Grateful Dead Purple Cocktail Recipe

Grateful Dead Purple Nutrition Facts

Calories:250

Fat:0g

Protein:0g

Carbohydrates:15g

Alcohol:40%

Created by

Nic Polotnianko

I fell in love with the art of mixology 6 years ago. Since then, I've honed my skills, crafting a myriad of cocktail recipes, and sharing my passion with other enthusiasts.

Last Updated: August 23, 2024

History

The Grateful Dead Purple cocktail is a vibrant, fruity drink that pays homage to the iconic rock band, the Grateful Dead. This cocktail is a favorite among fans of the band and those who appreciate a well-balanced, flavorful drink. It's a great choice for those who enjoy sweet and sour flavors, with a strong kick of alcohol. The cocktail's purple hue is a nod to the band's psychedelic aesthetic and their song 'Purple Haze'.

How Grateful Dead Purple Tastes?

The Grateful Dead Purple cocktail is a delightful mix of sweet and sour flavors. The raspberry liqueur and sweet and sour mix give it a fruity, tangy taste, while the tequila, vodka, rum, and gin provide a strong, boozy kick. The cocktail is well-balanced, ensuring that no single flavor overpowers the others.

Interesting facts about Grateful Dead Purple

  • The Grateful Dead Purple cocktail is named after the American rock band, the Grateful Dead.
  • The cocktail's purple color is a tribute to the band's song 'Purple Haze'.
  • Despite its fruity flavor, the Grateful Dead Purple cocktail is quite strong, with a high alcohol content.

Ingredients

A few good options for Grateful Dead Purple are:

  • Grey Goose
  • Belvedere
  • Khor
  • Smirnoff

Learn everything on which Vodka to choose

A few good options for Grateful Dead Purple are:

  • Brockmans
  • Silent Pool Gin
  • Hendrick's Gin

Learn everything on which Gin to choose

Tequila

Tequila adds a unique earthy and slightly sweet flavor that forms the backbone of the cocktail. If you skip it, you'll lose the earthy undertone that balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. You could substitute Mezcal for a smokier profile.

Emma Rose

Vodka

Vodka is a neutral spirit that doesn't add much flavor, but it does contribute to the overall alcohol content of the drink. Without it, the drink may be less potent and miss the smooth texture vodka brings. Alternately, you could use grain alcohol for a stronger kick.

Alex Green

Rum

Rum adds a sweet, slightly spicy, and tropical flavor. Without the rum, the cocktail would lack depth and the hint of caramel-like sweetness. A spiced rum can introduce an interesting twist on the original flavor.

Mary Mitkina

Gin

Gin has herbaceous notes and adds complexity to the drink. Leaving out the gin would make the cocktail less aromatic. You could use a botanical gin for an even more floral cocktail.

Emma Rose

Raspberry Liqueur

Raspberry Liqueur gives the cocktail a fruity, sweet, and tart flavor, and contributes to the deep purple color. Without it, the drink would not have its distinctive berry note and color. Chambord can be a richer alternative.

Alex Green

Sweet and Sour Mix

The sweet and sour mix balances sweetness with acidity, making the cocktail more refreshing. Skipping it will result in a heavier, sweeter drink. Freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice mixed with simple syrup could replace it for a fresher taste.

Mary Mitkina

Soda Water

Soda water adds fizziness and lightens the drink without diluting the flavor. Without it, the cocktail would be much stronger and less refreshing. Sparkling mineral water is a good alternative for added minerals.

Emma Rose

Recipe. How to make Grateful Dead Purple Drink

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the tequila, vodka, rum, gin, raspberry liqueur, and sweet and sour mix.
  3. Shake well.
  4. Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice.
  5. Top with soda water.
  6. Stir gently to combine.
  7. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a cherry.

Pro Tips

  • Make sure to shake the cocktail well to ensure all the ingredients are well combined.
  • Use fresh lemon juice in your sweet and sour mix for the best flavor.
  • Serve the cocktail immediately after making it to enjoy it at its freshest.

Perfect Pairings

Appetizers

  • Fried Calamari: The citrus notes from the sweet and sour mix can cut through the richness of fried foods.
  • Cheese Platter: The diversity of the cocktail's spirits pairs nicely with a variety of cheeses, especially those that are mild and creamy.

Main Courses

  • Grilled Chicken: A simple grilled chicken can be enhanced by the cocktail's complex mixture of flavors.
  • Fish Tacos: The fruity and tangy elements of the cocktail complement the freshness of fish tacos.

Desserts

  • Lemon Sorbet: The lemon garnish hints that this cocktail would go hand in hand with citrus desserts like lemon sorbet.
  • Berry Fruit Salad: The raspberry liqueur will pair wonderfully with a fresh berry fruit salad.

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What you could change in Grateful Dead Purple

  • You can substitute the raspberry liqueur with blackberry liqueur for a different fruity flavor.
  • If you prefer a less boozy drink, you can reduce the amount of spirits and increase the amount of sweet and sour mix and soda water.

Explore all drinks starting with G here

And of course - twists🍹

Berry Bliss Grateful Dead

Ingredients: Substitute Raspberry Liqueur with Blackberry Liqueur. Recipe: Follow the original recipe, but use blackberry liqueur instead of raspberry. Enjoy a deeper, earthier berry flavor paired with the same complex spirit blend.

Grateful Dead Sparkler

Ingredients: Add a splash of cranberry juice and switch soda water for tonic water. Recipe: Prepare as original, but include the splash of cranberry for a tart twist, and use tonic water for a quinine kick which gives a more bitter, sophisticated edge to the cocktail.

Tropical Grateful Dead

Ingredients: Swap Raspberry Liqueur with Blue Curacao, and garnish with an orange slice instead of lemon. Recipe: Shake tequila, vodka, rum, gin, and Blue Curacao with sweet and sour mix, strain into a glass, and then top with soda. This version transports you to tropical beaches, offering a beautiful blue hue with a sweet orange twist.

In case you forgot basics how to make Grateful Dead Purple

Add your ingredients to the shaker first, then ice. Fill it up to ¾ of its capacity to ensure enough space for shaking. Hold the shaker with both hands (one on the top and one on the bottom) and shake vigorously. The shake should come from your shoulders, not your wrists.

Learn everything on how to shake

Place your chosen strainer on top of the shaker or mixing glass, ensuring a secure fit. Pour the cocktail into a glass through the strainer, which will catch solid ingredients and ice. If double straining, hold the fine mesh strainer between the shaker and the glass.

Learn everything on how to strain

Insert the spoon into the glass until it touches the bottom. Keep the back of the spoon against the inside wall of the glass, and stir in a smooth, circular motion. The goal is to swirl the ice and ingredients together without churning or splashing.

Learn everything on how to stir

Garnishing a bar drink depends on the type of garnish and the cocktail. Generally, it involves preparing the garnish (like cutting a citrus wheel or picking a sprig of mint), and then adding it to the drink in a visually appealing way (like perching it on the rim or floating it on top).

Learn everything on garnishing

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Frequently Asked Questions on Grateful Dead Purple

Is it necessary to use all four types of spirits in this cocktail?

Yes, the unique flavor of the Grateful Dead Purple cocktail comes from the combination of tequila, vodka, rum, and gin. Using all four gives the drink its characteristic strong, boozy flavor.

Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Grateful Dead Purple cocktail?

You can make a mocktail version by replacing the spirits with non-alcoholic substitutes like seedlip spirits or simply adding more sweet and sour mix and soda water, but it won't taste exactly the same.

Can I make a big batch of this cocktail for a party?

Yes, you can easily scale up the recipe to make a batch. Just make sure to maintain the ratios for a well-balanced flavor.

Do I have to garnish the Grateful Dead Purple cocktail with a slice of lemon and a cherry?

The garnish is optional, but it adds a nice visual touch and a little extra flavor to the cocktail.

What type of glass should I serve the Grateful Dead Purple cocktail in?

Traditionally, this cocktail is served in a highball glass, but it could be also served in any glass that hold the amount of cocktail.

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