Lemon Lime Bitters

This refreshing lemon lime bitters is the perfect way to add some citrus zing to your next gathering.

Table of Contents

Lemon Lime Bitters Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Lemon Lime Bitters Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
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This delicious, tangy lemon lime bitters drink is a perfect citrus cocktail to serve on a hot summer day. The classic cocktail is light and refreshing, making it the perfect beverage to beat the summer heat.

close up shot of a glass of Lemon Lime Bitters with slices of lemon

Lemon Lime Bitters Ingredients

Lemon Lime Bitters raw ingredients that are labeled

Lemon lime bitters have a unique flavor that combines the tartness of lemons and limes with an aromatic mix of herbs and spices.

The bitters give it a subtle hint of bitterness that balances out the sweetness of the citrus fruits, creating a truly unique and delicious flavor.

You’ll need:

½ cup of ice cubes
1 teaspoon of Rose’s brand sweetened lime juice
¼ to ½ teaspoon (roughly 8 to 10 dashes) of Angostura aromatic bitters
⅔ cup of fresh lemonade
2 slices of fresh lemon, ⅛ inch thick, garnish
2 slices of fresh lime, ⅛ inch thick, garnish

PRO TIP:

If you are going to use the fresh lemon and lime slices as a garnish, then I suggest using a small lemon and small lime. The slices fit better in a tall highball glass.

You can also place the citrus slices in the glass with the ice before adding the drink ingredients so that they don’t just float on the top.

Substitutions And Additions

SPARKLING WATER: You can make this a sparkling drink by topping off your glass with a splash of lemon-lime sparkling water or club soda for a beautiful and refreshing summertime drink.

LIME JUICE: If you can not find Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice (found where you buy grenadine in the liquor store), you can substitute it with the juice of ½ fresh lime and 1 teaspoon of simple syrup.

BITTERS: Traditionally, this lemon, lime, and bitters drink is made with Angostura bitters. There are, however, other brands of bitters on the market. You can use whatever brand you prefer.

You will need to note that different brands may be slightly different colors, so your drink color will vary according to your brand.

You can add up to ½ teaspoon of bitters to your drink if you like the slightly more fragrant addition of the added bitters.

LEMONADE: Be sure to use a good quality fresh lemonade for the best results for this old-fashioned drink. I like to get it from my local deli department at my grocery store.

You can make your own lemonade if desired, but the convenience of the store-bought is excellent for making this drink.

How To Make This Lemon Lime Bitters Recipe

It only takes two quick steps to make this citrusy drink. All you need to do is combine all of the ingredients in a highball glass, garnish, and serve!

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You will want to give your citrus a gentle rinse in cool water to remove any coating on the skin that is often used to keep the citrus fruit looking pretty. I will buy organic if possible to avoid the films/coatings that are used, especially if I am using the rind and not just juicing my citrus.

STEP ONE: Add the ice, sweetened lime juice, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemonade to a highball glass.

PRO TIP:

This drink is traditionally served in a tall highball, or Collin’s, glass. You can use a shorter glass, but it needs to hold at least a 10-ounce liquid capacity.

ice, sweetened lime juice, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemonade added to a highball glass

STEP TWO: Add the garnish of fresh lemon and fresh lime slices and gently stir to combine. You can use a straw or cocktail spoon to stir.

slices of lemon added to a glass of Lemon Lime Bitters

How To Serve

A bitters lime and lemon drink is perfect for a light summer gathering on a hot day!

Serve with light finger food like cucumber bites, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, or a variety of olives.

Jazz it up with some spicy chips and salsa to get the party started. Or keep it simple with a selection of cured meats, charcuterie, and our BLT dip.

The possibilities are endless! Just be sure to have something to balance out the sweet and tart flavor of the drink.

Add our pink flamingo drink and pineapple cooler to your bartending repertoire to impress your guests.

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Storage

IN THE FRIDGE/FREEZER: This refreshing drink should be served immediately and will not keep at all in the fridge or freezer.

close up shot of a glass of Lemon Lime Bitters with slices of lemon and lime with straws

This lemon lime bitters is a delicious and refreshing summer drink that’s perfect for any gathering, especially on a hot summer’s day. With its sweet and tart flavor, it can be paired with all sorts of food to create the perfect balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add regular sparkling water instead of lemon/lime sparkling water to turn this into a cocktail?

Any fizzy, sparkling water, including tonic water, soda water, or club soda, would add a refreshing twist to your drink.

Can I make this alcoholic cocktail ahead of time?

This alcoholic beverage won’t keep well as the ice will melt and water it down. It is best to make it right when you are ready to enjoy it.

What type of glass is best for this recipe?

You can use any glass you prefer for this popular drink, but we tend to like to use a tall glass such as a highball glass or Collins glass for this easy cocktail.

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Lemon-Lime Bitters

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This refreshing lemon lime bitters is the perfect way to add some citrus zing to your next gathering.

Prep Time 2

Total Time 2

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Ingredients

½ cup ice cubes
1 teaspoon Rose’s brand sweetened lime juice
¼ to ½ teaspoon Angostura aromatic bitters (roughly 8 to 10 dashes)
⅔ cup fresh lemonade
2 slices fresh lemon, ⅛ inch thick (garnish)
2 slices fresh lime, ⅛ inch thick (garnish)

Instructions

Add the ice, sweetened lime juice, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemonade to a highball glass.
Add the garnish of fresh lemon and fresh lime slices and gently stir to combine. You can use a straw or cocktail spoon to stir.

Notes

If you are going to use the fresh lemon and lime slices as a garnish, then I suggest using a small lemon and small lime. The slices fit better in a tall highball glass. You can also place the citrus slices in the glass with the ice before adding the drink ingredients so that they don’t just float on the top.
You will want to give your citrus a gentle rinse in cool water to remove any coating on the skin that is often used to keep the citrus fruit looking pretty. I will buy organic if possible to avoid the films/coatings that are used, especially if I am using the rind and not just juicing my citrus.
This drink is traditionally served in a tall highball, or Collin’s, glass. You can use a shorter glass, but it needs to hold at least a 10-ounce liquid capacity.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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