Out of nowhere, a strong desire for a perfectly balanced cocktail strikes me, one that combines just the right amount of tanginess and sweetness. As I scan through my kitchen, I see a bottle of grenadine syrup. This sparks the idea of making a colorful red drink to satisfy my craving.
But of course, I won’t forget to share some of the best Grenadine cocktails I know so you can try them at home. If you want a savory and refreshing drink, keep reading.
Top 20 Best Grenadine Cocktails
20. Pineapple Vodka Cocktail
Let’s start this list of cocktails with Pineapple Vodka – a great layered mixed drink.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 3oz pineapple juice
- 2oz vodka
- 0.5oz lime, juiced
- splash grenadine
Instructions: In your lowball glass with ice, add vodka and juices. Stir to mix and add grenadine. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, if desired.
Serving: 1
19. Zombie Cocktail
Zombie cocktail is a tropical and fruity drink that packs a punch.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 1oz white rum
- 1oz spiced rum
- 1oz dark rum
- 1oz lime juice
- 1oz lemon juice
- 1oz pineapple, juiced
- 1oz passion fruit syrup
- 3-dashes orange bitters
- 0.5oz grenadine
Instructions: Add all the first eight ingredients to your shaker with ice. Shake until cold and strain in your highball glass filled with ice. Pour grenadine on top.
Serving: 1
18. Dempsey Cocktail
The Dempsey Cocktail is one of the classic grenadine cocktails consisting of gin and apple brandy.
“Sweet swirls blend, crafting cocktail art that delights every sip.” – Liquor Laboratory
Prep/Total Time: 3m
Ingredients:
- 1oz gin
- 1oz apple brandy
- 0.25oz grenadine
- 1tsp anisette
Instructions: Mix all the ingredients in your chilled cocktail glass over ice.
Serving: 1
17. Hawaiian Martini
Hawaiian Martini is one of the best grenadine cocktails, with a sunrise effect reminiscent of a Dirty Martini.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 3oz vodka
- 6oz pineapple, juiced
- 2oz orange juice
- 1tsp grenadine
Instructions: Add all first three ingredients to your shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into your martini glasses, then add the grenadine on top of each glass.
Serving: 2
16. Scofflaw Cocktail
Scofflaw Cocktail is one of the classic cocktails with a citrusy and flavorful profile.
Prep/Total Time: 3m
Ingredients:
- 1.5oz rye/bourbon
- 0.750z freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 0.75oz dry vermouth
- 0.5oz grenadine
- 2-dashes orange bitters
Instructions: Fill your bar shaker with ice, and combine all the ingredients. Shake and strain into your coupe and garnish with orange peel.
Serving: 1
15. Malibu Sunset
This delectable Malibu Sunset is a tropical libation resembling the brilliant hues of a sunset.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2oz Malibu coconut rum
- 2oz pineapple, juiced
- 2oz orange juice
- 0.5oz grenadine
Instructions: In your hurricane glass with ice, add coconut rum, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Pour grenadine at the center until it sinks at the bottom for a gradient sunset effect.
Serving: 1
14. Jack Rose
Jack Rose is one of the cocktail drinks with a heavy apple flavor, but you can make it oaky if you use a well-aged apple brandy.
Prep/Total Time: 3m
Ingredients:
- 1.5oz applejack/apple brandy
- 0.75oz lemon juice
- 0.5oz grenadine
Instructions: Combine the juice, grenadine, and applejack in your shaker filled with ice and shake until cold. Strain in your glass and add a lemon twist as garnish.
Serving: 1
13. Bomb Pop Cocktail
You must be at the legal drinking age to drink and enjoy drinks like a Bomb Pop cocktail. Its flavor is tangy and sugary.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 12oz Mike’s Hard Lemonade
- 2oz blue raspberry vodka
- 2oz grenadine
- 2-mini bomb pop popsicles
Instructions: Slowly pour grenadine into your tall glass and add ice. Now, add the lemonade and layer it with blue raspberry vodka. To serve, garnish it with mini bomb pop popsicles.
Serving: 2
12. Hurricane Cocktail
Experience the fruity Hurricane cocktail recipe, a New Orleans creation, and one of the special rum-based cocktail drinks.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2oz dark rum
- 2oz light rum
- 1oz orange juice
- 1oz lime juice
- 1.5oz passion fruit syrup
- 1tbsp grenadine
Instructions: Add all the ingredients to your shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold and strain into your cocktail coupe.
Serving: 1
11. Cherry Cheesecake Sippers
This recipe combines vanilla vodka and butterscotch liqueur, a surprising combination of two base ingredients.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 1oz vanilla vodka
- 1oz butterscotch liqueur
- 0.5oz grenadine
- 3oz pineapple, juiced
- 2oz heavy whipping cream
Instructions: Shake all the ingredients in your shaker with ice for around 30 seconds. Strain into your chilled rocks glass over ice.
Serving: 1
10. Shirley Temple
One of the popular grenadine cocktails – Shirley Temple. Enjoy Shirley Temples and be refreshed all day.
(Tip: To make a Dirty Shirley, add vodka to the ingredients. )
Prep/Total Time: 3m
Ingredients:
- 1oz grenadine
- 0.5oz lime juice
- 5oz ginger ale (or gin)
Instructions: Combine lime juice and grenadine in a highball glass with ice. Pour ginger ale and garnish it with cherry.
Serving: 1
“There is something urbane, stylish, and worldly about owning a cocktail shaker.” – Roger Stone, American Political Assistant
9. Mary Pickford Cocktail
Savor the deliciousness of the Mary Pickford cocktail drink, one of the classic recipes from the Prohibition era.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2oz white rum
- 1.5oz pineapple juice
- 1tsp Maraschino liqueur
- 2tsp grenadine
Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain in your cocktail glass. If you like, garnish it with Luxardo cherry.
Serving: 1
8. Hawaiian Sunset
Hawaiian Sunset is one of my go-to grenadine cocktails if I crave something more tangy.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 1.5oz vodka
- 0.5oz 0rgeat
- 0.5oz lime Juice
- 0.5oz lemon Juice
- 1-barspoon grenadine
Instructions: Shake all the ingredients in your bar shaker with ice. Double-strain into your chilled coupe glass and add a lime wedge on top as garnish.
Serving: 1
7. Sunrise Mimosa
If you seek a refreshing, light beverage to complement your lunch, brunch, or any meal, try Sunrise Mimosa.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- Champagne
- Fresh orange juice
- ½tbsp grenadine
Instructions: Add the juice and champagne [1] to your champagne flute. Pour grenadine slowly on top and garnish it with an orange slice.
Serving: 1
6. Singapore Sling
Want a fruity and refreshing cocktail? Try this pretty pink drink recipe – Singapore Sling, a classic cocktail.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 1oz gin
- 0.5oz cherry liqueur/cherry brandy
- 0.5oz Cointreau (or any orange liqueur)
- 0.5oz lime juice
- 0.25oz Benedictine
- 0.25oz grenadine
- 2oz pineapple juice
- 2-dashes Angostura bitters
- soda water
Instructions: Shake all the ingredients in your cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain the mix in your hurricane glass with ice. Pour soda water on top and garnish with orange wedge/Maraschino cherry.
Serving: 1
5. El Presidente Cocktail
If you want sophistication, try the El Presidente – a Cuban cocktail with a boozy allure.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2oz aged/golden rum
- 1oz blanc vermouth
- 1oz Orange Curaçao (or any orange liqueur)
- 1tsp grenadine
Instructions: Add all the ingredients to your mixing glass with ice and stir until cold. Strain the mixture in your serving glass. If desired, garnish it with orange peel and cocktail cherry.
Serving: 1
4. Cherry Bomb
Cherry Bomb is one of the zesty grenadine cocktail recipes, and its effervescent nature adds an extra element.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 1L lemon-lime soda
- 4oz rum
- 4oz grenadine syrup
- 1-lime, juiced
- 1-lime slice
- 4-maraschino cherries
Instructions: Mix grenadine, lime soda, rum [2], and juice in your mixing glass. Pour the mixed drinks into four glasses and garnish with lime slices.
Serving: 4
3. Clover Club Cocktail
Indulge in the timeless Clover Club cocktail for a delightful experience!
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 3oz gin
- 0.75oz grenadine syrup (or raspberry syrup)
- 1oz lemon juice
- 1-egg white
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker without ice, combine juice, grenadine, gin, and egg white. Shake for around 15 seconds, then add ice and shake for another 30 seconds—strain in your coupe glass.
Serving: 1
2. Ward 8
Elevate your drinking experience with the Ward 8, a grown-up version of the Whiskey Sour.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2.5oz rye whiskey
- 0.75oz lemon juice
- 0.75oz orange juice
- 1tsp real grenadine
Instructions: In your cocktail shaker, add all the ingredients with ice and shake until chilled. Strain the mix in your glass.
Serving: 1
1. Tequila Sunrise
My favorite grenadine cocktail drink – Tequila Sunrise! This is one of the cocktails with a stunning display of vibrant hues reminiscent of a summer sunset.
Prep/Total Time: 5m
Ingredients:
- 2oz tequila
- 4oz orange juice
- 0.25oz grenadine syrup
Instructions: Mix tequila and orange juice in your highball glass filled with ice, then stir. Pour grenadine and gently stir for a sunrise effect.
Serving: 1
Note: You can also try the following recipes:
- Mango Sour Candy Apple drink (mixing apple vodka, mango rum, simple syrup, and grenadine)
- Pink 75 drink (mixing dry sparkling wine, grenadine, and gin [3])
- Cherry Vodka Sour drink (mixing cherry vodka, simple syrup, and grenadine)
- Cherry Summer Fizz drink (mixing cherry juice, coconut rum, lime soda, and grenadine)
FAQs
What can you do with grenadine?
You can use grenadine in many ways. It can be a cocktail recipe mixer and an ingredient for mocktails. Also, you use grenadine when making desserts or cooking food.
Is grenadine a syrup or liqueur?
Grenadine is usually referred to as a syrup rather than a liqueur [4]. It’s a non-alcoholic pomegranate-flavored syrup made from pomegranate juice and sugar.
What is a Tequila Sunrise cocktail, and how is grenadine used in it?
A Tequila Sunrise cocktail typically consists of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. Grenadine is added last, creating a layered effect that resembles a sunrise.
What is a Shirley Temple cocktail, and why is grenadine used in it?
A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic cocktail made with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, topped with grenadine and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Grenadine adds sweetness and a vibrant red color to the drink.
How is grenadine used in a Sea Breeze cocktail?
In a Sea Breeze cocktail, grenadine is typically added to vodka and cranberry juice, along with grapefruit juice. It adds a touch of sweetness and balances the tartness of the cranberry and grapefruit juices.
What is a Hurricane cocktail, and why does it include grenadine?
A Hurricane cocktail is a fruity rum-based drink traditionally made with passion fruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine. Grenadine adds sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile of the cocktail.
How is grenadine incorporated into an Alabama Slammer cocktail?
In an Alabama Slammer cocktail, grenadine is mixed with amaretto, Southern Comfort, and orange juice. It contributes to the cocktail’s fruity flavor and adds a vibrant red hue.
Final Say
Grenadine, a brilliant red syrup, is a great addition to grenadine cocktails or any mixed drinks – from alcohol-free drinks, like Roy Rogers, to adult cocktails, like Bomb Pop, Cherry Bomb, and El Presidente.
It works well with various non-alcoholic drinks like cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and club soda, and alcoholic ones like gin, sparkling wine, rum, etc.
But if there’s one drink recipe that stands out from the rest – it’s always Tequila Sunrise for me. The recipe is simple, yet it boasts good flavor and a refreshing vibe.
References:
- https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-fun-facts-about-champagne-and-what-makes-this-bubbly-booze-so-special
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/rum-liquor
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/gin-liquor
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/liqueur
