Lemon Balm and Grapefruit Shandy Recipe: The Perfect Summer Cocktail

My new favorite drink for the summertime!
the perfect summer drink, lemon balm and grapefruit shandy recipe! perfect for entertaining on the deck or patio. #recipe #shandy #cocktail #cocktailrecipe

Finishing our backyard is basically like our gateway drug into entertaining soooo much more than ever before in #mytinybungalow. Since completing the renovation, we’ve had dinner outside nearly every night and most of the time we have guests joining us! It’s also feeling wayyy more summery in Seattle — which basically means all I want is to have cut loose, kick back, and have some fun (aka no more work, please). Summer is also just the best time for cocktails, especially a shandy, ya know what I mean? I’ve actually ALWAYS wanted to do a fancy shandy recipe here on the blog and now we finally have one! Meet the lemon balm and grapefruit shandy, your new favorite drink for the impending summer months.

the perfect summer drink, lemon balm and grapefruit shandy recipe! perfect for entertaining on the deck or patio. #recipe #shandy #cocktail #cocktailrecipe

What do you think of this garnish? Is it too over-the-top? Sometimes I get carried away with myself and want epic, huge garnishes on all my drinks. I love how it looks with these gorgeous double-wall glasses, too.

the perfect summer drink, lemon balm and grapefruit shandy recipe! perfect for entertaining on the deck or patio. #recipe #shandy #cocktail #cocktailrecipe
the perfect summer drink, lemon balm and grapefruit shandy recipe! perfect for entertaining on the deck or patio. #recipe #shandy #cocktail #cocktailrecipe

Lemon Balm & Grapefruit Shandy

My new favorite drink for the summertime!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Steeping Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 6 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 143 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz lite beer
  • 3/4 oz lemon balm syrup (recipe below)
  • 1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice
  • Soda water (optional)
  • Ice

Lemon balm syrup recipe (makes 1 cup)

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves

Instructions
 

  • Fill a tall glass with ice, syrup, grapefruit juice, and ice. Top with 6 ounces of lite beer and soda water (optional). Garnish with a lemon wedge and sprigs of lemon balm.

Lemon Balm Syrup Instructions

  • Combine sugar, water, and lemon balm in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved. Let simmer one minute, then remove from heat. Let steep one hour. Pour through a mesh strainer to remove leaves and store in cool place.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 21mgPotassium: 177mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword beer, cocktail, grapefruit, lemon balm, shandy
Tried this recipe?Tag @jojotastic on Instagram & tag #jojotastic!
the perfect summer drink, lemon balm and grapefruit shandy recipe! perfect for entertaining on the deck or patio. #recipe #shandy #cocktail #cocktailrecipe

So what do you think?? Isn’t this the perfect drink for a hot summer day? Let us know what you think of this recipe!

Photography and styling by Jojotastic. Recipe developed by Raquel Roof for Jojotastic.

Get more recipes here!

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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