Lynchburg Lemonade: The Famous Jack Daniel's Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 03/6/23
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Lynchburg Lemonade

The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
192 Calories
0g Fat
23g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 192
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 20mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 12mg 59%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 55mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Lynchburg lemonade is named after Lynchburg, Tennessee, hometown of the Jack Daniel's Distillery. It is one of the most popular mixed drinks and the Tennessee whiskey's signature cocktail. While the official recipe is a little more complicated than mixing whiskey and lemonade, it's still very easy and perfect for a lazy summer afternoon or a backyard barbecue.

To mix up an authentic Lynchburg lemonade, you will need just four ingredients, a tall glass, and some ice. The featured ingredient is, of course, the famous Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, and this is by far one of the best drinks for it. There is something magical about the whiskey's smoky sweetness in this tart, sparkling mixed drink. After one taste, you'll realize why it's long been a favorite.

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Click Play to See This Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Lemonade Recipe Come Together

"Super refreshing and easy to throw together, the Lynchburg lemonade is a great way to enjoy whiskey in warm weather. Definitely use fresh lemon juice and feel free to add an additional splash of whiskey for an added kick." —Tom Macy

Lynchburg Lemonade: The Famous Jack Daniel's Recipe Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make Lynchburg Lemonade

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. Pour the whiskey, triple sec, and lemon juice into a collins glass and add ice.

    A collins glass with whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice, and ice

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Top with soda. Stir well and garnish with lemon slices.

    A swizzle stick stirring a Lynchburg lemonade

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Tips

  • You can, of course, pour a whiskey other than Jack Daniel's into this cocktail, and it will be pretty good, but it's not an authentic Lynchburg lemonade. Should you decide to change up the whiskey, go with another Tennessee whiskey or a full-flavored bourbon.
  • Choose a quality triple sec. Whatever you do, stay away from those $5 specials that are so common at the liquor store. They're too sweet and unnaturally flavored to do any cocktail any good.
  • Fresh lemon juice really does make the best Lynchburg lemonade. One average lemon should yield enough juice for two drinks. Let it reach room temperature and roll it under the palm of your hand on the counter to maximize the juice.
  • The choices for lemon-lime soda are vast. Sprite, 7-Up, and Sierra Mist are all popular options. If you want a splash of something really interesting, try Q Drinks Lemon or Fever-Tree Sparkling Lemon.

Recipe Variations

  • Some people prefer to use sour mix rather than lemon juice. This will make the drink slightly sweeter, but with a premium triple sec, that shouldn't throw the drink's flavor balance off too much.
  • Quickly transform this recipe into a tasty party punch by mixing 1 part each of whiskey, lemon juice, and triple sec with 4 parts soda in a punch bowl. Garnish it with lemon wedges.
  • If you do want to mix up the simplified whiskey and lemonade drink, do yourself a favor and make it with fresh-squeezed lemonade. Use a 2-ounce shot of whiskey and 4 to 6 ounces of lemonade, depending on your taste.

How Strong Is the Lynchburg Lemonade?

The Lynchburg Lemonade is a relatively mild drink. On average, its alcohol content is around 8 percent ABV (16 proof), which is a little lighter than a glass of wine. However, this drink has been known to get people drunker than they expected. Other than drinking too many, the problem often comes from overpouring the whiskey. To keep the drink under control, maintain a balance of flavor, and to help prevent a hangover, stick to the standard 1 1/2-ounce shot.