Pickle Lemonade Is Already Causing Controversy—Here's What Our Editors Think

We named the official drink of summer 2025 the Spa Spritz, complete with lemon slices, cucumber, basil, Lillet Blanc, and some bubbles. But for weekday mornings and mid-afternoon slumps, a more nuanced, booze-free option hits the spot. 

Pickle lemonade, the internet-famous mocktail, has everyone curious, especially those who already sip pickle brine straight from the jar. Is it good? Is it great? We tested a recipe for ourselves, and we have some thoughts. 

The Pickle Lemonade Trend

Pickles have been a go-to ingredient for viral TikTok recipes for a while now—so much so that brands have added notably more dill-flavored items to their lineups. Grillo’s and Hippeas recently launched a pickle puff, and Popeyes launched an entire pickle-themed menu, including the fabled Pickle Lemonade. 

Associate editor Bryce Jones thought their Pickle Lemonade version was "weird in a good way," likening it to a pickle that isn’t overly tart. Other versions online have a spicier kick with a dash of cayenne or are cooled down with the addition of cucumbers. Each variation stirred up strong opinions in the comments, with some calling it surprisingly refreshing and others still on the fence.

How to Make Pickle Lemonade

To find out what the fuss is about, we mixed up a version inspired by several of the most popular recipes online. We used fresh-squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, pickle brine, and sparkling water. 

Pickle Lemonade Recipe

This recipe makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

• ½ cup fresh lemon juice (3 medium lemons)
  
• Ice
• 1-3 Tbsp. simple syrup
• ½ cup chilled dill pickle brine
• 1 cup sparkling water
• Cornichons or dill pickle spear, for garnish

1. Pour lemon juice into an ice-filled small pitcher. Add 1 tablespoon of the simple syrup and pickle brine. Stir to combine.
2. Top with 1 cup sparkling water. Serve over ice. Add additional sparkling water and simple syrup to taste. Garnish with a cornichon or dill pickle spear.

The Verdict

Our senior social media editor, Ginger Perra, didn’t hate it, though she admitted she’d prefer a sweeter drink like plain lemonade.

“The pickle lemonade is not my favorite drink ever, but I don't dislike it either,” she explains. “I'm not a sour candy fan, and the pickle brine upped the salinity and mouth puckering when drinking the lemonade. Overall, if you love pickles and/or candy, you'd probably love this.” 

Another tester likened it to a Bloody Mary but wasn’t convinced this drink satisfied her craving for a bold, briny kick.

“I thought it tasted very acidic. It tasted like a Bloody Mary adjacent without the tomato,” our senior creative producer Juliet Muir shares. “Not bad per se, but I would rather go for a lemonade if that’s what I was in the mood for. It was a great drink for an adventurous spirit, and the tanginess was a fun add, but I don’t think, as a pickle lover, it was something I'd willingly order in lieu of a lemonade.” 

It seems like, in small quantities, this drink is satisfying and fun, but any more than that is too much. So if you’re also a pickle fan, perhaps try a shot of pickle lemonade before opting for a full-sized drink of choice.