The Bootleg Drink is Minnesota’s signature cocktail. This delicious, summery citrus drink is the perfect beverage to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Original post: July 2019 | Updated: April 2024
Why This Recipe Works
We seem to get stuck in drink ruts in our house by making my husband’s delicious Lemon Drop cocktail a bit too frequently. It’s just so perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day. We are always on the hunt for other beverages that are light, fresh and easy to sip on.
Thankfully the Bootleg Cocktail recently fell into our laps. I mean, we are Minnesotans so we were bound to discover it eventually, right?
This drink is delicious. The lemon-lime combo, along with mint? Freshness overload. Be warned, though, it is hard to taste the alcohol.
History of the Bootlegger Drink
The Bootleg Cocktail originates in Minnesota’s Twin Cities from the prohibition period when alcohol was off limits. The ingredients in this cocktail were meant to mask the booze! Proceed with caution!
There isn’t any hard documentation, but the word on the street is that this drink originated in Minneapolis area country clubs.
Recipe Ingredients
Frozen limeade and lemonade – The lemonade limeade combo is such a delicious one. To change things up slightly, use a different variety such as raspberry or pink lemonade.
Fresh mint – Go fresh when possible! This ingredient makes the drink.
Simple syrup – Skip the store-bought version and make your own simple syrup! One of my favorite homemade versions is this honey simple syrup.
Vodka or Gin – Gin, vodka or rum have been historically used in this beverage.
Club soda – Just a splash is needed! If you don’t have club soda on hand, any sparkling beverage will do the trick. A squirt or two of fresh-squeezed juice will also work as a tasty floater.
How To Make a Bootleg Cocktail
Step 1
Combine 1 can of frozen limeade concentrate, 1 can of frozen lemonade and 2 to 3 bunches of fresh mint leaves in a blender and puree.
Add 1/4 cup of simple syrup to the lemonade-limeade blend in the blender and puree until just mixed in. Fill the blender with water so it is three quarters of the way full.
Step 2
Fill a pint glass with ice and add 2 parts booze (vodka or gin), 3 parts Bootleg Mix, and 2 parts club soda.
Perform a taste test to make sure you get that right balance of flavor. Garnish with mint and fresh juice and serve!
Recipe Notes
- Slice up a few limes or lemons and squeeze them into your drink just before consuming. Both fresh lime juice and fresh lemon juice will add a nice citrus flavor and also act as a beautiful garnish!
- If serving this beverage to guests, be sure to add a mint sprig or even chopped mint to each glass to impress.
- Use a 1-oz. shot glass to measure the parts for this drink, or a liquid measuring cup works, too.
- To most efficiently serve this drink to guests, pour the ingredients one at a time (ice, booze, Bootleg cocktail mix, club soda and garnishes) over each glass filled with ice.
Gin vs Vodka
The main difference between gin and vodka is the flavor. Gin boasts a “pine” flavor, which comes from juniper berries. Vodka has more of a neutral flavor profile.
Both types of alcohol are great pairings for mixers, but the neutral flavor makes vodka a bit more versatile.
Drink Garnishes
- Lime wedge or lime slice
- Lemon wedge or lemon zest
- Berries
- Cherries
- Mint, rosemary, basil or thyme
- Meat and cheese skewers
- Olives
- Pickles
- Cocktail onions
- Cinnamon
- Lime, lemon or orange zest
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate syrup
- Beaten egg whites (for froth)
- Salt or sugar on the rim
Substitute for Mint
If you’re looking for a good fresh mint substitute, try another fresh herb such as flat-leaf Italian parsley, basil or cilantro.
Or use dried mint, although it won’t taste as fresh and you won’t need as much.
Best Cocktail Recipes
The Bootlegger cocktail is delicious, but don’t limit yourself! Try a handful of these tasty cocktails on your deck the next time you are craving a fresh alcoholic beverage.
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Bootleg Drink Recipe – Minnesota’s Signature Cocktail!
Ingredients
- 1 can frozen limeade
- 1 can frozen lemonade
- 2 bunches mint
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 8 oz vodka gin is another option
- water
- club soda
Instructions
- Combine lemonade, limeade, and chopped mint in a blender and puree. Add simple syrup and puree. Fill the blender with water so it is three quarters of the way full.1 can frozen limeade, 1 can frozen lemonade, 2 bunches mint, 1/4 cup simple syrup, water
- Fill a tall glass with ice and add 2 parts booze (vodka or gin), 3 parts Bootleg Mix, and 2 parts club soda. Garnish with mint and serve!8 oz vodka, club soda
Notes
- Slice up some limes and add squeeze them into your drink just before consuming. Fresh squeezed lime juice adds a nice citrus flavor and also act as a beautiful garnish!
- Gin, vodka or Rum have been historically used in this beverage. Whatever your taste preference might be, you’re still going to love the end result of this drink.
- If serving this beverage to guests, be sure to add a mint sprig or even chopped mint to each glass to impress.
- The lemonade limeade combo is such a delicious one. To change things up slightly, use a different variety such as raspberry or pink lemonade.
- Use a 1-oz. shot glass to measure the parts for this drink, or a liquid measuring cup works, too.
- To most efficiently serve this drink to guests, pour the ingredients one at a time (ice, booze, Bootleg mix, club soda and garnishes) over each glass filled with ice.
This is a great recipe. I’ve a life-long resident of Minnesota until just this summer and I’ve has a few of these (or more!)….. As a fresh transplant to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and nobody down here has heard of them. However, once they have had one…. they all want the recipe!
Thank you for writing this one down!!! Solid “10” everybody says!!!!!
That is awesome to hear – thanks for bringing a little bit of MN to the east coast! Cheers!
Is the bootleg mix the ingredients mixed minus the alcohol part?
If you wanted it a virgin, you could just substitute in some sparkling water when you add it to the blender. Thanks for the question!
Enjoy having the Bootleg drink at Wayata Country club so I thought I would try the recipe… I ended up NOT adding the simple syrup and guest thought it was delicious… I used Vodka.
I’m glad you liked it and good to know you don’t need to always add simple syrup. Thanks for sharing!
What size can of frozen limeade/lemonade?
I believe they are sold in 12 oz cans in the freezer section.
Megan, if we can’t use all the mix how long will it keep and how best to store?
Great question! Once this is mixed, keep it in the fridge and you can enjoy it for 2-3 days.
Can you freeze it in ice cube trays?
Great question! If you have the alcohol mixed in, they might not freeze completely. I haven’t tried it but I know alcohol slushies freeze somewhat and then you can enjoy slurping on them.
This recipe is frustrating. It’s not of much use without knowing the size of the blender pitcher.
A full size blender is about 64oz and this would work for the recipe. Thanks for the question!