The only thing better than a cold glass of lemonade is a glass of bubbly, effervescent, spiked sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade! It’s the perfect spring or summer cocktail using blueberry syrup, fresh citrus, vodka, and soda water!

three glasses of sparkling blueberry lemonade sit on a countertop.

Recipe testing hundreds of cocktails over the years really gives you a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. Something that almost always works in cocktails is citrus and berries!

This delightful spring cocktail was inspired when I cooked up a batch of my blueberry simple syrup. The next beverage that was born was this blueberry lemonade, and it was so, so refreshing. Over the weekend, I had a thought…what about adding lemon vodka and replacing the still water in the lemonade with lemon sparkling water?! Well, it turns out…it was a great idea!

why this blueberry lemonade cocktail works:

🍋 zesty & refreshing. If you’re a fan of lemonade, you’re going to love this bubbly and effervescent blueberry vodka version of lemonade!

🥳 party perfect. This recipe is a great option to be made in a large batch because it’s easily scaled up or down. Imagine yourself showing up to a barbecue or pool party with a pitcher of these cocktails in hand!

🎛️ easily customizable. This recipe is easy to customize and can even be made into mocktails by excluding the alcohol. This is a great way to include everyone in the party, whether they drink or not!

🛒 ingredients

two sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade cocktails sit on a countertop, with a bottle of Absolute Citron in the background.

fresh blueberries – you’ll need a few handfuls of fresh blueberries for this cocktail. If you can only find frozen berries, that’s okay, too! Just be sure to let them thaw before using them so you can muddle them well.
blueberry simple syrup – the recipe for this homemade blueberry syrup makes about 16 ounces, so you will have some leftover for other beverages, or you can make a pitcher of these cocktails for a party!
lemons – fresh lemon juice helps to flavor this cocktail and lemon slices serve as the perfect garnish.
lemon vodka – I love Absolut Citron for this cocktail. It’s got the perfect lemon flavor that is heightened by the other ingredients!
lemon sparkling water – I used San Pellegrino Limonata sparkling water and it was *so good* in this cocktail! You can also make your own limonata with a homemade lemon syrup, too!
fresh mint – a few sprigs of fresh mint are perfect for garnishing this beverage!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 instructions

A person from out of frame is muddling blueberries, blueberry simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail mixing glass while a bottle of Absolut Citron sits in the background.

Step 1: Combine blueberries and blueberry simple syrup in a cocktail mixing glass, and muddle the berries with the syrup.

A person from out of frame pours in Absolut Citron into a cocktail mixing glass.

Step 2: Add in freshly squeezed lemon juice, then follow with the lemon vodka. Give the mix a good stirring in the cocktail glass.

Two cocktail glasses are filled with ice and garnished with blueberries. A bottle of Absolut Citron vodka sits in the background.

Step 3: Fill your chosen cocktail glasses with ice, and toss in a few blueberries for garnish.

A hand from out of frame is pouring sparking lemon water into a cocktail glass to top off a sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade cocktail.

Step 4: Fill each glass about 1/2 to 2/3 full with your cocktail mix, then top with lemon sparkling water. Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve!

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💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

Think outside of at-home-happy hour! This bubbly blueberry vodka cocktail would be perfect at a brunch or lunch gathering!
Serve this sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade at your next spring or summer party, or when you’re channeling warmer days!

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

blended flavor – muddling the berries might seem like an unnecessary step, but it helps to add even more blueberry flavor to this cocktail.
fresh lemon – make sure to use fresh lemon that is ripe for the best flavor. If your drink is too bitter or sour, you can add in more syrup to offset the acidity in the lemon.

⚖️ scaling tips

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a party! If you are making it for a gathering, I suggest juicing a few lemons first so you have all the ingredients on hand. You can mix the blueberry simple syrup, vodka, blueberries, and lemon juice first. Then, add the sparkling water just before serving to keep the beverage as bubbly as possible.

🔆 top tip

If you are preparing your blueberry simple syrup at the same time you want to make these beverages, make the syrup first to allow it to cool slightly before making these drinks.

♻️ substitutions & variations

Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!

regular vodka – if you do not have a bottle of Absolute Citron at home, you can make this cocktail using plain vodka. Add in 1 tsp of lemon juice to give your vodka a little lemon flavor in this case. 😏
rum or tequila – if you aren’t a vodka fan, it’s okay! You can make this blueberry lemonade cocktail to your liking by subbing in rum or tequila!
frozen – add some ice to a blender and blend it with this vodka lemonade for a frosty treat.
still – use still water in place of sparkling for a bubble-less lemonade cocktail.
mocktail – skip the vodka for a mocktail version of this drink!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

cocktail glasses – use whatever glasses you have on hand for this cocktail, like a rocks glass or a highball glass.
citrus juicer – if you’re only making a few cocktails, use a simple and small citrus juicer, like a manual citrus press.
cocktail mixing glass – a cocktail mixing glass is perfect for muddling in, and serving from. You can also use a cocktail shaker!
muddler – a cocktail muddler from OXO is the perfect tool for making cocktails. It’s a great size for storage, and it’s sturdy enough to run through the dishwasher, all while being easy to hold and use.
cocktail spoon – a long, thin cocktail mixing spoon is perfect for mixing up beverages in your cocktail glass!

🫙 storage tips

This sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade is best consumed shortly after it is made since it has the bubbly effervescence of sparkling water.

If you want to prepare this cocktail in advance, combine all of the ingredients except the sparkling water, and then top each glass with sparkling water before you serve the drinks!

💬 q+a

Can I make a large batch of this sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade?

Yes! This beverage would be perfect for a pitcher recipe! Combine all of the ingredients, except the sparkling water, in a pitcher. Add the sparkling water just before serving, to keep the beverage bubbly! Alternatively, you can whip up a batch of blueberry lemonade and add vodka and sparkling water or club soda!

Do I have to make the blueberry simple syrup?

While making your own homemade blueberry syrup will 100% boost the flavor of this cocktail, it’s possible to make the drink without cooking up a batch of syrup. You can muddle in a teaspoon of sugar per two drinks, or use agave or honey instead. Simply muddle in the sweetener of your choice with the blueberries and lemon juice, and you’re good to go!

What is Citron vodka?

Absolute Citron is lemon flavored vodka. It is perfect for using in lemon-flavored cocktails, like this sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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