Purple haze drinks are cocktails made out of purple fruit juice. They can be mixed with alcohol or you can make a non-alcoholic version for young or pregnant friends and family members.
You can turn any of your favorite drinks into a purple haze variety. Mojitos, martinis, shots, and anything else you can think of can be reinvented into a purple haze, which is what makes this drink so versatile and popular.
Although possible, it is very unusual to order or mix up a non-alcoholic purple haze, and because of this, I have focused my attention on sharing the alcoholic party drinks versions with you so that you can WOW your guests at the next dinner party or gathering.
Here are a handful of my favorite purple haze drinks recipes that are super easy to make and feel luxurious and indulgent to drink. Even inexperienced cocktail makers will be able to mix these drinks and make them taste glorious. Enjoy!
Purple Haze Rum Shot
Chill as many glass shot glasses as you think you are going to need before mixing this drink. Shake and strain an ounce of grape pucker or grape schnapps of your choice. Next, mix equal parts peach and rum schnapps and pour into chilled shot glasses. Half an ounce of rum and peach schnapps is more than enough, but you can alter this to taste.
Lemonade Purple Haze Shot
You will need 1½ ounces vodka, lemonade, and 1 ounce Chambord for this drink. Grab yourself a tall ice-filled glass and pour in the vodka and Chambord and fill the glass up with lemonade. Stir the drink well and garnish with lemon or lime.
Martini Purple Haze
Get your cocktail shaker ready and get ready to shake! Pour 1½ ounce vodka, 1-ounce blue curaçao, and ¼ grenadine into your cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture well using your cocktail shaker, and strain the cocktail into a pre-chilled glass of your choice.
Top Tip: you can garnish the drink with the fruit of your choice to add a fun twist.
Cranberry Purple Haze
Cranberry tastes great with vodka, so it is only natural that we make a purple haze cocktail using cranberry. Pour ½ ounce cranberry liquor and 1½ ounce vodka into your trusty cocktail shaker and shake for a minute. Fill your favorite cocktail glass with ice and strain the mixture into the glass. Finally, top the glass with cranberry juice and serve.
Purple Haze Lemonade
This sure is a cocktail with a tangy punch! Pour 1½ ounces, Chambord, with 1½ ounces vodka, and pour over ice. Fill the rest of the glass up with lemon-lime soda and lemonade, and stir thoroughly. You can double or halve the quantities according to how big or small you want your cocktail glass to be.
Origins of the Purple Haze Cocktail
Peter Janson is the mastermind behind the original purple haze cocktail, and he competed in the World Cocktail Championships in Vienna in 1993 with his new, tangy recipe. The cocktail was given its name not only because of its colorful appearance but as an homage to Peter Janson’s Favorite Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze.
Original Purple Haze Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cl Citron flavored vodka
- 1 cl De Kuyper Parfait Amour
- 2 cl Chablis
- 1 cl Monin Grenadine
- 1 cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Pre-chill a cocktail coupette and gather all of your ingredients. Fill your cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour in all of the ingredients. Once the ingredients have been shaken well, strain the mixture into the cocktail coupette and garnish with lavender.
- The finished product should taste refreshing but not overpowering. It might take you a few goes to get completely right, but it sure is fun sipping on any experimental mixes along the way!
Notes
Great Spirits to Use
You might not want to use vodka in your drink every time, and that is perfectly fine because you don’t have to! Purple haze cocktails can be made using rum, tequila, Chambord, gin, and vodka.
Once you have discovered your favorite purple haze cocktail recipe, simply mix and match the spirit that you use from time to time to spice things up a bit so that it feels like the same drink but different.
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Final Thoughts
The purple haze cocktail is one of a kind yet versatile which is why I love it so much. You don’t have to get the recipe spot on in order to make a drink that tastes great and is fun to make.
One thing is for sure, the bright colors and lemon flavors in the purple haze make it a best seller for summer, so I suggest saving this recipe list somewhere safe ready for you to use as a reference in the warmer months. Making or drinking a cocktail in the right ambiance really elevates the flavors (at least it does for me) or maybe I am just looking for an excuse to enjoy my summer afternoons with an alcoholic beverage? Either way, you should do it too!
Please share your purple haze cocktail experiences with us and share your tips and stories in the comments section below.
Cocktail FAQ:
Some of us stick to the same cocktail every time we order a drink or mix one up at home, while others like to experiment and try something new. Regardless of which one you are, it is always good to know some simple facts about cocktails and cocktail making to help you pick the perfect beverage.
Read through these frequently asked questions and answers if you are cocktail curious. I hope the information below helps you on your cocktail-making (or tasting) journey!
Q: What is the most popular cocktail in the world?
A: Margarita is the most popular cocktail in the world based on the data collected from over 100 countries. The Margarita is the most searched for cocktail in over 35 countries, including the United States and England.
Q: Will drinking cocktails make me drunk?
A: Drinking a lot of alcoholic cocktails will make you drunk. Cocktails often make whoever is drinking them very drunk without them noticing at all. This is because the strong alcoholic flavors are masked with sweet or sour mixers or syrups.
Q: Can I make cocktails that do not contain alcohol?
A: Yes! You can make non-alcoholic cocktails if you want to cut down on your alcohol consumption. There are lots of ingredients that make great alcohol swaps in cocktails, so don’t hesitate to look up some tips and tricks for making non-alcoholic cocktails and giving them a go.
Q: Are cocktails high in calories?
A: Yes, most cocktails are high in calories due to the concentrated syrups or sugary mixers that are used to make them. Cocktails are usually made using spirits that are characteristically low in alcohol; however, they are mixed with high-calorie ingredients such as cream, sugary soda, fruit juice, and syrups.
Q: What are the six most basic cocktails to make?
A: The Manhattan, martini, Daiquiri, Jack Rose, sidecar, and old-fashioned are the most basic cocktails that are the easiest to make.
Q: What is the most popular liquor to use in cocktails?
A: Vodka is by far the most popular liquor used in cocktails, and in fact, it was the top-selling liquor in the United States in 2019. Smirnoff vodka seems to be the nation’s favorite, selling over two and a half million cases in one year.
Q: What drinks should I store for future cocktail-making parties and gatherings?
A: Whether you love to host cocktail-making evenings, or you like to have a stash of drinks for when you are feeling creative, there are some staple pieces that you should keep in your pantry.
Orange liqueur, absinthe, maraschino, and vermouth are a few examples of staple cocktail ingredients. All of these ingredients will taste great in simple cocktails or more complicated concoctions. Why don’t you try creating your own unique mix?
Q: Can I learn how to make cocktails from home?
A: Yes, you don’t need to attend a cocktail-making class to learn how to make fun and delicious cocktails. There are plenty of online guides available at your fingertips, as well as detailed cocktail-making books with step-by-step instructions for you to follow that are wonderful resources for cocktail lovers.
