Lemon Lime & Bitters Recipe: An Aussie Classic To Enjoy at Home
This is a classic Australian concoction that is perfect for those looking for a very light (though note, not always low-cal!) refreshment.
A lemon, lime & bitters has extremely low alcohol content, putting it on the verge of being an alcoholic cocktail and a mocktail. It is super simple to make and only requires one crucial ingredient to hand for that perfect result – Angostura Bitters.
For my lemon-lime and bitters recipe today, I am looking at “bitters” in its simplest form and how you can recreate this Aussie pub favorite order at home.
I have tagged it to both the mocktails and cocktails categories of the blog, as the alcohol content is minimal, but present, so I want to ensure you’re not caught unaware if you’re on a strictly no-alcohol diet – or underage.
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Tools You Will Need for Making a Lemon Lime & Bitters
You can find all our suggested staple supplies and tools for your home cocktail bar here.
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Lemon, Lime Bitters
This simple and delicious recipe is a low alcohol mixer perfect for a refreshing summer sip. There are plenty of variations you can try to suit preferences in the notes below.
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 serve 1x
Ingredients
6– 8 dashes of Angostura Bitters
3/4 cup Lemon-lime soda (or lemonade)
1 Fresh Lime (or 1 tablespoon lime cordial)
Sliced lemon or lime for garnish
Ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill glass with ice
- Pour lime juice and lemonade into a glass and stir lightly
- Add dashes of bitters to the top
- Garnish with a lemon or lime slice/wedge and serve with a straw so the drinker can mix the bitters to their preference
Notes
- There is no ‘one way’ to make Lemon Lime and Bitters so you will find plenty of variations. Some use a pre-mixed lime cordial (squash) rather than fussing with freshly squeezed lime.
- Some prefer the bitters to be coated around the glass rather than floating it on top, as I have described, which will give the finished drink a much pinker appearance, rather than a deeper red top. As always, cocktails are personal, and I encourage you to be creative and make it the way YOU like it!
- You can also make Lemon Lime Bitters in party jug format; simply increase your quantities using the buttons above!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
Is Lemon Lime and Bitters Alcoholic?
So, exactly how much alcohol is in a Lemon Lime Bitters Recipe?
This is a pertinent question many drinking lemon lime bitters want to know – after all, it’s frequently billed as a NON-ALCOHOLIC drink! Well, it depends…
It depends on how heavy-handed your bartender is and what your definition of “a dash” of bitters is. So let’s break it down.
What percentage of alcohol is bitters? Angostura Bitters is strong – you’re not having straight shots of the stuff or drinking it neat! You’re looking at nearly 45% ABV.
How much is a dash? I’ve suggested in my recipe 6 to 8 dashes per glass; others say 1-2 dashes (is it even worth it?). An Angostura Bitters bottle comes with a stopper to prevent too much coming out at once, so one dash is approximately 0.02oz. Let’s say this recipe has 0.19 oz of alcoholic bitters. Simple maths says 0.19 oz x 45% = 0.05 oz of alcohol.
So, how much alcohol is in a lemon lime bitters? Following this recipe, I’ve assumed 6.5 oz of other fluids mixed with the bitters (+ ice cubes). Let’s round and say the drink is 6.76 oz, of which 0.05 oz is alcoholic, then LESS THAN 1% OF A LEMON LIME BITTERS IS ALCOHOL (0.78%).
Nonetheless, alcohol is alcohol. So, if you want NO ALCOHOL in your drink, this isn’t the mocktail for you. Skip the bitters, and you can still enjoy the distinct lime flavors without the bitters’ pink hues and beautiful finish.
Make Your Lemon Lime Bitters Alcoholic
Want to make your lemon, lime, and bitters a true alcoholic drink? The simplest variation is to add a shot of vodka to the recipe. The distinct aromatic bitters can still be enjoyed, but you’ll get a bigger kick! Drink your vodka, lemon-lime, and bitters in moderation, though, as they are incredibly smooth and easy to drink; too many can be overwhelming.
Make Your Lemon Lime Bitters Non-Alcoholic
As I’ve mentioned, traditional lemon-lime bitters, made with Angostura Bitters, contain trace amounts of alcohol. If you seek a true non-alcoholic drink, consider something like blood orange cocktail bitters. The citric acid provides a similar finish with zero alcohol (obtaining these products can often be a challenge).
Lemon Lime Bitters Pre-Mix
As the popular beverage that lemon-lime bitters is, particularly in Australia, many soft drink manufacturers now produce a premix cordial that can be quickly and easily substituted. I’m totally biased, but I think nothing tastes as good as real lemon-lime soda and freshly squeezed lime on a hot day in my favorite drink!
The best “off the shelf” version I have tried is Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters.
What Else Does Bitters Go With?
Although lemon lime bitters is the Aussie favorite drink, North American readers may be more familiar with adding bitters to an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. I’ve also seen it added to mojitos and champagne cocktails. In Hong Kong, a Gunners is similar, but lemon-lime soda is substituted with ginger ale.
If you’re seeking more non-alcoholic beverages with bitters, you could try your bitters with is an iced tea with brown sugar and bitters (sometimes called a Sweet Old Fashioned).
Want More Low/No Alcohol Recipes?
Head on over next to the mocktails section of the blog. Here, I share with you many light and sweet treats that can be enjoyed if you are pregnant or prefer your cocktails without the booze!
Little Party Pixie advocates quality over quantity. Always drink responsibly!
© Little Party Pixie 2025
