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Lemon, Lime, and Bitters

4.9

(11)

Two beverages made with lemon lime bitters and club soda.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert

The exact origins of this beloved Australian cocktail are murky, but we know it was a favorite of golfers before going mainstream. Many lemon, lime, and bitters recipes call for lemon-lime soda or bottled lime cordial (a.k.a. sweetened lime juice), which you can use if you don’t have fresh citrus on hand. By using fresh juice, simple syrup, and club soda, however, you can tweak the sweetness and acidity of the drink to your liking. You can also add the Angostura bitters with the simple syrup and citrus juice in the beginning, but I like to float it on top at the end, which gives this drink an elegant ombré sunset vibe. 

Note for strict teetotalers: This drink does contain a small amount of alcohol due to the bitters. Per The Epicurious Cocktail ABV Calculator, the ABV is roughly 0.6%—slightly higher than commercially produced kombucha.

To make the simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and hot water in a resealable container and shake until sugar is fully dissolved.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1

Ingredients

4 oz. chilled club soda
1 oz. simple syrup
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
½ oz. fresh lime juice
½ tsp. Angostura bitters

Preparation

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice and add 4 oz. chilled club soda (it should fill glass about halfway up). Add 1 oz. simple syrup, ½ oz. fresh lemon juice, and ½ oz. fresh lime juice. Float ½ tsp. Angostura bitters over and gently stir to create an ombré effect.

TagsEpicuriousCold DrinkBeveragesDairy Free5 Ingredients or FewerEasyQuickLemonCitrusFruitLime

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