This 3-Ingredient Trader Joe's Cocktail Is Our Official Drink of the Summer

Do you know the feeling when a craving hits so hard that nothing else matters until you quench it? This phenomenon happens to us with a few things: dolmas, Italian subs, and lemonade. Once we spent an entire afternoon wandering the streets of Brooklyn, NY searching for freshly squeezed lemonade in the middle of February. There is no rhyme or reason to it! 

Now that summer is actually here, there is both rhyme and reason to crave lemonade, and we certainly do. Long, sweltering summer days demand something as cool and refreshing as a glass of lemonade. Our love for it dates back to elementary school when we spent countless summer afternoons running a cash-only lemonade stand at the end of the driveway. Now that we’re (technically) adults, we know a thing or two about elevating this classic drink.

Enter, spiked pink lemonade. Requiring only three ingredients, all of which can be found at Trader Joe’s, it's an effortless cocktail to add to your summer repertoire. Happy hours, BBQs, cookouts, and poolside hangs are the perfect occasion for clinking glasses of summery, spiked pink lemonade.

What Is in Spiked Pink Lemonade?

Spiked pink lemonade is made with Trader Joe’s Cold Pressed Watermelon Juice, Trader Joe’s Freshly Squeezed Lemonade (both found in the refrigerated section), and vodka. It is citrusy and tart from the lemonade and refreshingly sweet from the watermelon juice. 

Kind of like the Sour Patch Kids commercial—first it’s sour, then it’s sweet, then it’s gone and you are ready to partay (responsibly)! It’s great for a crowd because you can make a batch in a pitcher and then pour it over ice to serve.

The Easiest 3-Ingredient Spiked Pink Lemonade

To make about eight servings, you’ll need:

• 4 cups Trader Joe’s Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
• 1 (12-ounce) bottle Trader Joe’s Cold Pressed Watermelon Juice
• 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) vodka
• Fresh mint leaves, for garnish (optional)
• Fresh lemon slices, for garnish (optional)

Add the lemonade, watermelon juice, and vodka to a pitcher. Stir to combine.

Though we think it’s sweet and strong as is, if you enjoy a sweeter and stronger cocktail, add a couple of tablespoons of agave syrup and an extra 1/2 cup of vodka.

You have the option to add ice to the pitcher and serve immediately before it becomes too watery, or add ice to the individual glasses and pour the cocktail mixture over.

Add a lemon slice and a sprig of mint leaves to the glass. For a fun upgrade, we like to wet the rim and dip it into a sugar and lemon zest mixture. Enjoy!