Have You Tried Upgrading Your Shandy With Yuzu?

The shandy might be the most well known of any beer cocktail. Traditionally made with beer and lemonade or lemon-lime soda, shandies are served all over the world and are even sold in ready-to-drink cans. In the world of cocktails, a shandy is a super low-lift, do-you-even-need-a-recipe drink. 

This fresh take on the classic shandy features tart and floral Japanese yuzu juice as well as freshly squeezed lemon juice for a more complex medley of citrusy notes. While yuzu and lemon share some of the same sour citrus notes, yuzu has an extra delicate flavor and aroma that is totally unique. We love The Yuzu Co., which sells yuzu juice in small 2-ounce portions — a perfect size when you are just making a couple drinks. 

An Italian-style sparkling lemonade like Fever Tree’s Sicilian Sparkling Lemonade adds both sweetness and slight bitterness, which helps balance the sour citrus flavors. A light, fresh lager helps bring these fruity notes to life and adds a backbone of savoriness as well. Plus, the bright, bubbly effervescence in the beer enhances the aromatic intensity of this refreshing drink. 

While glasses with salt rims are often reserved for margaritas, this cocktail begs for a hit of salinity. Like in cooking, salt helps intensify flavors that are already present in the dish, or in this case cocktail. The sweet, sour, and bitter notes of the Yuzu Shandy are enlivened by a touch of salt. Plus there’s simply something a little extra special by adding a touch more thought to a glass. 

This cocktail uses 6 ounces of beer, which is half a traditional bottle of Miller High Life. The Yuzu Shandy is designed to be scaled up or even built in a pitcher for a party. If you are serving a crowd, combine the ingredients in a pitcher without adding ice. Add salt to your glasses and ice directly in the glass so as not to dilute the drink before serving.