With all of the fancy cocktails made with infused vodkas and liqueurs laden with flecks of gold, simpler concoctions like mixed drinks with grenadine, are often forgotten. Not only do these melanges add color to happy hours, they often cleverly combine several liquors to create unique flavors.
enagers and grownups apparently tasted the spiked cola drinks and soda jerks started pumping a squirt of grenadine into teenage Cokes and charging a bit more for the glorified, if misnamed, Cherry Coke.
Cocktails with Grenadine
The Singapore Sling and Tequila Sunrise are among the most popular drinks with grenadine, but there are hundreds more with many different types of alcohol and mixers.
The Hurricane
Served in a tall glass that resembles the globe on a hurricane lamp, this cocktail has four different kinds of liquor in it that create a hard-hitting drink with barely a taste of any of them. Since the flavor is so mild, its intoxicating effects can sneak up on the imbiber, so exercise caution.
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce Amaretto
- 1/2 ounce gin
- 1/2 ounce rum, dark
- 1/2 ounce rum, light
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1/4 ounce grenadine
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
Shake and pour into hurricane glasses filled with ice.
The Badger
Ingredients
- 2 ounces raspberry vodka
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
Build this drink over ice in a highball glass. Stir and garnish with a cherry and orange slice.
Cherry Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces vanilla liqueur
- 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 1 1/2 tablespoons whipped cream
Mix everything in a shaker with ice, shake well and pour into a cocktail glass.
Grape Kool-Aid Cocktail
Not only does this purple drink get lots of attention, it tastes almost exactly like its namesake.
Ingredients
- 1/4 ounce blue Curacao
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces white grape juice
- 1 splash grenadine
Mix all ingredients in a pint glass filled with ice.
Chocolate Cherry Bomb
Close your eyes when you drink this, and you'll think it's a chocolate covered cherry.
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce white Crème de Cacao
- 1/2 ounce cream
- 1/2 ounce grenadine
In a cordial glass, carefully layer the grenadine followed by the Crème de Cacao and the cream. Drink in one gulp, like a shot of straight alcohol.
Mango Sour Candy Apple
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 ounces mango rum
- 3 ounces Sour Apple Pucker
- 4 1/2 ounces apple vodka
- 1 splash grenadine
- 1 splash sweet and sour mix
Build over ice in a highball glass.
Pirate's Eye Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ounce green Crème de Menthe
- 1 ounce Triple Sec or other orange liqueur
- 1 dash whipping cream
- 1 dash grenadine
- 3 ounces orange juice
Instructions
- Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Swirl some additional grenadine around the inside of the top of the glass so it runs down to the bottom, creating a bloodshot look.
- Add a cherry garnish.
More Uses for Grenadine
Since a little grenadine goes a long way, try using leftovers in your recipes. Although it is commonly associated with drinks, grenadine can be used to flavor and color icings for cakes and cupcakes, as a ham glaze ingredient or to soak fruitcakes for added flavor.
