Recipe: Spiked Strawberry Lemonade

A glass of cold lemonade never seems to be beyond arm’s reach during some of the very best moments of summer — whether that is lounging on a front porch, running around the backyard, or dipping into your friend’s pool. Enjoying the classic is near perfect, but it doesn’t hurt to make it a little more adult-friendly and fit for 5 o’clock. Spike it with a little white rum and sweeten it with a handful of muddled strawberries and suddenly it is ready for happy hour.

For your next summer bash, this is the only cocktail you need. It’s sweet, tart, and tastes of the season. Muddling the strawberries in the pitcher before adding the lemonade and white rum releases their juicy flavor and lends a pretty pink hue to the cocktail. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a second pitcher and make a two-ingredient version of this drink, without the rum, for the kids at your party — that way you’ll be sure to make everyone happy.

If you’re looking to serve up festive cocktails to the crowd at your next gathering, be it an impromptu happy hour or a backyard bash, know that it’s as easy as three ingredients and your largest pitcher. That’s all it takes to kick off the party.