Rainbow Recipe

Prepare juices

Squeeze fresh orange to yield 90 ml (about 1 medium orange and a half). Measure 60 ml pineapple juice and 10 ml fresh lime juice. Chill juices in the fridge or fill a shaker with a little ice to cool them briefly.

Add grenadine

Pour 30 ml grenadine into the serving glass first. This will form the bottom red layer of the rainbow due to its high sugar density.

Mix the middle layers

In a cocktail shaker filled with a small handful of ice, add 45 ml white rum, 15 ml vodka, 90 ml orange juice, 60 ml pineapple juice and 10 ml lime juice. Gently roll or shake once — about 5 seconds — just to combine and chill. Strain off any excess ice.

Layer onto grenadine

Over the back of a spoon held just above the grenadine layer, slowly pour the mixed rum/juice blend into the glass so it sits on top of the grenadine and creates an orange/yellow gradient. Pour carefully and slowly to avoid mixing the layers.

Add blue layer

To create the blue top, dilute 20 ml blue curaçao with 10 ml cooled pineapple juice in a small jigger (this makes it slightly lighter and easier to layer). Using the back of a spoon again, very slowly pour the blue curaçao mixture over the top so it forms a greenish-blue layer above the orange layer. Pour drop by drop if needed to maintain distinct layers.

Ice: If you used crushed ice for a shorter glass, add crushed ice before layering the juices so the grenadine can sink between gaps. If building in a taller highball or Collins glass, place 2–3 large ice cubes after the grenadine and before you pour the mixed juices so the liquids flow around the cubes and help maintain separation.

Finish & garnish: Carefully nest one large ice cube (or leave as built). Slide an orange wheel onto the rim and drop a maraschino cherry into the glass so it rests just above the grenadine. Add a mint sprig for aroma if desired.

Serve: Present the cocktail with a straw placed to the side (not in the center) so the drinker can taste the layers in order. Advise gentle sipping or stirring if the guest prefers a blended flavor.