So Quick! Big Batch Vodka Grapefruit Lemonade

The best way to make lemonade even better? Add vodka! 

Lemonade is a must-make for summer hangs, and if your party crew enjoys a little drinking like mine does, this boozy pitcher lemonade is a winner!

Simple ingredients like lemonade, grapefruit juice, and vodka are stirred together in a pitcher to make this easy grapefruit vodka cocktail. Every sip is cool and refreshing, and, just like my Boozy Frozen Raspberry Lemonade, it features plenty of citrus. It’s just like classic lemonade but for adults only!

And the best part? Making a pitcher cocktail vs. individual drinks is easy and fast! Just stir the 5 simple ingredients together, pour into glasses for you and your guests, then party it up!

Ingredients needed

This super refreshing big batch cocktail comes together in a pinch with these simple ingredients:

Lemonade

Store-bought lemonade is the easiest and most convenient solution here (Simply brand is my favorite!). But if you really want to take this lemonade vodka cocktail over the top, then homemade lemonade is where it’s at. All you need is sugar, water, and freshly squeezed lemon juice to make it yourself.

Grapefruit juice

I love the amount of brightness two kinds of citrus add to this drink. Freshly squeezed or bottled 100% grapefruit juice does wonders at transforming a typical vodka lemonade cocktail into a drink that’s refreshingly tart.

Vodka

Vodka goes well with practically any mixer. It’s a must-have in a pitcher of Bloody Mary’s, as well as my some of my favorite cocktails.

And vodka and lemonade are a fantastic pair. Add lemon and grapefruit juice to the mix, and you have a boozy lemonade cocktail that’s well-balanced and easy to sip.

Each drink contains 1.5 ounces of vodka. If that seems like too much, only use 8 ounces total. Or, for a boozier cocktail, up the amount of vodka to 16 ounces.

Lemon juice

While lemonade does add a fair amount of bright citrus flavor, a few extra ounces of lemon juice really helps it shine through. It’s the key to a lemon-forward cocktail that isn’t overwhelmed by the tart grapefruit.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always best but you can use the bottled stuff if that’s all you have at home.

Simple syrup

Simple syrup is a key ingredient in all kinds of cocktail and mocktail recipes, from mojitos to martinis. It’s made by simmering granulated sugar in water until it turns into a slightly thicker and sweet syrup. Here, the sweetness rounds out and brings balance to the tart, sour citrus.

How to make this summertime all-star!

Putting a pitcher of grapefruit vodka lemonade together is easy! These step-by-step instructions will show you how it’s done:

Tips for success

Remember these helpful tips before putting this summer cocktail together:

Chill the ingredients

Keep all of the ingredients in the fridge right up until you put the pitcher together. This keeps the ice in the pitcher from melting, preventing your cocktail from being diluted. No fun.

If you don't have time, just pop the pitcher into the fridge and leave it in there until you're ready to serve it up!

Recipe