Chef Mason Williams - Southern Cocktail & Bourbon Specialist
👨‍🍳 Bourbon Specialist

Recipe by Mitchell

🎓 Certified Mixologist ⏰ 10+ Years Experience 🍽️ Southern Cocktail Expert

❤️ My Recipe Story

"This cocktail was born on my front porch during a sweltering Kentucky summer. The combination of local bourbon with tropical pineapple creates the perfect balance of Southern comfort and refreshing escape - it's like vacation in a glass."

Mason specializes in Southern-inspired cocktails that honor bourbon traditions while incorporating modern flavors. He believes in using quality spirits and fresh ingredients to create drinks that tell a story of place and season.

View All Mitchell's Recipes →
Golden pineapple bourbon lemonade in a tall glass with ice, garnished with pineapple wedge and lemon wheel, condensation on glass

The Perfect Bourbon Balance

The key to exceptional pineapple bourbon lemonade lies in balancing the robust character of bourbon with the sweet tropical notes of pineapple and the bright acidity of fresh lemon. The bourbon should complement, not overpower, the fruit flavors.

Quality bourbon makes a significant difference in this cocktail. Look for a mid-range bourbon with vanilla and caramel notes that will harmonize beautifully with the pineapple's natural sweetness while standing up to the lemon's tartness.

💡 Professional Tip

Chill all your ingredients beforehand, including the bourbon. Cold ingredients help maintain the drink's refreshing quality and prevent excessive dilution from melting ice.

Frequently Asked Questions

A mid-range bourbon with vanilla and caramel notes works perfectly. Avoid overly spicy or high-proof bourbons that might overpower the fruit flavors. Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, or Buffalo Trace are excellent choices.

Fresh pineapple juice is preferred for the best flavor, but high-quality canned juice without added sugars works in a pinch. Avoid juice cocktails with artificial flavors.

Simmer equal parts sugar, water, and chopped pineapple for 10 minutes, then strain. You can also buy it pre-made or substitute with additional simple syrup.

Absolutely! Multiply all ingredients except sparkling water by the number of servings. Add sparkling water just before serving to maintain carbonation.

Ginger ale adds extra flavor complexity, or use lemon-lime soda for more sweetness. Club soda works too, though sparkling water lets the other flavors shine.

Increase bourbon to 2.5 oz, but be careful not to overwhelm the delicate balance of sweet and tart flavors that makes this cocktail special.

Yes! Replace bourbon with additional pineapple juice and a splash of vanilla extract. Add a pinch of smoked paprika for complexity that mimics bourbon's depth.

Best served immediately. You can pre-mix the bourbon and juices up to 4 hours ahead, but add sparkling water just before serving for optimal carbonation.

Recipe Troubleshooting Guide

✅

Too Sweet

Problem: Cocktail is overly sweet

Solution: Add more fresh lemon juice gradually, or reduce the simple syrup. The tartness should balance the pineapple's natural sweetness.

✅

Too Tart

Problem: Drink is too acidic or sour

Solution: Add more pineapple juice or simple syrup. Fresh pineapple varies in sweetness, so adjust accordingly.

✅

Weak Bourbon Flavor

Problem: Can't taste the bourbon

Prevention: Increase bourbon slightly or use a more flavorful bourbon. Ensure you're not over-diluting with too much sparkling water.

✅

Flat Taste

Problem: Drink lacks carbonation or sparkle

Recovery: Use very cold sparkling water, add it last, and stir gently. Serve immediately after adding carbonation.

✅

Cloudy Appearance

Problem: Drink looks murky or separated

Prevention: Strain the pineapple pieces if desired, or embrace the rustic look. Over-muddling can create cloudiness.

✅

Flavor Balance Issues

Too Sweet: Add more lemon juice or reduce simple syrup

Too Salty: This shouldn't occur with proper ingredients

Bland: Increase bourbon, add more pineapple, or muddle pineapple more thoroughly

Bourbon bottle, fresh pineapple chunks, lemons, simple syrup, and sparkling water arranged on a rustic wooden bar surface

Selecting Premium Ingredients

Fresh pineapple makes an enormous difference in this cocktail's flavor profile. Look for pineapples with a sweet aroma at the base and golden color. The fruit should yield slightly to pressure but not be soft or mushy.

Quality bourbon is the foundation of this drink. Choose a bourbon with complementary flavor notes - vanilla, caramel, and honey work beautifully with pineapple, while overly spicy or smoky varieties can clash with the fruit's delicate sweetness.

Essential Ingredient Notes

  • Fresh Pineapple: Choose ripe pineapple with golden color and sweet aroma. Core and chunk it fresh for the best juice and muddling texture.
  • Bourbon Selection: Mid-range bourbon with vanilla and caramel notes works best. Avoid overly spicy or high-proof options that overpower the fruit.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: Always use fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Bottled juice lacks the bright acidity needed to balance the sweet pineapple and bourbon.
Hands muddling fresh pineapple chunks in a highball glass, showing proper technique for cocktail preparation

Mastering the Mix

The muddling technique sets the foundation for this cocktail's texture and flavor. Gentle pressure releases the pineapple's natural juices and sugars without creating a pulpy mess. The goal is to extract flavor while maintaining some pleasant texture.

Layering the ingredients properly ensures optimal flavor distribution. Start with the muddled fruit, add spirits and syrups to blend with the fruit base, then ice for proper chilling, and finally the sparkling water to maintain maximum carbonation throughout the drink.

The Perfect Build

Build from bottom to top: muddled fruit, spirits and syrups, ice, then sparkling water. This sequence ensures proper flavor integration without losing carbonation.

Pineapple Bourbon Lemonade

Prep 8 min
Cook 0 min
Serves 1 servings
Level Easy

📋 Ingredients

Base Ingredients

  • 30ml simple syrup
    Balances tart lemon with sweet pineapple
  • 15ml pineapple syrup
    Intensifies tropical flavor
  • 180ml sparkling water
    Adds refreshing carbonation
  • Fresh pineapple wedge
    Beautiful tropical garnish
  • Lemon wheel
    Classic citrus garnish
  • Fresh thyme sprig
    Optional herbal accent
  • Maraschino cherry
    Traditional cocktail garnish

Garnish & Finishing

  • 60ml bourbon whiskey
    Quality bourbon with vanilla notes
  • 90ml fresh pineapple juice
    Freshly juiced for best flavor
  • 60ml fresh lemon juice
    Bright acidity to balance sweetness
  • 2-3 pineapple chunks
    Fresh fruit for muddling
  • Ice cubes
    Fresh, clean ice for proper chilling

Instructions

  1. Muddle Pineapple

    In a highball glass, gently muddle 2-3 fresh pineapple chunks to release their juices and natural sweetness. Don't over-muddle as you want some texture remaining.

  2. Add Bourbon and Juices

    Add bourbon whiskey, fresh pineapple juice, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and pineapple syrup to the glass. Stir well to combine all ingredients.

  3. Add Ice and Top

    Fill the glass with ice cubes, leaving room at the top. Top with sparkling water and give a gentle stir to combine while maintaining carbonation.

  4. Garnish

    Garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge, lemon wheel, and maraschino cherry. Add a fresh thyme sprig for an herbal accent if desired.

  5. Serve

    Serve immediately with a straw. The drink is best enjoyed fresh while the carbonation is at its peak and the flavors are well-balanced.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Variations

Try adding a splash of grenadine for color and extra sweetness, or rim the glass with brown sugar and cinnamon for a Southern twist. Peach or mango can substitute for pineapple.

Make-Ahead Tips

Pre-mix the bourbon, juices, and syrups up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate. Add fresh ice and sparkling water just before serving to maintain proper dilution and carbonation.

Serving Suggestions

Perfect for summer barbecues, porch sitting, or Kentucky Derby parties. Consider making a large batch in a dispenser for gatherings, adding sparkling water to individual glasses.