Pink Elephant Ears

A pitcher of pink lemonade and vodka with lime slices over ice. One pint of vodka, two cans of pink lemonade made up per the can, lime slices in the pitcher. Drinks tart-pink and refreshing, named for the size of the build and the cartoon-pink colour.

Pink Elephant Ears

4.20 from 15 votes

Calories: 90kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 1 Pint(s) Vodka
▢ 2 Can(s) Lemonade
▢ 1 Lime

Instructions

▢
Mix pink lemonade per instructions on can. Add Vodka. slices of lime. and lots of ice. Mix well.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 90kcal (5%)Carbohydrates: 6g (2%)Sugar: 6g (7%)

Punch

Where it came from

Pink Elephant Ears is an American backyard punch in the lemonade-and-vodka lane. The build pairs a pint of vodka with two cans of pink lemonade made up to instructions, with sliced lime in the pitcher for visual lift. The recipe came out of suburban barbeque culture, where pink lemonade is the kid drink and the vodka turns it into the adult version.

It sits in the pink-lemonade family with the Vodka Lemonade, the Pink Squirrel and the Sea Breeze. All three lean on a pink mixer plus vodka for the bright-pink long-pour character. Pink Elephant Ears separates itself with the made-up-from-frozen lemonade base, which gives the drink a sharper tartness than premixed pink lemonade and a thicker texture from the partial ice melt.

Best ordered at a pool deck, a backyard barbeque or any summer outdoor gathering where a pitcher pour serves a small group. The drink is approachable, tart-and-pink, and scales to six or eight glasses out of a single pitcher.

What it tastes like

Sweet pink lemonade up front, soft vodka through the middle, sharp lime peel on the finish. The pink lemonade carries the sweetness; the vodka adds the cut; the lime slices lift the citrus and balance the sugar. Reads as a long sweet-pink pour, not a stiff cocktail.

Around 10 percent ABV in the glass once mixed and served over ice. One pint of vodka at 40 percent ABV plus the two-can pink lemonade made up to about two liters gives a moderate-strength long pour. Each pitcher serves six to eight ten-ounce glasses.

The technique

Make up the pink lemonade per the instructions on the can in a large pitcher; the typical can produces about a liter of mixed lemonade. Add the pint of vodka and stir to combine. Add the lime slices and lots of ice to fill. Mix well and pour into highball glasses.

The order is lemonade first, vodka second, lime and ice last. Pouring the vodka first into a dry pitcher leaves residue around the rim that throws off the first pour. Make up the lemonade fully, add the vodka, add the lime and ice on top. Stir three or four turns to combine without bruising the lime.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

The pink lemonade concentrate

Use: Minute Maid Pink Lemonade frozen concentrate or any frozen pink lemonade can.
Skip: Premixed pink lemonade in a bottle. Different sweetness curve.
Why: Frozen concentrate is the lead flavour and the sharper tartness. The dilution-from-frozen format gives a fresher tart-citrus character than premixed bottled versions; bottled lemonade reads soft and lacks the pucker that defines the drink.

The lime slices

Use: Two fresh limes, sliced into wheels.
Skip: Bottled lime juice or lime cordial. Loses the visual lift and the citrus oil.
Why: Fresh lime slices are the visual lift and the volatile-oil note. The wheels float in the pitcher and release oil on each pour; bottled lime juice gives flavour but kills the pitcher presentation that the drink relies on.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

The standard build

Pink Elephant Ears, classic: Pint vodka, two cans pink lemonade made up, lime slices, lots of ice in a pitcher. Mix well, pour into highballs.

The half build

Pink Elephant: Halve all ingredients for a smaller pitcher. Same flavour balance, four-glass yield.

The frozen build

Pink Elephant Slushie: Blend each cup-portion with a cup of crushed ice. Loses the pitcher format, gains a frozen-cocktail texture.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No pink lemonade concentrate?

Regular lemonade plus a tablespoon of grenadine per liter. Different sweetness curve, holds the colour.

No vodka?

Gin or white rum work as substitutes; both hold the clear-spirit role. Tequila reads too sharp against the pink lemonade.

No fresh limes?

Bottled lime juice plus lime zest scattered over the pitcher. Different texture, holds the citrus accent.

No pitcher?

Build per glass at the same ratio. Half cup pink lemonade plus a one-ounce shot of vodka plus a lime wheel in a highball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in Pink Elephant Ears?

One pint of vodka, two cans of pink lemonade made up per the can, lime slices and lots of ice in a pitcher. Three ingredients, casual pitcher pour.

Why is it called Pink Elephant Ears?

The name riffs on the saying about seeing pink elephants when drunk, with elephant ears suggesting the size of the pitcher pour. The cartoon-pink colour and the heft of the build together earn the name.

How strong is Pink Elephant Ears?

Around 10 percent ABV in the glass once mixed and served over ice. Roughly equal to one and a half standard drinks per ten-ounce serving.

What does it taste like?

Sweet pink lemonade up front, soft vodka through the middle, sharp lime peel on the finish. Reads as a long sweet-pink pour with a fresh-citrus lift from the lime.

Can I use a different lemonade?

Regular yellow lemonade plus a tablespoon of grenadine per liter holds the colour and adjusts the sweetness curve. Limeade reads too sharp; raspberry lemonade reads too sweet.

How many people does it serve?

Six to eight glasses at ten ounces each. The pitcher format works for a backyard gathering of four to six drinkers across an afternoon.

Can I batch Pink Elephant Ears ahead?

Mix the lemonade and the vodka up to four hours ahead and refrigerate. Add the lime slices and the ice within fifteen minutes of service to hold the visual lift and prevent over-dilution.

What other pitcher punches are similar?

A Vodka Lemonade Pitcher, a Sea Breeze Pitcher and a Cosmopolitan Pitcher. All three lean on vodka plus a pink mixer plus citrus for the bright-pink casual-pour character.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read