Description
Grateful Dead Cocktail Recipe: a vibrant, layered party drink bursting with color and flavor. This bold beauty combines vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and blue curaçao with a citrusy sweet and sour mix, then finishes with a float of raspberry liqueur. It’s eye-catching, flavor-packed, and perfect for turning any gathering into a celebration. Try it once, and it’ll be your go-to showstopper for summer nights, game days, and backyard BBQs.
Ingredients
½ oz vodka
½ oz white rum
½ oz gin
½ oz silver tequila
½ oz blue curaçao
½ oz Chambord or raspberry liqueur
2 oz sweet and sour mix
Splash of lemon-lime soda (optional, for fizz)
Ice cubes
Garnish:
Fresh raspberries
Lemon slices or twists
Instructions
Fill the glasses: Pack two tall glasses with ice. Filling them to the top helps keep those bold, beautiful layers separate.
Shake it up: In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and sweet and sour mix. Add ice and shake well—about 10 seconds—until nicely chilled.
Pour the base: Divide the shaken mix evenly between the two glasses over the ice.
Layer the blue curaçao: Slowly pour the blue curaçao into each glass. It’ll sink and create that vibrant electric-blue base.
Float the raspberry liqueur: Using the back of a spoon, gently pour Chambord (or raspberry liqueur) into each glass. It should settle around the middle, creating a striking purple-pink layer.
Add soda (optional): For a fizzy finish, top each glass with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Garnish and serve: Add fresh raspberries and a lemon slice or twist to each drink. Serve immediately and enjoy the colorful fun!
Notes
Want a homemade sweet and sour mix? Just combine equal parts fresh lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
For the prettiest layers, pour slowly and let each element settle before adding the next.
Chambord creates the best float, but any raspberry or berry liqueur will still bring big flavor and color.
Want to go alcohol-free? Sub in blue sports drink and raspberry syrup for a fun, layered mocktail.
Hosting a party? Multiply the ingredients and make a pitcher batch—then layer drinks individually for maximum wow factor.