Classic New Orleans Hand Grenade Drink – The Boozy, Tropical Cocktail That Packs a Punch

 Ingredients (Serves 1)

Midori melon liqueur (or similar)

1.5 oz

Bright melon flavor + iconic green color

Pineapple juice (100% juice)

2 oz

Fresh, tangy sweetness — avoid canned “cocktail” mixes

Vodka (e.g., Tito’s)

1 oz

Clean alcohol base

Gin (e.g., Tanqueray)

1 oz

Herbal complexity

White rum (e.g., Bacardi)

1 oz

Tropical smoothness

✅ Pro Tip: Use chilled ingredients — it keeps the drink colder longer.

🥤 Step-by-Step: How to Make a Hand Grenade

Step 1: Chill Your Glass

Place a highball or hurricane glass in the freezer for 10–15 minutes

Or fill it with ice water while you prep

Cold glass = colder drink.

Step 2: Fill a Cocktail Shaker

Add ice to a shaker

Pour in:

1.5 oz Midori

2 oz pineapple juice

1 oz vodka

1 oz gin

1 oz white rum

Step 3: Shake It Up

Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds

This chills the drink and blends the spirits smoothly

✅ No shaker? Stir well with a long spoon in a glass of ice.

Step 4: Serve & Garnish

Fill your chilled glass with fresh ice

Strain the cocktail into the glass

Garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry (classic New Orleans style)

Optional: Add a splash of 7-Up or Sprite for extra fizz and sweetness.

Step 5: Sip… But Don’t Rush

The Hand Grenade goes down smooth and sweet

But it hits you fast

✅ Pro Advice:

“One for fun, two for bold, three and you’re on the ground.”

🎉 How to Serve Hand Grenades for a Crowd

Hosting a Mardi Gras party or summer bash?

Make a batch cocktail:

Hand Grenade Pitcher (Serves 6)

Midori

9 oz (¾ cup + 3 tbsp)

Pineapple juice

12 oz (1½ cups)

Vodka

6 oz (¾ cup)

Gin

6 oz (¾ cup)

White rum

6 oz (¾ cup)

Mix all ingredients in a pitcher with ice

Stir well

Pour into chilled glasses

Garnish each with a cherry and pineapple

✅ Bonus: Serve in plastic flutes for that authentic Pat O’Brien’s vibe.

🧠 Final Thoughts: Sometimes the Best Cocktail Isn’t Subtle — It’s a Neon Green Explosion

We love craft cocktails with bitters, smoke, and precision.

But sometimes?

You just need a drink that says “let’s party.”

The Hand Grenade isn’t subtle.

It’s not low-ABV.

It’s not “on the rocks” and quiet.

It’s loud, bright, and unforgettable.

So next time you want to celebrate — a birthday, a holiday, a Friday — skip the ordinary.

Make a Hand Grenade.

Because sometimes, the difference between a good night and a legendary one…

Isn’t in the music.

It’s in the glass.

And once you take that first sip?

You’ll understand why New Orleans loves it so much.