Made with sparkling water, rose syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of rose water, this Sparkling Rose Lemonade is ideal whenever you need a glamorous, non-alcoholic drink for your next gathering.
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This sparkling rose lemonade can be a classy stand-in for champagne for guests who want to enjoy a drink but want to skip the alcohol. Some might call this a pink lemonade mocktail or a rose fizz mocktail, but I think this falls solidly into the lemonade category. It's not trying to be anything other than a bubbly version of my Rose Lemonade.
Why You'll Love It
- It's easy to make. The hardest part is juicing the lemons, which is much easier if you use an electric juicer.
- It's beautiful! If you layer the drink into individual glasses, you'll have the pink lemonade on the bottom and the fizzy seltzer on top, which creates a stunning look! It's a gorgeous non-alcoholic drink that can hold its own at any party.
- No additives! It only has natural flavorings and no color additives. There are no added preservatives or colors because the recipe calls for homemade rose syrup.
Note: This recipe is NOT a copycat of the iconic Fentimans rose lemonade (not an affiliate link). If you want to buy a rose lemonade, Fentimans is the undisputed winner.
Ingredients
The ingredients are simple - sparking water (or seltzer), fresh lemon juice, rose syrup (made from water, sugar, and rose petals), and a splash of rose water.
The rose water is not essential to the taste, but it significantly enhances the rose flavor.
A note of taste versus flavor: Flavor is the combination of taste and smell. "Taste refers to the senses inside our mouth, including our tongue. Aroma occurs inside our noses and relates specifically to our sense of smell. Flavor is when taste and aroma converge." - WineFolly
Meyer lemons or regular lemons?
Use whatever lemons you have. Yes, yes. Go ahead, make a pun about "when life gives you lemons." I'll be over here sipping my homemade lemonade that smells like roses and tastes like happiness.
When selecting lemons, find ones with smooth skin and slightly soft. These tend to yield the best juice.
Related: How to Pick the Best Limes
When and where to serve Sparkling Rose Lemonade
It's perfect for any type of girls gathering, and is also great for baby showers, bridal showers, or garden parties once warmer weather rolls into your area.
My cousin made this a while back and we took it to the beautiful Hillwood Gardens in Washington D.C., where they allow guests to enjoy picnics on the main lawn. The sparkling rose lemonade paired with a decadent charcuterie board and gorgeous late summer weather was the type of experience dreams are made of.
Variations
Want a hint of lime? Use lime seltzer or sparkling water to replace all or part of the water.
Need to make it easier? Use store-bought lemonade and add the homemade rose syrup if you're crunched for time or energy. It's not ideal taste-wise because fresh lemonade is generally superior to store-bought. I recommend Newman's Own brand of lemonade, which can be bought in most large grocery stores in the cold section.
Related: Lavender Lemonade, Cilantro Limeade
Hosting Tip
Chill everything in advance! Put the cans or bottles of seltzer in the fridge along with the lemon juice and rose syrup, and let everything get nice and cold before your guests arrive. Assembling the drinks too far in advance, you risk the drink getting flat. Instead, mix or pour the drinks right before serving.
Make it to go! If you want to take this to a party or picnic, simply ensure each ingredient is in a tightly sealed container for transport. Once you get to your location, mix and pour as you would at home.
Top tip
Add the rose syrup shortly before serving to achieve the best rose flavor. If the rose syrup sits with the lemon juice for several hours, it can break down the rose flavor.
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📖 Recipe
Sparkling Rose Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rose Simple Syrup
- 2 cups fresh lemon juice
- 6 12 oz cans plain seltzer water or carbonated water
Garnishes
- Lemon peel twists
Heather Wellington
I LOVE this drink! It's so refreshing, and tastes like a summer day in the British countryside. I feel like I'm in an Agatha Christie novel having a tea party on the lawn. It goes really well with fruit, like raspberry jam cookies, fresh watermelon, or sliced peaches on crackers with goat cheese. It really bumps lemonade up to the next level and makes it taste so fancy and very delicious!
Susan @ The James Street Home
Isn't it fun?! I love the image of summertime in the British countryside.
Thank you for making the recipe and leaving a comment.