Sweet-tart lemonade is the perfect drink to star in any summer situations — and beyond! Setting up a lemonade bar is an easy way to elevate your parties and let everyone craft their perfect drink.
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Your ultimate Lemonade Bar guide
Lemonade is a summertime staple (for good reason), but it has the potential to be so much more. With bright, tart flavors and just the right touch of sweetness, homemade lemonade and its many variations are always crowd pleasers.
A lemonade bar is one of my favorite drink stations for spring and summer — and really any time of year — especially when I know there will be kids and non-drinkers in the crowd. It’s inclusive, interactive and easy to pull off. I set one up for my sister-in-law’s wedding shower last year, where it was a huge hit!
Stick with the classic, add some flavored syrups or give options for mixing so everyone can craft the perfect sip.
Why a lemonade bar works for any party
- Party perfect: Since it’s already made in batch form, lemonade is perfect for hosting.
- Customizeable: It’s so easy to customize, giving you plenty to work with! You can do as much or as little as you want to create a lemonade bar that fits your occasion. Dress it up, keep it chill or do a little of both — the sky’s the limit!
- Flexible: You can easily make this work for anyone in attendance without having to add to the menu.
Tools & equipment
No matter what kind of drink bar you’re setting up, it’s essential to set aside a designated area. It could be a separate table or a bit of counter space. You can even use a rolling bar cart. People will stand there fixing their drinks for a while, so make sure they won’t be in the way when you decide where to set up your spot.
To keep things pouring smoothly, here’s what I would recommend:
- something to hold the lemonade — pitchers, carafes or even a drink dispenser *
- cups — if you have lots of kids on the guest list, I’d opt for something plastic
- small bowls for garnishes
- a kitchen towel for spills
- an ice bucket * to keep things cool
party essentials
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What to put in a lemonade bar
Don’t feel like you need to include all of these elements in every lemonade bar. Consider the occasion and the crowd to help you decide what to include!
Lemonade options
Since it’s already made in batch form, lemonade is perfect for hosting. That being said, buying lemonade is totally valid if you’ve got time constraints, a really big group or just prefer to keep things simple. My favorite brand of lemonade is Simply Lemonade because it tastes like fresh lemonade and doesn’t taste too sweet.
I’d start with regular lemon-flavored lemonade and build from there. The classic recipe is easy to build upon and gives everyone a safe choice to try!
Include a flavored lemonade to add both color and choice to your celebration. Strawberry or blackberry lemonade would work well for spring while peach and watermelon lemonade play into summer’s best flavors.
If you want a little bit outside of the box, elderflower, lavender or honey mango lemonade would be great options. Another idea is to add limeade to the mix or make this a limeade bar. (Cherry limeade is a crowd favorite — all you need is cherry syrup.)
Mix-ins and garnishes
Lemonade is so easy to customize, giving you plenty to work with! You can do as much or as little as you want to create a lemonade bar that fits your occasion. Dress it up, keep it chill or do a little of both — the sky’s the limit!
Consider this list a starting point for what to include in your lemonade bar, but don’t feel like you’re limited! I’d include at least a few of the following:
- fruit — strawberries, blueberries, lemons, watermelon, etc.
- herbs — mint or basil sprigs
- syrups — try lavender, basil, butterfly pea flower or your favorite
- iced tea — cold brew ice tea + lemonade make the perfect Arnold Palmer
- ice — dress things up with herb or berry ice cubes
- sparkling water or club soda — offer some bubbles without any booze
Sweeteners
Although most lemonades already contain some level of sweetness to balance out the sour notes of the lemon, some guests may prefer to add a little more. Simple syrups blend smoothly into cool drinks and come in plenty of different flavors. Here are some that work well with lemonade:
Spirits
Lemonade is a non-alcoholic option that can transform into a cocktail. That gives you some flexibility to make this work for anyone in attendance without having to add to the menu.
For the 21+ crowd, offering some spirits can give them the chance to transform their lemonade into a cocktail. Vodka is an obvious choice, since it is colorless and crisp it complements rather than overshadows the lemonade. Think of a vodka lemonade for inspiration and go from there.
Limoncello gives lemonade an extra bite of zest thanks to its lemon base. Tequila would be another option, since we know it works well with citrus (hello, lemon margaritas).
Lemonade bar themes
There are so many different themes you can lean into with a lemonade bar! Here are some favorites:
- Arnold Palmer bar: Iced tea and lemonade make a sophisticated pair! Make some iced tea ice cubes to stop your drinks from becoming diluted.
- Pink lemonade bar: From baby showers to bridal showers to a girls’ day by the pool, a pink lemonade bar brings plenty of color! You can use strawberry or watermelon lemonade to get that pretty hue, or use a reddish syrup (strawberry, raspberry, grenadine or rhubarb) with classic lemonade for a wide array of different flavors. Add some cocktail umbrellas for another touch of fun.
- Spiked lemonade bar: From the vodka lemonade to the John Daly, lemonade creates a refreshing cocktail. Add several spirits to your offerings so everyone can craft their own cocktail and don’t forget a jigger or two to get the ratios right.
- Kids’ lemonade bar: If you’re setting up a lemonade bar with your littlest guests in mind, keep things playful and fun. Fruit, berry ice cubes and bendy straws will resonate best with this group — keep things simple and easy to serve.
How to set up a lemonade bar
When it comes to a drink bar, it helps to set things up in order. Start with the base — the lemonade — then help guide guests along to the rest of your fixings. End with any non-edible garnishes, like drink umbrellas, straws or swizzle sticks.
Think of things to help make it easier for guests as they craft their drinks. Syrups can be served in pump bottles to control how gets added, drink dispensers help lemonade make it into the cup and scoops are easier than chasing ice cubes with tongs.
Drink signs can help give guests ideas of what to combine. They’re a great chance to share information and get people moving!
Tips for a successful lemonade bar
I’ve found a few things help guests get the most out of a drink bar:
- Give guidance. Set out a sign that tells people what to do so they don’t have to guess. You can get specific and give measurements or provide the highlights and let them get creative.
- Don’t overwhelm anyone. You’ll want to strike a balance between giving enough options and not giving too many.
- Consider your crowd. Who you’re serving will help decide what to include in your lemonade bar.
FAQ
Once you’ve picked a lemonade (or two), include a few mix-ins like fruit, herbs or syrup to give your guests plenty of options.
Yes! Spirits are an easy add for the 21+ crowd and there are plenty to choose from that compliment the citrus base.
Lemonade Bar
ingredients
Lemonades & Mixers
- 1 gallon lemonade
- 1 gallon strawberry lemonade or any other flavor
- 1 gallon unsweetened iced tea or another lemonade flavor
- 2 cups flavored simple syrup such as blackberry (or more than one flavor)
- 1-2 750ml bottles spirits such as vodka or whiskey (optional)
Garnishes, such as:
- lemon slices and wedges
- fresh mint sprigs
- strawberries
- mixed berries
- ice, for serving
instructions
Before the party
- Chill lemonade, strawberry lemonade, iced tea and simple syrup in the fridge.1 gallon lemonade, 1 gallon strawberry lemonade, 1 gallon unsweetened iced tea, 2 cups flavored simple syrup
- Set out bowls of garnishes such as lemon slices/wedges, mint sprigs, strawberries and mixed berries.lemon slices, fresh mint sprigs, strawberries, mixed berries
- Prepare an ice bucket * or fill an ice bin.ice, for serving
- Set out spirits on the side for guests who want to spike their drinks.1-2 750ml bottles spirits
To make a flavored lemonade
- Write a simplified drink guide on a small chalkboard or card so guests can build their own combinations.
- Fill a glass with ice. Pour in 8 ounces of plain or strawberry lemonade.
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of simple syrup to taste. Stir and garnish.
To make a spiked lemonade
- Fill a glass with ice. Pour in 6 ounces of lemonade.
- Add 1½ ounces of vodka or whiskey. Top with simple syrup to taste, stir and garnish.
notes
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