Enjoy this simple Danny Ocean cocktail recipe! It's the perfect springtime drink with blanco tequila, lime juice, grapefruit, agave nectar and a touch of maraschino liqueur.
Prep time: 1 minute minute
Mixing time: 1 minute minute
- 2 oz Silver Tequila
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz fresh grapefruit juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
- ¼ oz Maraschino liqueur
- Ice cubes
- Lemon peel - for garnish, optional
Old Fashioned Glass
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail Strainer
Measuring Jigger
Prep Glass: Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
Add Maraschino: Pour ¼ oz Maraschino liqueur into the shaker.
Add Agave Syrup: Add ½ oz agave syrup.
Add Citrus: Add ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and ¾ oz fresh grapefruit juice.
Add Tequila: Finally, add 2 oz Silver Tequila to the mix.
Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
Strain: Take the Old Fashioned glass and use the cocktail strainer to remove any excess water inside. Add more ice if necessary and strain the drink from the shaker into the ice-filled glass.
Garnish: Garnish with a lemon peel (express the peel on top of the drink and drop it into the glass) and serve immediately.
Substitutes:
- Tequila: If you're out of Tequila, you can use mezcal for a smokier flavor or vodka for a more neutral taste.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: You can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but the flavor will be less bright and fresh. Another option is to use fresh lime juice for a slightly different citrus kick.
- Agave Syrup: Honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part hot water) or simple syrup can be used as substitutes for agave syrup if needed.
- Fresh Grapefruit Juice: Bottled grapefruit juice won’t be as fresh and crips but does work as well for this cocktail.
- Maraschino Liqueur: If you’re out of maraschino liqueur, you can substitute it with a bit of the syrup from a maraschino cherry jar.
Making a Pitcher of Danny Ocean:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Tequila, 6 oz of fresh lime juice, 6 oz of fresh grapefruit juice, 4 ounces of agave syrup and 2 ounces of maraschino liqueur.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave syrup and maraschino liqueur. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into chilled Old Fashioned or Rocks glasses and garnish each glass with a lemon zest. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Tequila Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic tequila substitute; these are available and do a good job mimicking Tequila's flavor. Use a non-alcoholic tequila substitute; several brands are available that mimic Tequila's flavor quite well. Otherwise, you can use fresh orange juice as a substitute. You can also try making your own substitute by mixing together.
- Maraschino Liqueur: Use a non-alcoholic maraschino liqueur substitute or a bit of syrup from a maraschino cherry jar.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular Tequila and maraschino liqueur, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Danny Ocean cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including tequila, are vegan-friendly. However, some brands may use animal products in their production process, especially if a filtration process is involved. Always check the brand's website or contact them directly to ensure their products are vegan.