If ever there were a beverage considered to be the ultimate thirst quencher, surely lemonade must be it. This delightfully fizzy version lightens things up with the addition of sparkling water. Sweet, tangy and effervescent, you could also incorporate other flavors such as muddled strawberries or raspberries for a refreshing twist.
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Things You'll Need
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
16.9 oz bottle of sparkling water
Lemon wheels and slices for garnish (optional)
Fresh mint for garnish (optional)
Ice, as needed
Step 1: Make the Simple Syrup
Combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan on low heat. Simmer the mixture and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
Step 2: Squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice
Squeeze five to six lemons into a measuring cup until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
Step 3: Combine the Ingredients
In a large pitcher, combine the simple syrup and fresh lemon juice with 2 cups of cold water and the bottle of sparkling water. Stir the ingredients together and float several lemon wheels on top for garnish.
Tip
You can easily turn this nonalcoholic beverage into a "hard lemonade" cocktail with the addition of vodka, gin or light rum. Or, substitute the sparkling water with sparkling wine instead.
Step 4: Pour and Serve
Fill individual glasses with ice, pour the sparkling lemonade and garnish each with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice.
