Basil-Rosemary Orange Shandy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/5/21
Freshly Made Orange Shandy With Basil-Rosemary Orangeade

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Orangeade: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total: 2 hrs 40 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 drink
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
219 Calories
0g Fat
42g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 219
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 47mg 237%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 181mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A freshly made orange shandy is an absolute delight on hot summer days. It's a great beer-based mixed drink that's very easy to make and outshines any bottled shandy from a store. This recipe adds a couple of extra garden-fresh flavors to the mix, creating one of the tastiest shandies in a pitcher-size batch, so it's ready to share with friends.

The recipe begins with a basil-rosemary orangeade. It's made just like fresh-squeezed lemonade but uses a homemade basil-rosemary simple syrup to sweeten the orange juice. The herb-kissed juice is fantastic on its own and it gets even better when poured with a great beer. Wheat ales are a favorite for this recipe, though lagers will result in an equally satisfying and refreshing shandy.

Ingredients

For the Basil-Rosemary Orangeade:

  • 3 cups water, divided

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

  • 1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves

  • 2 (2-inch) pieces orange peel

  • 4 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

For the Shandy:

  • 6 ounces basil-rosemary orangeade

  • 6 ounces wheat ale, or lager beer

  • Orange slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Basil-Rosemary Orangeade

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Homemade Basil-Rosemary Orange Shandy

  2. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved.

    Homemade Simple Syrup
    S&C Design Studios

  3. Reduce the heat and add the rosemary, basil, and orange peel. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely, keeping the pan covered. Strain out the herbs and peel.

    Basil-Rosemary Simple Syrup
    S&C Design Studios

  4. Combine the syrup, orange juice, and 2 cups of water in a pitcher. Stir and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Serve the orangeade within a few days.

    Homemade Basil-Rosemary Orangeade
    S&C Design Studios

Make the Orange Shandy

  1. In an ice-filled tall glass, pour the basil-rosemary orangeade until the glass is half full.

    Making a Homemade Orange Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  2. Top with beer and garnish with an orange slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Freshly Made Orange Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • The best-tasting orangeade is made with freshly squeezed orange juice. You should be able to get 3 ounces of juice from an average orange. To get 4 cups, count on juicing 10 oranges.
  • There's no need to remove all of the rosemary leaves from the stem. Simply toss a couple of whole sprigs (about 4 inches long) into the syrup.
  • On the other hand, it is best to use only basil leaves as the stem can throw off the flavor. Luckily, the herb's leaves are large so it's very easy to pick them.
  • Use a paring knife or sharp peeler to cut the pieces of orange peel.
  • Ice is a nice addition to this shandy, but it's not necessary if your beer and orangeade are cold. It's also a good idea to serve it in chilled glasses.

Recipe Variations

  • The orangeade can be sweetened with any of a variety of simple syrups, including unflavored for a pure orange flavor. Try it with cinnamon or ginger for a hint of spice, give it a minty twist, or try another herbal combination like lavender and sage.
  • Add a shot (1 1/2 ounces) of tequila or vodka to each glass when building the drinks for an extra kick.

How Strong Is a Basil-Rosemary Orange Shandy?

Since this shandy is a 50-50 mix of orangeade and beer, the final alcohol content will be half the strength of the beer you choose to pour. If you add ice, dilution will play a role as well, helping to create a very mild drink. For instance, if your beer is 5 percent ABV, the shandy will be just 2.4 percent ABV.

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