Name: Red Lion (Difford's recipe)
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Gin; 22.5 ml Grand Marnier; 22.5 ml Orange juice; 7.5 ml Lemon juice; 2.5 ml Grenadine syrup; 2.5 ml Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1); 1 dash Orange bitters

Ingredients

1 1/2 fl oz

Hayman's London Dry Gin

3/4 fl oz

Grand Marnier or other cognac orange liqueur

3/4 fl oz

Orange juice (freshly squeezed)

1/4 fl oz

Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

1/12 fl oz

Monin Grenadine Syrup

1/12 fl oz

Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

1 dash

Orange Bitters by Angostura

How to make

Glassware

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.

RIM glass with sugar (moisten the outside edge with orange juice and dip into sugar).

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.

FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and discard.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Red Lion (Difford's recipe) contains 183 calories

Alcohol content:

1.6 standard drinks
19.76% alc./vol. (39.52° proof)
21.8 grams of pure alcohol

Comments & Discussion

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Brooks Gates 36w

I added twice the amount of lemon juice & homemade grenadine and it made it so much nicer in my opinion, I like tart and this was just a little too sugary for me otherwise it’s a great refreshing drink… I could see myself sucking down a pint glass full of this stuff when I was in college like it was a Long Island iced tea, lol!

Tuber Magnatum Premium Member 1y

Excellent cocktail, light and refreshing and I am generally not a huge fan of cocktails with OJ. I think the lemon tames the orange sweet notes by adding some added acidity. I have had a couple times now (If memory serves me correctly, last time was a year ago when it was also cocktail of the day!) The only thing I might comment on is that this benefits from a quality Grenadine and I think homemade is the way to go. Also, I have to say I'm not keen on the sugar rim and suggest that maybe for first time drinkers consider just sugaring half the rim so to have both options available to try.

Florian Ruf Premium Member 1y

I am no fan of de Kuypers Grenadine because IMHO it is in every aspect much to artificial. But this cocktail gets a real "red" lion if one uses this 😏.

John CARR Premium Member 1y

Used a local pomegranate liqueur 5ml, no sugar, otherwise to spec. Perfect sweet-sour balance with fresh citrus initially dominant, then added warmth and depth from the Grand Marnier. Very enjoyable and slipped down very easily!

Louise Allen 2y

Nice and fruity, really quite refreshing. I wouldn't say it was a 7 on the boozy scale, more a 6?

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 2y

Thanks, Louise. Agreed, I've dropped to a 6 on the boozy scale.

Chris Dimal 2y

Really nice drink, and the sugar rim is interesting, in that it oscillates the drink's balance. No sugar rim results in a balanced drink on the sour side, but the rim makes it balanced on the sweet side. Everything combines well, and I personally find that all components come through just a bit more with the sugar rim.

Herbert Brant 2y

Just perfect for this hot Sunday afternoon. Flavour explosion in a coupe glass! The lemon juice makes this cocktail sparkle.

Kevin Haynes Premium Member 4y

Glorious! I used a Cutie mandarin/clementine for the orange juice so left out the simple syrup since they are so sweet. It was perfect.

Scott from Fife Premium Member 4y

Fab flavours - definitely a favourite of favourites.

John Hinojos Premium Member 4y

This is outstanding. You get the wonderful tastes of the juices, the herbal of the gin, and the hint of cognac from the Grand Marnier. Left out the sugar syrup as our oranges were very sweet, but test your orange juice sweetness before you would do this.