The Bootleg Drink is Minnesota’s signature cocktail. This delicious, summery citrus drink is the perfect beverage to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Why This Recipe Works
We seem to get stuck in drink ruts in our house. We tend to make my husband’s delicious Lemon Drop cocktail too often because 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 Minneapolis area country clubs are specifically where this drink originated.
How To Make a Bootleg Cocktail
Step 1
Combine 1 can of frozen limeade, 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 lemon lime mint mixture 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 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!
Recipe 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.
Delicious Cocktail Recipes
The Bootlegger drink is delicious, but don’t limit yourself! Try a handful of these drink recipes on your deck the next time you are craving a fresh alcoholic beverage.
- The Best Margaritas
- Blueberry Mojitos
- Watermelon Martini Cocktail
- Mint Juleps
- Watermelon Raspberry Sangria
- The Best Mai Tai
- Gin and Tonic
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The Bootleg Cocktail 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.
- 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!
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!