Easy Grateful Dead Cocktail Drink Recipe

ByGina Dickson

The Grateful Dead Drink is a cocktail loaded with alcohol, flavor and color. Be careful, this drink goes down way too easily. Tip: You can multiply this easy recipe for a crowd. 

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tall clear glass with red liquid at bottom, then blue liquid, with rapsberries and blue umbrella in drink. Surrounded by lemons and raspberries on the table

WHAT MAKES THIS GRATEFUL DEAD DRINK SO GOOD?

  • This Grateful Dead Drink is considered the sweeter cousin to a Long Island Iced Tea. While not fully the same, it’s a strong cocktail. You can really taste the combination of flavors, and the chambord raspberry liqueur.
  • While this grateful dead drink has a tangy taste that packs a punch, the recipe can also be multiplied to serve a crowd.  It does use a lot of alcohol, and strong flavors, so we suggest that you taste test it first to make sure you enjoy the unique flavor before making a huge batch! 
  • This cocktail is beautiful! It’s a colorful concoction and the colors change as you drink it.

We’re using a few ingredients to make this grateful dead cocktail recipe including lemon-lime soda, vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, and raspberry liquor. According to most cocktail enthusiasts, it has a well balanced flavor.

We’re adding all of these to a cocktail shaker, to mix up all the fruity flavors, and serving it over ice. Sometimes we garnish it with a lime wedge or lime wedge, or raspberries. Caution, this is one of the most potent cocktails as it has a high alcohol content.

tall clear glass with red liquid at bottom, then blue liquid, with rapsberries and blue umbrella in drink. Surrounded by lemons and raspberries on the table

EXPERT TIPS FOR MAKING A GRATEFUL DEAD DRINK

  • This cocktail begins with sour mix so we’re making a homemade version with lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. If you want to use pre-made sour mix, just leave out the juices and simple syrup and add 3 ounces sour mix. You can also sub in margarita mix for the sour mix, if sour mix is NOT your thing! 
  • This cocktail is inspired by a Long Island Iced Tea– which means it has a lot of alcohol! We’re using vodka, gin, white rum, and orange liqueur. Feel free to use any brand you have on hand. I’m using Titos, Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi, and Cointreau. 
  • Simple syrup adds a bit of sweetness to the cocktail. Again– if you use pre-made sour mix (or margarita mix), skip the simple syrup.

OTHER DRINK RECIPES

pinterest pin collage of grateful dead drink

Looking to stock up your home bar supplies? To get started, we suggest getting a Bartender Kit, a drinkware beginner set that includes a few different type of glasses and of course a few bottles of alcohol. (Think: Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, etc). Pair those with our cocktail recipes and you are off to a great start!

If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Your comment and/or rating helps other readers!

Easy Grateful Dead Cocktail Drink Recipe

tall clear glass with red liquid at bottom, then blue liquid, with rapsberries and blue umbrella in drink. Surrounded by lemons and raspberries on the table
The Grateful Dead Drink is a cocktail loaded with alcohol, flavor and color. Be careful, this drink goes down way too easily. Tip: You can multiply this easy recipe for a crowd. 
Chrystal
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Serving Size 2

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 ounce gin
  • 1 ounce white rum
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
  • 2 ounces lemon lime soda
  • Splash of blue curacao about ¼ ounce

Instructions

  • Add the lime juice, lime juice, vodka, gin, white rum, orange liqueur, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled– about 30 seconds. 
    hand pouring yellow liquid into ball jar
  • Add the raspberry liqueur to your glass and then fill it half way full with ice. Strain the alcohol mixture on top of the raspberry liqueur. 
    hand pouring red liquid into glass
  • Next add the lemon lime soda.
    hand pouring clear liquid with fizz into glass that has red liquid
  • Then carefully float a splash of blue curacao on top. I pour the blue curacao in a spoon and then use the spoon to pour it on top of the drink– that way it doesn’t disturb the colors too much. 
    red liquid in glass and hand pouring blue liquid in
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge and a few raspberries. Enjoy immediately.
    tall clear glass with red liquid at bottom, then blue liquid, with rapsberries and blue umbrella in drink. Surrounded by lemons and raspberries on the table

Notes

  • This cocktail begins with sour mix so we’re making a homemade version with lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. If you want to use pre-made sour mix, just leave out the juices and simple syrup and add 3 ounces sour mix. 
  • This cocktail is inspired by a Long Island Iced Tea– which means it has a lot of alcohol! We’re using vodka, gin, white rum, and orange liqueur. Feel free to use any brand you have on hand. I’m using Titos, Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi, and Cointreau. 
  • Simple syrup adds a bit of sweetness to the cocktail. Again– if you use pre-made sour mix, skip the simple syrup. 
  • Raspberry liqueur adds a hint of fruity sweetness and the red color to the cocktail. 
  • Lemon lime soda adds a bit of effervescence and helps dilute all of the alcohol in the drink. 
  • Blue curacao adds the blue color that typically floats on top of the drink.

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