Scorpion Cocktail Drink

Scorpion Cocktail

A shot of Gavin Wrigley looking to the camera in a dimly lit room
Written by
Gavin Wrigley
Andrea
Tested by
Andrea Ottaiano

Are you in the mood for a thrilling drink? Check out our Scorpion Cocktail recipe! It’s straightforward to prepare, bursting with flavor, and ideal for livening up your evening!

Scorpion Cocktail Recipe

Add some warmth to your autumn with this easy-to-follow Scorpion Cocktail recipe! This refreshing cocktail is ideal for the cooler months, and it consists of rum, brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, orgeat syrup, and a sprinkle of mint.

Prep time:

1 minute

Mixing time:

1 minute

Servings:

1

Calories:

213 kl

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Rum
  • 1 oz Brandy
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 2 oz orange juice
  • ½ oz orgeat syrup
  • Mint for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Strainer
  • Highball Glass or Tiki Mug

Instructions

  • Chill your chosen glass.
  • Pour 1 oz lemon juice into the shaker.
  • Follow with 2 oz orange juice.
  • Add ½ oz orgeat syrup to the mix.
  • Measure and pour 1 oz Brandy.
  • Finish with 1 oz Rum.
  • Fill your cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake it up until everything is well mixed.
  • Empty your highball glass.
  • Strain the mixture into the highball glass.
  • Fill your glass with crushed ice.
  • Garnish with a sprig of mint if desired.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Rum: If you don't have any kind of rum on hand, replace it with more brandy.
  • Brandy: You can replace brandy with whiskey for a different flavor profile.
  • Orgeat Syrup: If you can't find orgeat syrup, you can make your own by simmering equal parts sugar and water with some almond extract and a bit of orange flower water.

Making a Pitcher of Scorpion Cocktail:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of rum, 8 oz of brandy, 8 oz of lemon juice, 16 oz of orange juice, and 4 oz of orgeat syrup.
  • Mix: Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir well.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into individual crushed ice-filled highball glasses, garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Rum Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic rum substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic rum's flavor.
  • Brandy Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic brandy substitute or make a simple syrup infused with a touch of vanilla extract.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.

Making it Vegan:

  • Orgeat Syrup: Traditional orgeat syrup is made with almond milk, which is vegan. However, some commercial brands may contain non-vegan ingredients. Always check the label to ensure it's vegan-friendly, or make your own using almond milk.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
213
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.2
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.02
g
0
%
Sodium
 
4
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
20
g
7
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
17
g
19
%
Potassium
 
144
mg
4
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.03
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.02
g
Vitamin A
 
115
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
39
mg
47
%
Calcium
 
8
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.1
mg
1
%

 

Scorpion Cocktail Drink

Scorpion Cocktail Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Jump to Video
Add some warmth to your autumn with this easy-to-follow Scorpion Cocktail recipe! This refreshing cocktail is ideal for the cooler months, and it consists of rum, brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, orgeat syrup, and a sprinkle of mint.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 213

Ingredients
 

  • 1 oz Rum
  • 1 oz Brandy
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 2 oz orange juice
  • ½ oz orgeat syrup
  • Mint for garnish - optional

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Strainer
  • Highball Glass or Tiki Mug

Instructions

  • Chill your chosen glass.
  • Pour 1 oz lemon juice into the shaker.
  • Follow with 2 oz orange juice.
  • Add ½ oz orgeat syrup to the mix.
  • Measure and pour 1 oz Brandy.
  • Finish with 1 oz Rum.
  • Fill your cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake it up until everything is well mixed.
  • Empty your highball glass.
  • Strain the mixture into the highball glass.
  • Fill your glass with crushed ice.
  • Garnish with a sprig of mint if desired.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Rum: If you don't have any kind of rum on hand, replace it with more brandy.
  • Brandy: You can replace brandy with whiskey for a different flavor profile.
  • Orgeat Syrup: If you can't find orgeat syrup, you can make your own by simmering equal parts sugar and water with some almond extract and a bit of orange flower water.

Making a Pitcher of Scorpion Cocktail:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of rum, 8 oz of brandy, 8 oz of lemon juice, 16 oz of orange juice, and 4 oz of orgeat syrup.
  • Mix: Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir well.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into individual crushed ice-filled highball glasses, garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Rum Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic rum substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic rum's flavor.
  • Brandy Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic brandy substitute or make a simple syrup infused with a touch of vanilla extract.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.

Making it Vegan:

  • Orgeat Syrup: Traditional orgeat syrup is made with almond milk, which is vegan. However, some commercial brands may contain non-vegan ingredients. Always check the label to ensure it's vegan-friendly, or make your own using almond milk.

What is a Scorpion Cocktail?

A Scorpion Cocktail is a rum-based tropical cocktail made of rum, brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, and orgeat syrup. It’s easy to make if you have the right ingredients and tools. The most challenging part might be finding orgeat syrup, but you can make your own at home if needed.

A side shot of a Scorpion cocktail in a highball glass on a wooden coaster with an orange, a lemon and a knife behind and plant leaves around.

What is a Scorpion Cocktail made of – The ingredients

The formula for a Scorpion Cocktail requires these ingredients:

  • Rum: A distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane, rum adds a sweet and slightly fruity flavor to the cocktail.
  • Brandy: Made by distilling wine, brandy contributes a rich, smooth, and somewhat sweet flavor.
  • Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy citrus note that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
  • Orange Juice: Provides a sweet and slightly tart citrus flavor that complements the other ingredients.
  • Orgeat Syrup: A sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and rose or orange flower water. It adds a unique nutty and floral sweetness to the cocktail.
  • Mint (optional for garnish): Fresh mint leaves can be used as a garnish, adding an aromatic freshness to the final cocktail presentation.

Rum, Brandy, lemon juice, lemon, orange juice, orange and orgeat syrup laid out on a white bar table

How do you make a Scorpion Cocktail?

With our step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to mix a Scorpion Cocktail:

1
<p>Chill your service glass with some ice cubes.</p>

Chill your service glass with some ice cubes.

2
<p>In a shaker, add the lemon juice, a citrus component, to bring a tangy freshness.</p>

In a shaker, add the lemon juice, a citrus component, to bring a tangy freshness.

3
<p>Follow with the orange juice, another citrus ingredient, to enhance the fruity flavor profile.</p>

Follow with the orange juice, another citrus ingredient, to enhance the fruity flavor profile.

4
<p>Drizzle in the orgeat syrup, which adds a sweet, nutty, and slightly floral note to the cocktail.</p>

Drizzle in the orgeat syrup, which adds a sweet, nutty, and slightly floral note to the cocktail.

5
<p>Pour the brandy into the shaker.</p>

Pour the brandy into the shaker.

6
<p>Pour in the rum.</p>

Pour in the rum.

7
<p>Fill your shaker with ice cubes, secure the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake. This mixes the ingredients thoroughly and ensures the cocktail is well chilled.</p>

Fill your shaker with ice cubes, secure the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake. This mixes the ingredients thoroughly and ensures the cocktail is well chilled.

8
<p>Empty your service glass and strain the mixture into the glass.</p>

Empty your service glass and strain the mixture into the glass.

9
<p>Fill the glass with crushed ice.</p>

Fill the glass with crushed ice.

10
<p>Garnish with a mint sprig and serve immediately.</p>

Garnish with a mint sprig and serve immediately.

History and Origin

The Scorpion Cocktail has a rich history that dates back to the tiki culture of the mid-20th century. Trader Vic, a famous restaurateur and one of the founding fathers of tiki cocktails, first created this tropical drink. He introduced it in his Oakland restaurant in the 1940s.

A Scorpion cocktail, shot from above, in a highball glass on a beige surface surrounded by rum, brandy, lemon juice, lemon, orange juice, orange and orgeat syrup

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FAQ

How many calories are in a Scorpion Cocktail?
A typical version contains around 220 calories. However, this can vary depending on the specific brands of alcohol used and the amount of orgeat syrup added.
How strong is a Scorpion Cocktail?
The strength can vary based on the proportions of the ingredients. However, considering it contains both rum and brandy, it's relatively strong. The average ABV (Alcohol By Volume) is around 20%, making it about 40 proof.
What type of alcohol is used in a Scorpion Cocktail?
The drink uses two types of alcohol: rum and brandy. These spirits give the cocktail its distinctive flavor and strength.
In what kind of glass is a Scorpion Cocktail served?
Traditionally, it's served in a highball glass or tiki mug.
What does a Scorpion Cocktail taste like?
The cocktail offers a unique blend of flavors. The rum and brandy provide a strong, smooth base, while the lemon and orange juices add a tangy citrus note. The orgeat syrup brings a sweet, nutty flavor that rounds the cocktail.
What is the ratio of ingredients in a Scorpion Cocktail?
The typical ratio is 1 part rum, 1 part brandy, 1 part lemon juice, 2 parts orange juice, and half part orgeat syrup.
How is a Scorpion Cocktail served?
It's typically served with crushed ice.
Is the Scorpion Cocktail a good drink for beginners?
The cocktail can be a good choice for beginners due to its sweet and fruity flavor profile. However, it's relatively strong and best enjoyed in moderation.
Can I make a Scorpion Cocktail at home?
Absolutely! You can easily mix it up at home if you have rum, brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, orgeat syrup, and ice.

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