Paradise Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/29/21
Paradise Cocktail

CWP / Cultura / Getty Images

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The paradise is a lesser-known classic cocktail but it is a wonderful aperitif and still has an appeal for modern drinkers. Where the gin martini is dry, the paradise is sweet and fruity, making it a nice precursor to summer dinners.

The combination of gin and apricot brandy was quite common in the early days of the cocktail. It's a pleasant taste because the brandy adds a sweet fruit contrast against the gin's botanical flavoring and drier profile. The orange juice complements both of those, bridging the gap and adding a bright citrus touch that is very enjoyable.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin

  • 1 ounce apricot brandy

  • 2 ounces orange juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, apricot brandy, and orange juice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If you can, use fresh squeezed orange juice to complement the gin. One orange should yield more than enough juice for a single drink.
  • For the gin, you want something that has the traditional array of botanicals and a full juniper flavor. A London dry gin like Beefeater or Martin Miller's will provide a perfect foundation for this cocktail.
  • When choosing the apricot brandy, read the labels carefully and expect to pay a little more for a good bottle. Many on the market today are sweetened, making them more of a liqueur rather than a true fruit brandy. It would be best to choose a real apricot brandy, though some quality liqueur versions (such as Bols or Luxardo) are good options as well.
  • As with most martini-style cocktails, chilling your glass is highly recommended. The easiest way to do that is to place a few ice cubes in the glass while you're mixing the drink. Dump the ice before straining.

Recipe Variations

  • Though it's traditionally left ungarnished, a small orange wheel or a long, elegant twist are great options for dressing up the paradise cocktail. If you're squeezing fresh juice, cut the peel into a twist using a pairing knife or channel knife before cutting the orange in half to make the most out of a single piece of fruit.
  • This recipe is the up version of the drink, but a paradise shooter is also pretty popular. To make that drink, simply shake up equal parts (about 1/3 ounce each) of the same three ingredients and strain it into a shot glass.
  • The Boston cocktail is very similar to the paradise cocktail. In that recipe, you'll use equal parts gin and apricot brandy, accenting them with grenadine and lime juice.

How Strong Is a Paradise Cocktail?

The amount of orange juice in the paradise cocktail helps make this a nice and relaxed drink. It's not too strong, but it's not light either. On average, its alcohol content will be in the 18 percent ABV (36 proof) range.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
198 Calories
0g Fat
12g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 198
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 31mg 155%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 125mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)