A kamikaze drink is a delicious and refreshing cocktail that includes lime juice, triple sec, and vodka. The kamikaze cocktail is traditionally served straight up (without ice) in a chilled rocks glass, although some people serve it as a shot or straight up in a martini glass.
Recipe for a Kamikaze Drink
To make a kamikaze mixed drink, you make a traditional sour which is equal parts sweet and sour to two parts spirit. In this case, the sour is lime juice, and the sweet is orange-flavored liqueur, such as triple sec or Cointreau. Because the kamikaze contains citrus juice, the cocktail is shaken and not stirred.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce triple sec
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a rocks glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, triple sec, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled rocks glass. Garnish with the lime.
Kamikaze Cocktail Variations
If you look at the kamikaze, you'll see it is very similar to both the daiquiri (which has rum) and the margarita (with tequila). Just by varying the type of alcohol and garnish, you can create other classic cocktails. You can also alter the basic kamikaze recipe with mixers to make more delicious kamikaze drink variations.
Cranberry Kamikaze
Cranberries turn this kamikaze cocktail a nice pink shade. They also add complexity to the sweet-tart flavors of the original that creates a martini similar to the cosmopolitan but with different proportions of mixers.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce triple sec
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lime twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, cranberry juice, triple sec, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime.
Blue Kamikaze
Blue curaçao, which is a vivid blue-colored orange-flavored liqueur, replaces the triple sec. The flavor is similar to the original kamikaze drink, but the color certainly isn't.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce blue curaçao
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, blue curaçao, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Raspberry Kamikaze Cocktail
Flavored vodkas bring all sorts of interesting possibilities to the basic kamikaze drink. While raspberry vodka is used here, feel free to try it with other flavored vodkas as well.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
-
¼ ounce triple sec
-
½ ounce Chambord
-
1½ ounces raspberry-flavored vodka
-
Ice
-
Fresh raspberries and a lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, triple sec, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with raspberries and a lemon twist.
Kamikaze Mocktail
You can still enjoy the flavors of a kamikaze in an alcohol-free version of the kamikaze cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Ice
- 1 ounce lemon lime soda
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a rocks glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, lime juice, and bitters.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled rocks glass filled with ice. Add the lemon-lime soda and stir.
- Garnish with the cherry.
Enjoy a Refreshing Kamikaze
Because it is tart, a kamikaze makes a refreshing alcoholic beverage. Enjoy one the next time you have a cocktail.
