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Red Raider

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (81)
Red Raider image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2⁄3 fl oz Bourbon whiskey
3⁄4 fl oz Cointreau L'Unique triple sec liqueur
3⁄4 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄2 fl oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
2 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in an Urban Bar Fluet Old Fashioned 1910 34cl

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Red Raider contains 222 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.8 standard drinks
  • 21.04% alc./vol. (42.09° proof)
  • 24.8 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Adapted from a recipe first published in Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide. I don't know the first date of publication, but this cocktail doesn't appear in my copy of the 1968, 42nd edition, but does feature in my 57th printing, January 1978 edition of Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide.

RED RAIDER
1 oz. Old Kentucky Tavern Bourbon Whiskey
½ oz. Old Mr. Boston Triple Sec
1 oz. Lemon Juice
1 dash Grenadine
Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide, 1978


The Red Raider was all but forgotten until the twenty-teens when it was resurrected and adapted by Erick Castro, a well-known bartender, bar entrepreneur and podcaster.

Review

A citrusy Bourbon Whiskey Sour. The quality of your grenadine will make or break this cocktail.

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$4.16 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 7.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Mike Jameson
Hard to get real Pomegranate syrup anywhere so I've had to make my own and boy is it worth it! Even cutting the typical recipe proportions down I have enough in the fridge to last a while for not just this cocktail but for others.

If Pomegranate isn't to one's taste Strawberry or Cherry syrups also work though with a different flavor profile.
score: 1
Chris Dimal
A citrusy Bourbon sour. Grenadine quality is indeed absolutely crucial. I made a fresh grenadine and even with an overpour, it was delicious, even if slightly too sweet. Again, make grenadine with fresh pomegranate juice. It is just truly worth it.
score: 1
Marek Vranka
my wife liked it because you can’t really taste the alcohol under all the lemon juice and grenadine. but since I like to actually taste my bourbon, it’s not really my thing...
score: 2
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
As with tomato and basil, Bourbon and Grenadine were made for each other. We went with lime instead of lemon, thinking that the citrus needed a bit more kick to stand up to the prescribed volume of Grenadine. A very delicious cocktail.
score: 5
Andre Derailleur Premium Member
Have homemade grenadine and it was great with this, though I did enjoy a small extra slug of whiskey.
score: 1
Pekka Savolainen
Didn’t have triple sec so used dry orange instead. Was sweet enough for my taste.
score: 1

View 5 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$4.16 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 7.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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