This Dirty Rudolph cocktail is a cherry-vanilla twist on rum and cola, dressed up with a bright red cherry nose and two rosemary antlers. Vanilla rum, maraschino cherry juice, and chilled cola make two sweet, fizzy drinks in just 5 minutes. Build them right in rocks glasses, give them a gentle stir, and serve while the ice is cold and the bubbles are lively.
The cherry garnish brings the Rudolph idea to the glass, while rosemary adds a fresh aroma when you take a sip. The drink itself is translucent cola-brown with a reddish tint; it does not need to be bright red to look festive.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Vanilla rum: The vanilla flavor is part of this drink's character.
- Maraschino cherry juice and cherries: Use the sweet liquid from the cherry jar for the juice. Reserve cherries for both the drinks and the picks.
- Chilled cola: Add it last to preserve its fizz.
- Fresh rosemary: Two sprigs form the antlers on each drink, with a cherry centered between them as the nose.
- Ice: Leave room in each glass for the cola.
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Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Vanilla vodka can replace the vanilla rum. For a stronger cherry flavor, use cherry cola in place of regular cola. Diet cola also works. Keep the measured cherry juice in the recipe when using these substitutions.
Tools That Make It Easier
For these cocktails, you'll need two rocks glasses with room for the liquid and ice, a jigger or small liquid measuring cup, a measuring teaspoon, a cocktail stirrer or spoon, and two cocktail picks.
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Buy Now → How to Make a Dirty Rudolph Cocktail
1. Prepare the garnishes and base. Thread 1 cherry onto each of two cocktail picks and reserve the remaining 6 cherries. Divide the rum and cherry juice between two rocks glasses, using 2 ounces rum and 2 teaspoons cherry juice per glass.
2. Add cherries and ice. Add 3 cherries to each glass, then add ice, leaving room for the cola.
3. Pour and stir gently. Slowly pour 4 ounces chilled cola into each glass. Stir gently to combine without losing too much carbonation.
4. Garnish and serve. Garnish each drink with one cherry pick and 2 rosemary sprigs arranged like antlers, with the cherry centered between them as Rudolph's nose. Serve immediately.
Tips for Keeping the Fizz
Start with chilled cola, pour it slowly, and stir gently. A vigorous stir drives off the bubbles you want to keep. Save the cola and ice for serving time rather than assembling the drinks in advance.
What to Serve With a Dirty Rudolph Cocktail
A savory snack is a good match for this sweet cocktail. Set out a charcuterie board, a bowl of roasted nuts, grape jelly meatballs, or baked Brie. For another bite with Brie, try bacon wrapped Brie on baguette or brie bites.
How to Make the Best Cheese Board
Grape Jelly Meatballs
Bacon Wrapped Brie on Baguette
Can You Make It Ahead?
For advance preparation, combine only the rum and cherry juice and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 24 hours. Add the cola, ice, cherries, and rosemary just before serving. Finished cocktails are best served immediately because the ice melts and the cola loses carbonation.
Can You Freeze It?
Freezing the assembled cocktails is not recommended; the cola will lose carbonation, and the alcohol prevents a firm, consistent freeze.
Commonly Asked Questions
Do I need a cocktail shaker for Dirty Rudolph?
No. Build the drink in each rocks glass and stir gently after adding the cola. The method does not call for shaking.
How many cherries go in each cocktail?
Each drink gets 3 cherries in the glass and 1 cherry on its garnish pick. That uses all 8 cherries for the two-cocktail recipe.
Is the cherry juice fresh cherry juice?
This recipe uses the sweet maraschino cherry juice from the jar. Fresh cherry juice is a different ingredient and is not the tested version.
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Recipe
PrintDirty Rudolph Cocktail
Mix up a Dirty Rudolph cocktail in just 5 minutes with vanilla rum, fizzy cola, and sweet maraschino cherries, finished with rosemary for a festive holiday drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Vanilla Rum
- 8 maraschino cherries
- 4 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
- 8 ounces Coca-Cola
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill two glasses with ice.
- Add 2 ounces of rum, 3 cherries, and 2 teaspoon of maraschino cherry juice to each glass.
- Pour 4 ounces of cola into each glass. Stir to combine.
- Garnish with 1 cherry and two sprigs of rosemary.
Nutrition
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 19
- Sodium: 7
- Fat: 0.1
- Saturated Fat: 0.01
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.2
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