Madras recipe
A crisp and refreshing blend of clean vodka, tart cranberry juice, and bright orange juice served over ice.
Method: Build ·
Glass: Highball glass ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka (unflavored)
- 3 oz Cranberry juice (tart, unsweetened)
- 1.5 oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
How to make a Madras
- Fill a highball glass with fresh ice cubes.
- Pour the vodka directly over the ice.
- Add the cranberry juice and orange juice to the glass.
- Stir gently for several seconds to combine the ingredients.
- Garnish the rim with a fresh lime wedge and serve.
Garnish
Lime wedge
Pro tip
Use freshly squeezed orange juice to balance the tartness of the cranberry juice with natural sweetness.
History of the Madras
The Madras emerged during the mid-20th-century vodka boom in the United States as part of a wave of simple, fruit-juice highballs. Its combination of vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice became a staple of casual American bar culture.
Flavour profile
Tart, Citrusy, Refreshing, Crisp
Variations
- Sea Breeze — Substitute the orange juice with grapefruit juice for a sharper, tangy profile.
- Bay Breeze — Swap the orange juice for pineapple juice to add tropical sweetness.
- Cape Codder — Omit the orange juice entirely, using only vodka and cranberry juice.
Practise making the Madras in the free Virtual Bar game.