• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • About me
  • Subscribe

The Cinnamon Jar logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About me
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Beverages

    Published: Dec 3, 2022 by Maretha Corbett

    Rock Shandy recipe

    • Facebook
    • Email the recipe link
    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 50 votes

    An epicurean adventure to: South Africa

    The most refreshing of South African shandies!

    Rock shandy is a firm pool-side favourite or 'braai' accompaniment for the people of the vibrant Rainbow Nation. This virtually non-alcoholic soda drink (mocktail) only requires three ingredients; lemonade, soda water and Angostura bitters.

    Add a slice of lemon or a fancy lemon peel twisty to this glass of beautifully ombre'ed goodness and you're ready to go!

    By the way, legend has it that Angostura bitters were created to seek revenge on soda water for being too plain. They joined forces with lemonade, and the Rock Shandy was born! Hah!

    For other South African recipes, why not try this easy South African Bobotie with basmati yellow rice. Alternatively, for more refreshing drinks, try this Aussie equivalent to Rock shandy, lemon lime and bitters, or this strawberry lassi if you fancy something creamier.

    A medium glass of Rock shandy on a yellow background with an orange and yellow straw.
    Jump to:
    • South Africa - Fast facts
    • What's to love about a rock shandy
    • Key ingredients
    • How to assemble a Rock Shandy
    • How to make a lemon peel twisty
    • Make it alcoholic
    • FAQ
    • More summertime recipes
    • Recipe

    South Africa - Fast facts

    South African flag.
    LocationSouthernmost tip of the African continent. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho.
    LanguageSouth Africa has 11 official languages, including English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Pedi, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, and Ndebele. English is widely spoken and is the language of business, while Zulu and Xhosa are the most commonly spoken African languages.
    PopulationCirca 60.2 million
    TriviaSouth Africa is home to the highest commercial bungee jump in the world, located at the Bloukrans Bridge, with a height of 216 meters (709 feet).

    What's to love about a rock shandy

    • This delicious drink is incredibly easy and quick to make, only three ingredients needed.
    • It's a great way to beat the heat and keep you cool on a hot day in the Southern Hemisphere.
    • It's like having a backstage pass to the fun without the hangover regrets. Rock on with your mocktail!
    • Impressive ombre effect.
    • Can be dressed up with various decorations.
    • Scalable as long as you keep to equal measures of lemonade and soda water. Adjust the amount of bitters to your liking.

    Key ingredients

    Rock shandy ingredients.
    • Lemonade - You can also use sugar-free lemonade for a low-calorie or diabetic version.
    • Soda water.
    • Aromatic bitters are the essential ingredient of a Rock Shandy.

      We use Angostura bitters, which can typically be found in the alcohol or spirits section of a shop, often near the cocktail mixers or speciality ingredients. It's a small bottle with a large, apothecary-style, oversized label.
    • Lots of ice (or to taste).
    • A lemon slice or lemon peel twisty.

    How to assemble a Rock Shandy

    A glass of ice.
    1. Add your preferred amount of ice to the glass.
    Adding soda water to the glass.
    1. Fill half the glass with soda water.
    Adding lemonade to the rock shandy.
    1. Fill the rest of the glass up with lemonade.
    Adding Angostura bitters to the rock shandy.
    1. Add a few dashes of bitters to taste - We enjoy about 5-10 splashes per drink.
    Giving the rock shandy a stir with a spoon.
    1. Give the Rock Shandy a quick stir to distribute the bitters.
    A glass of completed rock shandy with a lemon peel twisty.
    1. Decorate the glass to finish off your perfect drink - Enjoy!

    How to make a lemon peel twisty

    Peeling a long length of lemon peel with a peeler.
    1. Use a standard kitchen peeler to peel a longish ribbon of lemon peel. Try to go around the widest circumference of the lemon without breaking your 'string'.
    Slicing a long strip of lemon peel for the lemon peel twisty to go on the rock shandy glass.
    1. Lay the string flat onto a cutting board and slice a thin strip of peel along the entire length of the ribbon. You can make this as thick or thin as you wish.
    Twisting lemon peel around a glass.
    1. Twist the strip around your finger to make a 'spring'.
    A lemon peel twisty on a wooden chopping board.
    1. Hook the twisty on the side of a glass.

    Make it alcoholic

    Simply add a shot of vodka. Vodka won't interfere much with the flavour profile of the drink.

    FAQ

    What is the alcohol percentage of a Rock shandy? Can it make you drunk?

    Angostura bitters, made by The House of Angostura, contain 44.7% alcohol. If you add 5ml of bitters to 250ml of zero alcohol liquid (soda and lemonade) it will make the total alcohol percentage of the drink 0.87647059%.

    This is a very low alcohol percentage and almost impossible to make you drunk. It's still not suitable for kids and teetotallers though. Pregnant women should make their own call.

    As a comparison, a standard beer contains between 3-4% alcohol.

    What is the flavour profile of a Rock shandy?

    Citrussy with a very small amount of bitterness. It does not *taste* bitter as such, but the bitterness plays a silent role in the background that completes the drink. A tiny whiff of herbs can also be detected from the dash of Angostura bitters.

    What is the origin of Rock Shandy?

    This combination of lemonade, soda water and bitters is very much a South African invention.

    Can I make Rock shandy sugar-free?

    You can definitely use zero-sugar lemonade. Angostura bitters does note sugar on its ingredients label, but it does not say how much. I believe it will be negligible. For a really in-depth analysis, you can read this article by Boston Apothecary on deconstructing Angostura bitters.

    Can you make it 100% non-alcoholic?

    There are some bitters out there that contain zero alcohol, like the brand 'All the Bitter' bitters.

    Can you use anything other than lemonade?

    There are some strange variations out there, for example, using ginger ale, ginger beer or Fanta. In our humble opinion, it might still taste nice but you can no longer call it a Rock shandy. It will have a completely different flavour profile.

    Is Rock Shandy the same as Club Rock Shandy?

    No, it's not the same thing. These two are easily confused due to the names being so similar. Club Rock Shandy are soft drinks popular in Ireland. You can buy it in cans or bottles. Rock Shandy is a hand-mixed soda drink and own to South Africa.

    More summertime recipes

    • Watermelon lollies designs laying on a white background.
      Fresh watermelon lollies
    • Pineapple slushie in a mason jar with a blue silly straw.
      Refreshing pineapple slushie
    • Coconut milkshake in a tall milkshake glass with a glass straw.
      Coconut shake - 4 ingredients
    • A glass of lemon, lime and bitters with two straws, on a green background.
      Lemon Lime Bitters Recipe - Non-alcoholic Aussie cocktail

    Recipe

    A medium glass of Rock shandy on a yellow background with an orange and yellow straw.

    Rock shandy

    The most refreshing of South African shandies, Rock shandy is a firm pool-side/beach-side favourite or 'braai' accompaniment. Only three ingredients needed; lemonade, soda water and bitters. Add a slice of lemon or a fancy lemon peel twist to this glass of beautifully ombre'ed goodness and you're ready to go!
    5 from 50 votes
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: South African
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 servings
    Calories: 271kcal
    Author: Maretha Corbett
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • Ice - Enough to fill the glass ½ - ¼ of the way
    • 125 millilitre Lemonade
    • 125 millilitre soda water
    • 5-10 dashes Angostura bitters - or other bitter of your choice
    • 1 slice lemon - or a lemon peel twisty for decoration

    Instructions

    • Add your preferred amount of ice to the glass
    • Add the equal measures of lemonade and soda water. Give it a quick stir
    • Add the bitters
    • Decorate the glass with a lemon slice or lemon peel twisty
    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    **Nutritional data disclaimer**

    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies

    More Beverages recipes

    • Jus de fruit in a green glass on a plate with mango slices.
      Jus de Fruit - Fruit juice from Chad
    • Two mugs of red cappuccino with some sugar cubes in a small bowl.
      Red Cappuccino - How to make it at home
    • Blackberry simple syrup in a carafe next to a glass of blackberry syrup with lemonade and a blackberry martini.
      Blackberry simple syrup (cocktail syrup)
    • Biscoff milkshake in a milkshake glass, decorated with whipped cream and Lotus cookies.
      5-minute Biscoff milkshake

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! I'm Maretha, an avid foodie and constant student of gastronomy. My goal is to discover, develop and share scrumptious recipes with anyone willing to join me on this vast culinary adventure!

    More about me →

    Christmas recipes

    • Christmas cookies with edible wafer on an embroidered tablecloth.
      Christmas Cookies with Edible Wafer Paper (Photo Cookies)
    • Crispy roasted potatoes on a baking tray.
      The Ultimate, Crispy, Roasted Potatoes - All the Secrets!
    • Shredded Brussels sprouts in white bowl.
      Creamy, Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Parmesan
    • Sherry trifle on a white background surrounded by Christmas lights.
      Festive Sherry Trifle Recipe (Classic English Trifle)
    • Frangipane mince pies packed in a Christmas tree shape on a brown background.
      Frangipane Mince Pies Recipe - Easy and Elegant
    • Christmas cake on a white cake stand with a sugared rosemary wreath for decoration.
      Easy Christmas Cake Recipe - A moist, traditional fruit cake
    • Cooked Pigs in blankets on a baking tray next to a bottle of whiskey.
      The Best Pigs in Blankets with a Whiskey and Honey Glaze
    • Squares of Jamaican ginger cake in a baking tin on a hessian background.
      Sticky Jamaican Ginger Cake Recipe
    • Parmentier potatoes in an oval dish on white napkins.
      Easy Parmentier Potatoes (Roasted Mini Potatoes)
    • Hallongrottor cookies on a black wire cooling rack.
      Hallongrottor - Swedish thumbprint cookies
    • Roasted tenderstem broccoli on a baking sheets.
      Roasted tenderstem broccoli with parmesan and pine nuts
    • Carrot and swede mash on an oval plate.
      Carrot and Swede mash recipe
    • Honey roasted carrots and parsnips on a grey serving tray.
      The best honey roasted carrots and parsnips
    • Cassata ice cream on a white serving plate.
      Quick Cassata ice cream
    • Christmas charcuterie board in a wreath shape with various meats, cheese and fruit.
      Christmas Charcuterie board - Wreath
    • Christmas hot chocolate on a wooden plate with christmas lights in the background.
      Christmas Hot Chocolate (Thick and Creamy)

    Popular recipes

    • Trinchado in a white bowl with a dish of bread rolls and a small basket of chips.
      Beef trinchado - Portuguese South African beef stew
    • Nepalese chicken curry in a white bowl with a side of yoghurt and rice.
      Nepalese chicken curry
    • Curry noodle salad in a large white bowl.
      Curry noodle salad (Kerrie Noedelslaai)
    • Sultana cake on a paper doily with a few sliced pieces and a cup of tea on the side.
      The best sultana cake
    • Gyoza sauce in a bowl with a Goyza dumpling being dipped into it.
      Quick Gyoza dipping sauce
    • Marshmallow fluff on a whisk with stiff peaks.
      How to make marshmallow fluff without corn syrup
    • Coconut rice in a white bowl on a wooden background. The rice is topped with chopped coriander and slices of lime,
      Coconut basmati rice
    • Easy South African bobotie in a white dish on a grey background.
      Easy Bobotie Recipe - A Traditional South African Casserole

    Latest recipes

    • Stuffed courgettes on a baking tray with parmesan grated over.
      Stuffed courgettes with Sausage Meat and Cheese (Stuffed Zucchini)
    • Date squares on a wooden background with a cup of coffee.
      Easy Date Squares Recipe
    • Gigi Hadid pasta in a bowl.
      Gigi Hadid Pasta - The Viral Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe
    • Four pieces of tan square stacked on top of each other.
      Tan Square - An Easy Caramel Slice Recipe
    • Club sandwiches on a tray lined with newspaper.
      Learn how to make the Classic American Club Sandwich
    • Malva pudding sliced into six squares with scoops of ice cream on top of the pudding.
      Easy Malva Pudding Recipe - South Africa's King of Puddings
    • Homemade vanilla extract bottle on a white background.
      Save Money With High Quality Homemade Vanilla Extract
    • A bowl of Crème Pâtissière on a grey background surrounded by eggs, vanilla pods, butter and sugar.
      Crème Pâtissière Recipe (Vanilla Pastry Cream)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2023 The Cinnamon Jar. All rights reserved.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT