Pink Cocktails

[JungMann]

I am attending a pink cocktail party and need to bring a specialty cocktail. As a whiskey drinker, I know very few pink cocktails other than the Negroni (which would not go over well with this crowd of girls). I could make strawberry daiquiries or watermelon margaritas, but would prefer to avoid excessively complicated drinks that require multiple ingredients and/or a blender (unless it's a really good frozen cocktail). I have grenadine, triple sec and a small amount of dark rum on hand. What else would I need for your crowd-pleasing pink cocktail?

[YAYME]

Sparklie Unicorn. A new drink made up last night, very tasty.

1 oz vodka
1 oz Triple sec
1 oz St. Germain
Raspberry Ginger ale
A dash of lime.

Very tasty.

[davis_sq_pro]

Looks a bit sugary (okay, more than a bit). Might want to cut it with a bit more than a "dash" of citrus.

[YAYME]

It was invented by my best friend girl who loves alchopops. So I guess it is.

[funniduck]

French martini
Greyhound using pink grapefruit juice

[mrs bacon]

The Pendennis Club is a pink cocktail, thanks to the generous use of Peychaud's.

1 1/2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. apricot brandy (Marie Brizard Apry or Rothman & Winter work well)
1/2 oz. simple syrup
3 generous dashes Peychaud's bitters

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

[nickls]

There is a pink drink that I really like that happens to use rum and grenadine, although dark rum would muddy the color. It is the Bacardi cocktail, although I prefer to use other rums, so technically it should be called something else.

Here is the recipe I like:
1.5 ounces light rum
0.75 ounces lime juice
0.75 ounces simple syrup
0.25 ounces homemade grenadine

Shake & serve up.

I think it tastes amazing with Appleton V/X, but if the color is of utmost importance, using a white rum would make more sense. It's a simple drink that is a takeoff on a daiquiri, but with the right rum and grenadine I think it is delicious, and happens to be a pretty shade of pink.

[postemotional1]

As a bartender what I will do is to ask the lady what her name is and then name the drink after her with this variation on the Pink Squirrel:

Julie!

The recipe:
1.75 oz Amaretto
.75 oz White Creme de Cacao
3 oz milk
1 dot Grenadine

Shake and break into a martini glass.

Striclty speaking a Pink Squirrel is made with Creme de Noyeaau as DiSarrono didn't come to this country until after WW II.

Let us know how she like it!

[davebough]

How about a Kir or Kir Royale?
1 part Creme de Cassis
9 parts White wine (Champagne if Royale)
Served in a Champagne flute.

They can add more Cassis if they want it sweeter.
dave

[sweetnspicy]

A Poinsetta is easy and fun Champagne and Cranberry juice. Costs can be kept down and who doesn't like a bubbly drink. If you can find a guava juice champagne and guava juice is tasty option.

[sailormouth]

A similar drink I've heard called a Cape Cod Mimosa or a New England Mimosa is (cheap) champagne, orange juice and topped with the cranberry. It's a little smoother than the poinsetta and the OJ really masks the inferior champagne. You can use Dom if you want too, I suppose.

[atheorist]

That sounds even better than a Mimosa.
Cape Codder is a basic favorite of mine. Is it pink or red? Instead of cranberry juice "cocktail" (HFCS) I use equal parts vodka and straight cranberry juice, sweeten to taste with triple sec. Guess that needs a new name.

[sailormouth]

I like Cape Codder's as a cheapo bar drink where a gin and tonic is a tall order, this pseudo-mimosa works well at any place that offers a mimosa, which I've found to be too much like a screwdriver: bad for the stomach and not great for a morning after.

[sivyaleah]

Don't know if this is a crowd please, but I know it used to be really popular in the late 70's early 80's, the Pink Squirrel. Not exactly calorie conscious either but oh so tasty!

1 oz Creme de Noyaux
1 tblsp white Creme de Cacao
1 tblsp Light cream
A bit of Grenadine for color

Mixing instructions:
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

[lennox53]

How about a pink gin? Gin with a dash of Angostura bitters.

[Candy]

You know there is nothing wrong with a good French rose or a Blanc de Noirs Champers. Eye of the Partridge comes to mind. A lovely sparkly with a gorgeous ping hue. It can also please those who are avoiding carbs.

[soupkitten]

easy, cheap, pink:

stoli raspberry with pink lemonade.

mix in big pitcher to taste. serve over ice in tall glasses w straw. garnish with lemon slice, cherry or raspberries and paper pink parasol (optional).

universally popular & easy to drink. and pink.

[JungMann]

I know! Unfortunately someone already took that! I suppose it's an excuse for me to get creative.

[soupkitten]

ahhh. here's my second, more labor intensive suggestion then. still pink! :)

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/400688

[AnneInMpls]

What a great idea for a party!

How about a watermelon cocktail, with either rum or tequila? Here's a thread with lots of recipes:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/293289

The one with pink lemonade, watermelon juice, and vodka sounds simple and yummy.

Anne

P.S. Me, I'm going to try kenito799's recipe for a Jasmine Cocktail tonight - it sounds great. I don't have Plymouth gin, though, so it'll have to be Beefeaters...

[mhiggins]

Here's a pink cocktail involving whiskey, the Ward 8:
1 1/2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz OJ.
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp grenadine
Shake, and serve up in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

[JungMann]

Is it any good? I'm a big bourbon fan, but don't typically mix it with much more than water or cola.

[millygirl]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Cosmopolitan....or is it lacking in creativity? It is a very nice pink color and I've never met a girl that doesn't like it. It is the quintessential girly cocktail.

[Amuse Bouches]

Ugh. This girl HATES Cosmopolitans.

How about a Taconic? Gin, tonic and Angostura bitters?

For more tropical, I love a Bermuda Rum Swizzle or a Juniper Breeze, but both are multiple ingredients.

[mhiggins]

The Ward 8 is great - my wife's favorite cocktail. The bourbon taste is definitely not at the forefront, but it's a wonderful drink.

[jgg13]

A properly made Ward Eight is indeed a good drink. Do yourself a favor and use fresh squeezed orange & lemon juices, and if you can use homemade grenadine definitely do that. Imbibe had a thing a while back where they rated the store bought grenadines to see if any were worth buying at all, I forget the brand that one (can picture the label but ....)

[EvergreenDan]

I tried the above recipe for the Ward 8 and both my wife and I liked it (despite her not being a huge whiskey drinker). I noticed many variations on-line, some without OJ and even one without Lemon. As made above, it's not very pink -- more reddish brown. (I also used 2 oz of Bourbon and 1/2 oz Lemon; juice of a big lemon would be closer to 1 oz, which would seem a bit sour; I used Scrappy's Grenadine, which was good.)

[gryphonskeeper]

try this, it is really good, really pink, and really easy. (and Low Carb.. the ladies will love it)

1.qt water
1 package of Crystal Light Pink Lemonade (or any other sugar free brand, even generic is fine)
1 cup Vodka (please use a good vodka)
1/2 cup Watermelon Pucker
3 cans of Ginger ale.
add all but the ginger ale in a one gallon container, shake like a madwoman, and serve with a topper of ginger ale.

I made this at a cook out and it went in less than half an hour.

[JungMann]

That sounds really great! Most of us watch our carbs, so low carb is ideal (and I hate sweet drinks anyway). Have you tried using watermelon vodka/rum instead of the separate liquors or would that be too strong?

[gryphonskeeper]

Watermelon smirnoff would be fine, as well as watermelon rum. I don't see where they would do any harm. HOWEVER, make a tiny batch at first.

[invinotheresverde]

I assure you, nothing with Watermelon Pucker in it is low in carbs.

[gryphonskeeper]

ok ok... "lower" in carbs. :P

Seriously though, sour mix is higher in carbs than most people realize. If you could omit about 200 calories from a drink, wouldn't you?

[invinotheresverde]

Absolutely, although they sell 1 carb sour which is pretty decent, considering. If I could only find the link...

Beware though, because Watermelon Pucker has just under 20 carbs per ounce, which is certainly not low.

[Mama Dee]

This sounds good, but what do you mean...serve with a topper of ginger ale..? And why do you need 3 cans of ginger ale?

[gryphonskeeper]

it makes enough for several people... the cans of ginger ale add the fizz after you mix everything.

[Candy]

Don't forget the very 70' Tequila Sunrise either. It has a nice rosy hue.

[JungMann]

That's a little too orange for me. I'm looking for a really pink impact.

[kenito799]

The Pink Lady is pink in hue and name...but it's an odd one:
1.5 oz gin
1/2 oz Applejack or brandy
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
splash grenadine
1/2 egg white (1 egg white per 2 drinks)

shake hard at leats 30 seconds, serve up

Make sure the egg is very fresh, the froth is wonderful, don't tell anyone it's in there till they have had a few :)

[Caroline1]

The classic pink lady is a bit different. Originated in the 1940s. I still have some missing cookbooks that are probably waiting for me in the garage, so I can't find my recipe, but this is very similar with the exception of a tsp of lime juice. This one is an opaque pink, and you have to limit your guests.

1 1/2 oz gin
1 tsp grenadine
1 egg white
1 tsp sweet cream

Shake well with cracked ice and strain into a martini glass.

[somerset]

very close to the pink lady, delicious, and lovely is the clover club. gin + grenadine (or raspberry syrup) + egg white + lemon juice. one of my favorites.

[chazzerking]

the sunrise didn't originally have any orange juice in it. basically, as I recall, it was a scratch marguarita( tequuila, triple sec, lime juice, and in this case, grenadine and a dash of orange bitters. if you stirr it, it's much pinker than a the commonly made sunrise, and better tasting too, IMHO

[TVC15]

What about a madas?
Simple to make, easy to drink
orange juice,cranberry juice vodka

[LauraB]

The Jack Rose is kind of pink. It is made with Applejack, lemon juice and grenadine (although I have actually only had it with homemade grenadine so I do not know if it as good with purchased grenadine) and is a great combination of flavors without being too sweet.

[Bluebell]

I second the Jack Rose idea. It surprises the folks who are expecting something cosmo-sweet. An English rose is also pink, and somewhat different than the Jack Rose, though it's a bit sweeter:
3/4 oz apricot brandy
1 1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz dry vermouth
1 tsp grenadine syrup
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 cherry

[kenito799]

Well, I have a really good pink cocktail, but are you looking for only what you can make with grenadine, rum and triple sec? I think your options are pretty limited.

Assuming that I am misunderstanding you, the Jasmine is a wonderful cocktail, I make mine like this:

1.5 oz Plymouth
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice (or a mixture of fresh lemon and lime juices)
3/4 oz Campari
3/4 oz Cointreau
(optional dash Angostura or orange bitters)
Shake, strain and serve up.

If the girls don't like its beguilingly aromatic and bitter flavors (the ingredients combine to taste like grapefruit), I say, more for you.

[JungMann]

It doesn't have to be with just what I have on hand; I'm just trying to avoid buying too many more ingredients. Ideally I'd like to be able to keep costs below $25.

[Candy]

Some old classics are the Pink Squirrel, Pink Lady and Pink Rose. You can Google up recipes for them. They date way way back. Some to the Prohibition Era