California Decoy Recipe

Prepare glass

Chill a coupe or a chilled cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes or fill with ice water while you build the drink.

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, add 1.5 oz vodka, 0.5 oz white rum, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 1.25 oz cranberry juice, 0.75 oz pineapple juice, 0.25 oz dry vermouth, 0.25 oz orange liqueur, 0.25 oz simple syrup, and 1 dash Angostura bitters.

Add ice and shake

Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup). Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold and slightly frosted — this chills and properly dilutes the mix.

Strain and serve

Discard ice or water from the chilled glass. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled coupe (or strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice if preferred) using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove small ice shards and pulp for a clean presentation.

Garnish with a lime wheel or lime wedge on the rim. Optionally place a dehydrated orange wheel or a maraschino cherry on a cocktail pick and rest it across the glass. Serve immediately.