General Instructions:
Completely dissolve the sugar into the juice. A mixing pitcher can be very useful. Do a search for “mixing pitcher.” I like the Norpro Turbo mixing pitcher. Once the sugar is dissolved, add the water and mix or stir thoroughly. Pour the ade into a sealable bottle, or multiple sealable bottles as needed. Glass bottles are best since they are non-reactive and will better keep the flavor the way you made it. If you have used freshly-pressed juice and want a pulp-free ade, strain it through a fine mesh strainer as you pour it into the bottle(s). Seal the bottle(s) and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. To make a so-called ranch-hand’s version of any of these ades, simply double the amount of water.
Cranberry-ade
4 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — cranberry juice (pure)
1 part [for example: ½ cup (8 tbsp./120 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar
6 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
Note: this is like commercially-produced cranberry-ade that is sold as “Cranberry Juice Cocktail.”
Lemon-ade
2 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — Eureka lemon juice (freshly-pressed)
1 part [for example: 1 cup (16 tbsp./240 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar
3 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
Elderflower Lemon-ade
6 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — Eureka lemon juice (freshly-pressed)
4 parts [for example: 1-⅓ cups (320 ml.)] — elderflower syrup*
9 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
*Saft Fläder elderflower drink concentrate from Ikea does nicely
Lime-ade
6 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — lime juice* (freshly-pressed)
4 parts [for example: 1-⅓ cups (32 dsp./320 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar
9 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
*Key or Persian
Orange-ade
8 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — orange juice* (freshly-pressed)
1 part [for example: ¼ cup (4 tbsp./60 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar
12 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
*Valencia or navel
Orgeat Orange-ade
4 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — orange juice* (freshly-pressed)
1 part [for example: ½ cup (8 tbsp./120 ml.)] — orgeat syrup
6 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water
*Valencia or navel