The best-tasting lemonade to come out of Lynchburg, or any burg, might just be because of the whiskey…
Imagine the story of a bar owner; they create a drink that becomes so famous the powers-that-be come down on them like a pile of bricks, and they wind up in a court battle. As I’m writing this, my mind is automatically reminded of an episode of The Simpsons were Moe the Bartender steals a drink that Homer created, it got crazy popular and then Moe lost the rights to it and… sorry, I’m digressing. There’s an actual story here, believe me.
It was getting real hot and humid during the summer of 1980, especially in Huntsville, Alabama. Restaurateur Tony Mason had been playing around with all manner of recipes for all manner of drinks and dishes. One especially hot day, Tony (and I’m speculating here) probably looked at a bottle of Jack, some Sprite or 7-Up and thought “hey, wait a minute… wait a minute!” Sometimes necessity can be the mother of invention, and the simplicity and brilliance of this cocktail leads me to believe that Tony Mason had a strong unquenchable thirst one hot ‘Bama afternoon and had it quelled by his own creation. Knowing he had a good thing, he began to sell his Lynchburg Lemonade, and its popularity began to skyrocket.
But then the Jack Daniel’s Distillery claimed the recipe for themselves, saying Mason had stolen it from one of their salespeople. The man fired back with a counter-accusation that the whiskey makers had snatched the drink from him. Both parties found themselves in court, and in 1987, Tony Mason was awarded the paltry sum of one whole dollar. Jack Daniel’s were given the rights to the cocktail, which they marketed, bottled and sold to amazing success.
What is the Best Whiskey to Use in a Lynchburg Lemonade?
You can use any whiskey you like, and it doesn’t have to be from Tennessee. Some of my favorite whiskeys are from Japan, and they make a fantastic Lynchburg Lemonade. Play around with what you like, and find your flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Tennessee whiskey
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 4 ounces lemon-lime soda
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a collins glass filled with ice, combine the Tennessee whiskey, triple sec, and lemon juice.
- Gently pour the lemon-lime soda into the glass over the mixture.
- Stir well and garnish with a slice or two of fresh lemon.
Nutrition
What is the best glass and garnish to use for a Lynchburg Lemonade?
You’ll get a lot of mileage with your Lynchburg Lemonade by serving it in a tall Collins glass to keep the ice extra cool. A couple of slices or wedges of lemon add the perfect finishing touch.
Can you use sour mix for this drink?
Yes. Sour mix is basically simple syrup that’s made with lemon and lime juice. This will add some extra sweet and tangy tart notes to your Lemonade.
Similar Cocktails to the Lynchburg Lemonade
- 7 & 7 – Seagram’s 7 whiskey and 7-Up come together in this perfectly tough and tasty tipple. Wonder where they got the name from.
- Whiskey Highball – A drink so good it has a glass named after it.
- Kentucky Mule – Give your friends this whiskey and ginger beer-fueled Mule at your next party. Tell ’em it’s from Kentucky.
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