Strawberry Dirty Sprite Drink (Printer-Friendly)

A lively strawberry drink with vodka, rum, citrus, and mint. Refreshing, colorful, and ideal for summer sharing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Base Components

01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 0.25 cup granulated sugar
03 - 0.5 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Spirits and Citrus

04 - 1 cup vodka
05 - 0.25 cup coconut rum
06 - 0.25 cup fresh lemon juice

→ Soda and Ice

07 - 2 quarts lemon-lime soda, chilled
08 - ice cubes, as needed

→ Garnishes and Optional Additions

09 - 1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish
10 - extra fresh strawberries, whole or sliced, for garnish
11 - purple food coloring, optional
12 - grenadine, optional, to taste
13 - Jolly Rancher candies, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Combine the sliced strawberries and sugar in a bowl, tossing to coat. Let macerate at room temperature for 15 minutes to draw out juices.
02 - Add sugared strawberries and mint leaves to the bottom of a large pitcher. Gently muddle with a wooden spoon or muddler to release flavors without overcrushing.
03 - Pour vodka, coconut rum, and fresh lemon juice into the pitcher. Stir thoroughly to blend and dissolve sugar.
04 - Pour in the chilled lemon-lime soda slowly and gently stir to mix without losing carbonation.
05 - If desired, stir in a few drops of purple food coloring for a vibrant hue, a splash of grenadine, or add Jolly Ranchers for extra flavor and color.
06 - Fill the pitcher with ice cubes. Top with lemon slices, extra strawberries, and additional mint leaves for garnish.
07 - Pour into tall glasses filled with ice, ensuring each portion contains some of the fruit and mint. Garnish each glass with a whole strawberry and a lemon wedge.

# Helpful Hints:

01 - For maximum flavor, use strawberries at peak ripeness and chill the soda before adding to keep the drink fizzy.
02 - Prepare the strawberry-mint base up to a day ahead; add soda and ice just before serving to maintain carbonation.
03 - Double or halve the batch easily to accommodate your guest count.
04 - For a non-alcoholic batch, omit the vodka and rum and add extra strawberries or a splash of grenadine.

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