Jose Salazar recommends this summertime refresher that, if done correctly, balances fresh acidity and gentle sweetness. “If you squeeze lemons or use them well in advance, they get kind of funky,” he says. “You don’t get that great acid, so it really boils down to making it fresh. Squeezing the lemon at that moment.”

Salazar's Lemonade
Recipe courtesy of Salazar 

INGREDIENTS
1.5 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2.25 ounces citrus simple syrup (recipe follows)
4 ounces soda water

DIRECTIONS
Fill cocktail shaker with ice, combine ingredients and shake. Strain into glass over ice, and top with soda water. Garnish with lemon twist.

Citrus Simple Syrup

INGREDIENTS
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
2 entire orange peels (use a vegetable peeler, no pith)
1 entire lemon peel (use a vegetable peeler, no pith)

DIRECTIONS
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Allow to cool. Strain before using.       

Chef's Tip: You can prepare larger batches of any of these recipes up to 12 hours before your get-together. Refrigerate the mix, but don't add ice or soda until you're ready to serve.