Spike your sweet tea for a truly refreshing cocktail to serve at your upcoming spring cookouts.
If there was an official drink of the South it would be sweet tea. I, like most true Southerners, know that a glass of iced sweet tea is like liquid gold.
We traveled to Pennsylvania for spring break to visit friends who recently moved up there. It has been a few years since we have seen each other due to COVID and travel restrictions, and we have both had kids during that time. Their son is only a year older than ours, and we wanted to get them together for the first time to play, plus we missed each other dearly.
We stayed with them for three nights, and during that time we played games, watched the kids play and grilled out in the backyard. One evening, while our wonderful hosts were grilling chicken and creating colorful side dishes, my spouse and I whipped up some spiked raspberry sweet tea with lemon. This cocktail is a spin on Southern staple with a flair of raspberry and a kick of alcohol. It was our way of bringing a little Southern flavor back to these newly transplanted Northerners.
Sitting at the wooden picnic table we all enjoyed the grilled barbecue chicken, grilled corn on the cob, tomato salad, Hawaiian rolls and a big ol’ glass of adult raspberry sweet tea. Don’t worry — the kids just had milk in their cups. It was so great to be with friends enjoying the warmer weather, a homemade meal and clinking glasses full of Southern liquid gold.
This is a cocktail to serve at your next cookout or grilling party, and it can be enjoyed all spring and summer long. Cheers!
| Servings | servings |
- 8 cups water
- 2 family-sized tea bags I prefer Luzianne
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 can Dasani Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
- 1 1/2 cups Chambord liqueur
- 1/2 cup Tito's vodka
- raspberries and lemons for garnish
Ingredients
| |
- Bring water to a boil, add the tea bags and remove from heat. Cover and let it steep (1 hour).
- Remove the tea bags and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour sweet tea into a large pitcher and add the sparkling water, Chambord and vodka.
- Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with raspberries and lemon slices.
