What’s the difference between regular and Meyer lemons?

Meyer lemons are sweet winter citrus that are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, making them particularly good in cocktails and desserts. Smaller and rounder, they also have a more complex scent than regular lemons—a spicy bergamot fragrance that’s quite herbal. And while regular lemons are available all year long, Meyer lemons are mostly only in season from December through May.

Can I make this drink non-alcoholic?

Sure. Skip the tequila and add a little extra soda water.

A glass of raspberry lemonade with tequila garnished with a mint sprig.

Raspberry Lemonade with Tequila

4.80 / 5 votes
Raspberry lemonade—enlivened with tequila—may be the best of all summer porch or backyard patio drinks on a long, hot day.
David Leite
CourseDrinks
CuisineAmerican
Servings1 drink
Calories198 kcal
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 3 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice or regular lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • About 10 fresh raspberries
  • 1 mint sprig
  • Ice cubes
  • 1/4 cup cold water or soda water
  • 2 ounces blanco tequila

Instructions 

  • Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a large glass and stir until the sugar dissolves.
  • Add the raspberries and mint to the fresh lemon juice and lightly mash the raspberries with the back of a spoon to release some of their juices. Add a few ice cubes, the water, and tequila, and then give it a good stir and enjoy.

    ☞ TESTER TIP: If the cocktail is a little strong for your tastes, add a splash more water or soda water to dilute it.

Adapted From

Tequila: Myth, Magic & Spirited Recipes

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 drinkCalories: 198 kcalCarbohydrates: 18 gProtein: 1 gFat: 1 gSaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 1 gSodium: 5 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 14 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2009 Karl Petzke. Photo © 2009 Karl Petzke. All rights reserved.


Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Summer in a glass! This raspberry lemonade with tequila was a lovely, refreshing cocktail – and beautiful too! Personally, I found it a bit strong for my taste, so I added some sparkling water to it, which was perfect. This would also make a really nice virgin cocktail for those who don’t want the alcohol.

A glass of raspberry lemonade with tequila garnished with a mint sprig.

This raspberry lemonade was a nice, refreshing drink for a hot day. The combination of lemon and raspberry was wonderful and the mint gave it a nice fresh flavor. I might cut back just a little on the tequila next time, but that’s a personal preference.

This was delicious! It was a quick drink to make and absolutely refreshing.

I thought that with a tablespoon of sugar it would end up too sweet but it wasn’t. It was also just the right amount of water. I tried it with tap water and then with sparkling and both were equally delightful.

This is a light-tasting summer drink that comes together in just a few minutes. I had a drink in hand within 3 minutes. I substituted 1.5 tablespoons of simple syrup for the sugar so I didn’t even need to wait for the sugar to dissolve. I used plain old lemon juice as I keep a container of fresh juice in the fridge at all times. Ditto for the simple syrup.

The mint adds a very subtle flavor and a nice fragrance while sipping. I thought that with a full 2 oz of tequila that it would be a prominent flavour, as in my ultimate margaritas (same tequila), but I couldn’t tell that it was there. Dangerous.

I love knowing that I have a refreshing cocktail that I can whip up in minutes that is good with and without the alcohol. I like being able to serve the same beverage to non-drinkers so that they don’t feel left out.

Next time I may try it with mint-infused simple syrup. In fact, I can see many variations for this quick refresher.

YUM! This raspberry lemonade with tequila is a gorgeous and tasty drink that’s perfect for a hot summer day.

After being on a recent Meyer lemon kick, I was left with one lonely Meyer lemon in the fridge which so graciously provided me with exactly 3 T of juice. I used Kirkland white tequila and frozen raspberries.

The drink was so well balanced, with just a hint of mint and the perfume aromas and taste of the Meyer lemon. I made one for my daughter with plain lemon juice and while good, the Meyer lemon version was notably better; it’s definitely worth the effort to find them.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thanks so much for this recipe – I made it for a bachelorette party I hosted recently, and it was a huge hit! I linked to your recipe here.

  2. 5 stars
    This is one of my favorite summer treats. It works also well with strawberries alone or combined with little chunks of pineapple. Make sure tequila is 100% agave. Read the label carefully!