- 10 cups water
- 2 1/4 cups sugar, or to taste
- 3 cups fresh lime juice (from about 24 lines)
- 1 lime, sliced very thin
- Mint sprigs for garnish
- Gin, vodka, or rum
- In a saucepan cook 3 cups of water with sugar over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and cool syrup.
- In a large pitcher stir together syrup, remaining 7 cups water, lime juice, and lime slices and garnish with mint.
- To serve, add 1 1/2 ounces (1 jigger) gin, vodka, or rum to each of 12 large goblets or tall glasses filled with ice cubes and add lime mixture to taste. Garnish cocktails with mint.