Mixed Drinks Recipe

Chill glassware

Place two highball or Collins glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes or fill them with ice water while you prepare ingredients to chill them. Discard ice water before building the drinks.

Combine spirits and citrus

In a cocktail shaker or large mixing glass, add 2/3 of the ice (reserve a handful for the glasses). Pour in 2 oz light rum, 2 oz vodka, 2 oz gin, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lemon juice and 0.5 oz simple syrup for a single serving (the listed ingredient totals make four servings).

Shake to chill and dilute

Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until the outside of the shaker frosts slightly. This chills and dilutes the mixture to balance the alcohol, citrus and sweetness.

Strain into prepared glasses

Fill each chilled glass halfway with fresh ice. Strain the shaken mixture evenly into the two glasses (or pour into one large pitcher if serving more).

Top with mixer

Top each glass with 4 oz (about half of the listed cola per glass) of cola. If you prefer a lighter finish, top with 1–2 oz club soda instead of or in addition to cola. Stir gently once with a bar spoon to integrate without losing carbonation.

Adjust bitters and sweetness

Taste and, if desired, add 1 dash of angostura bitters per glass to add complexity. If the drink is too tart, add up to 0.25 oz simple syrup per glass and stir gently.

Garnish

Thread a maraschino cherry onto a cocktail pick and place on the rim, then garnish each glass with a lemon wedge and an orange slice. Squeeze a small lemon wedge over the drink before dropping it in if you want extra brightness.

Serve

Serve immediately while cold and fizzy. Provide straws or long spoons and a small plate for used garnishes.

Batching note

The ingredient totals provided are sized for approximately four servings. To batch for a group, combine all spirits, citrus and simple syrup in a pitcher and chill. When ready to serve, add ice to glasses and top each with cola or club soda to preserve carbonation.