What You Need To Know Before Substituting Lemon For Lime In Cocktails (And Vice Versa)

It's 5 p.m. somewhere, and you're getting ready to make your favorite cocktail. If you're gathering the ingredients and realize you have lime but need lemon, or vice versa, it's not a stretch to consider just using what you've got. But if you're wondering if that citrus substitution is going to work or entirely wreck your drink, there are some things that you should consider first. From the breezy notes of lemon to the sharp bite of lime, each one plays its own role behind the bar. Here's what a pro bartender wants you to know about getting your citrus game just right. 

John Roel Carpo knows his way around a drink menu. He's the General Manager at Musaek and the Bar Manager at sister restaurants HOWOO and DubuHaus. When it comes to the difference between the two popular citrus fruits, he told Tasting Table in our exclusive interview, "Lemon is usually bright, smoother than lime. It is fresh and floral. Lime is more intense and has a tangy and bitter finish. Lemon and lime balances our drink without making it taste sour."

Understanding the subtle flavor profiles is key to knowing when it will work and when it won't. So while he says, "Yes, you can swap lemon and lime juice in a cocktail," he also warns that "it will change the flavor balance of the cocktail."

John Roel Carpo also made clear that sometimes lemon or lime isn't the best citrus choice for your drink. So, if you're going to use a substitute, there are other citrus options out there. Carpo explained, "If it's not an easy swap, you can always add the grapefruit peels for citrus essence, and grapefruit juice as it is more tangy than lime and lemon."

While lemon and lime tend to be more mainstream, grapefruit pairs well with many different liquors, making it a great choice to keep around the bar. It is often paired with lime in drinks like a refreshing Sea Breeze or this Paloma recipe, making the citrus profile even more layered.

Getting even more specific, he shared a couple of examples of which citrus to pair with a specific liquor. He shared, "For gin, I would use yuzu as it's tangy and aromatic, softer than lime but adds zesty essence. For tequila, I would use lime as the acidity lingers more, leaving a longer tang on the finish." If you're curious about that yuzu and gin combo, this Hoptail with No Name recipe pairs the two well.