The Ultimate Killer Koolaid Cocktail

If you’re looking for a sweet and fruity cocktail to serve at your next get together, try making this killer Kool-Aid cocktail. This cocktail is bright red and has flavors reminiscent of one of your favorite childhood drinks, Kool-Aid.

What is a Killer Koolaid Cocktail?

A killer Kool-Aid cocktail is a combination of vodka, Midori, cranberry juice and amaretto. The resulting drink is sweet, fruity and red. It tastes very similar to Cherry Kool-Aid.

Vodka is made by fermenting grains and then distilling them. It is a clear liquor. It typically has a neutral flavor which makes it great to add to drinks to get an alcoholic spike without affecting the flavor of the other ingredients.

Amaretto is a liqueur that originated in Italy. It has a slightly sweet and slightly bitter flavor. It is typically made either from almonds or the pits of stone fruit such as apricots. It has a strong almond flavor with hints of cherries and other fruits.

Midori is a neon green liqueur. It originated in Japan. It is made from Yubari and honeydew. It has a very sweet, very strong melon flavor.

When choosing a cranberry juice to use for this cocktail, the fresher the juice the better. Additionally, it’s best to use a 100% cranberry juice and not a cranberry juice cocktail. Pure cranberry juice will help to add in the perfect tart cranberry flavor you’re looking for.

Occasions to make this drink

This drink is super easy to make and is a refreshing cocktail. It is suitable for a variety of different occasions including:

• birthday celebrations
• Valentine’s Day
• date nights or anniversaries
• barbecues or pool parties

Possible drink variations

If you’re looking for ways to change this drink up a little, try one of these out:

• Use a flavored vodka. Though in the recipe below we use a regular vodka. Using a cherry flavored vodka would be well suited to capitalize on the Kool-Aid flavor of this drink.
• Make it sparkling. Add a dash of club soda or lemon lime soda If you like a little fizz to your drink.
• Turn it into a punch. The flavor and ease of making this drink makes it well suited to do in large batches. Multiply the ingredients by 5 or 6 and mix them in a punch bowl.
• Replace the Midori. Since this is not a standardized drink you’ll find a variety of different recipes available. Some call for peach schnapps instead of Midori.

Other similar cocktails include: the koolaid shot, the woo woo drink and grinch punch.

How to make this drink:

With four super easy ingredients this drink can be whipped up in 5 minutes or less. All you have to do is measure your ingredients and shake them well.

Equipment:

• highball glass
• jigger
• cocktail shaker
• Hawthorne strainer
• bar spoon

Ingredients:

• .5 oz Vodka
• .5 oz Midori
• .5 oz Amaretto
• 4 oz Cranberry Juice
• Lime Wedge
• Ice

Instructions:

Step one

Ensure that you have everything you need to make this drink including cocktail shaker, Hawthorne strainer, highball glass, jigger, ice, cranberry juice, amaretto, Midori, vodka.

Step two

Grab your ice and toss it into your highball glass. The glass should be filled almost completely to the top.

Note: The instructions below are for building a string directly in the glass. However, you can build this drink directly in the shaker.

If you choose to build it in the shaker, fill it with ice. Dump your ingredients directly to the glass. Then, put the shaker lid on and shake well. Strain the drink into the glass.

Step three

Grab your cranberry juice. Using your jigger measure out 4 oz of cranberry juice and toss it into the glass.

Step four

Grab your amaretto. Using your jigger measure out 0.5 oz of amaretto and toss it into the glass.

Step Five

Grab the Midori. Using the jigger measure out 0.5 oz of Midori and toss it into the glass.

Step six

Grab the vodka. Using the jigger measure out 0.5 oz of vodka and toss it into the glass.

Step seven

To get everything mixed up, you have two options: via bar spoon or via shaker.

To use the shaker, pour the contents of the drink from the glass to the shaker. And then from the shaker back to the glass.

To use the bar spoon, stick the spoon in the glass and stir well.

Step eight

If you’d like to add a garnish a lime wedge or if you maraschino cherries work well. If using cherries you can put them on a cocktail pic and place into the glass or simply toss them on top.

If using a lime wedge, cut a line into slices. Then, cut a small notch in the pulp of the lime and use that notch to secure it on the rim of the glass.

Recipe