Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Peach Schnapps
- 1 oz Melon Liqueur
- 2/4/2006 Cherry Soda
Instructions
Prepare the Glass:
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
Add the Peach Schnapps:
- Pour 1.5 oz of Peach Schnapps over the ice.
Add the Melon Liqueur:
- Pour 1 oz of Melon Liqueur into the glass.
Top with Cherry Soda:
- Add Cherry Soda to taste, filling the glass to the top.
Serve:
- Stir gently and serve immediately.
Notes
Why Try the Code Red Cocktail?
The Code Red Cocktail is a delightful blend of fruity flavors that is both sweet and refreshing. Its vibrant color and easy preparation make it a fantastic choice for any occasion, whether you're hosting a party or simply relaxing at home.Tips for Making the Perfect Cocktail
- Use Fresh Ice: Fresh, clear ice will keep your drink cold without diluting the flavors.
- Chill the Ingredients: For the best taste, make sure your Peach Schnapps, Melon Liqueur, and Cherry Soda are well chilled before mixing.
- Garnish for Extra Flair: Add a cherry or a slice of lime to the rim of the glass for an extra touch of elegance.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Code Red is a back-bar cherry-soda cocktail that lives in the same family as the Cherry Bomb and the Vampire. The name is the colour and the flavour: cherry soda turns the glass deep red and pushes the drink toward Mountain Dew Code Red territory.
It sits in the soda-cocktail family with the Cherry Coke, the Vodka Sprite and the Whisky Cola. All four lean on a soft drink for volume and a single liqueur or two for flavour. The Code Red picks peach and melon as a tropical-leaning pairing that the cherry soda holds together.
Best ordered at a backyard barbecue or as the second round at a college bar. Not a craft-cocktail pour and not pretending to be.
What it tastes like
Cherry-soda sweetness up front, peach in the middle, faint melon on the finish. Sweet through the whole pour, no bitter or citrus notes. Carbonation gives it the only sharpness.
Around 8 percent ABV in the glass once topped with cherry soda. Soft, easy and very fast to drink. Treat it like a long cocktail, not a party shot.
The technique
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add one and a half ounces of peach schnapps and one ounce of melon liqueur. Top with cherry soda. Stir once with the bar spoon.
Use cold cherry soda straight from the fridge so the carbonation lands sharp. Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a pick or a lime wedge for contrast.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The cherry soda
- Use
- Cherry Coke, Mountain Dew Code Red, or any cherry-flavoured soda.
- Skip
- Cranberry juice. Wrong sweetness curve.
- Why
- The cherry soda is the colour and most of the volume. The carbonation gives the drink its only sharp edge against the otherwise sweet schnapps.
The peach schnapps
- Use
- DeKuyper Peachtree, Bols Peach, or Archers Peach.
- Skip
- Peach syrup. Loses the alcohol weight.
- Why
- Peach is the lead flavour. The schnapps brings both the peach note and the alcohol body that holds against the heavy soda volume.
The melon liqueur
- Use
- Midori for the brightest green, Bols Melon for a softer alternative.
- Skip
- Watermelon-flavoured vodka. Wrong fruit profile.
- Why
- Melon is the second flavour and the bridge to peach. Without it the drink is just a peach-and-cherry soda, which is closer to a kid drink than a cocktail.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The standard build
- Code Red, on ice
- Peach schnapps and melon liqueur over ice in a highball, topped with cherry soda. One stir, one garnish, one drink.
The shaken build
- Code Red, shaken
- Shake the schnapps and the liqueur with ice, strain over fresh ice in a highball, top with cherry soda. Slightly more dilution, slightly cleaner finish.
The frozen build
- Code Red, slushy
- Drop the build into a blender with a cup of crushed ice. Blend smooth, pour into a hurricane glass. Drinks like a tropical slushy with a cocktail edge.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Cola plus a teaspoon of grenadine. Different texture, similar flavour direction. Or use cranberry juice plus a teaspoon of simple syrup.
Apricot brandy or peach vodka. Both work in different directions, both keep the peach note alive.
Watermelon-flavoured vodka with a teaspoon of simple syrup. The colour drifts off, the flavour shape stays.
A pint glass works. The cocktail is mostly about volume; the glass shape is convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Code Red cocktail?
One and a half ounces of peach schnapps, one ounce of melon liqueur, topped with cherry soda over ice in a highball glass. Three ingredients.
How strong is a Code Red?
Around 8 percent ABV in the glass once topped with cherry soda. Most of the volume is mixer; the alcohol comes from the schnapps and the liqueur.
What does a Code Red taste like?
Cherry-soda sweetness up front, peach in the middle, faint melon on the finish. Sweet through the whole pour, no bitter or citrus notes.
Why is it called Code Red?
The colour and the flavour. Cherry soda turns the glass deep red and pushes the drink toward Mountain Dew Code Red territory. The name is back-bar marketing from the late 2000s.
Can I make it without cherry soda?
Cola plus a teaspoon of grenadine works as the closest substitute. The colour stays right; the flavour shifts slightly toward Coke-and-fruit.
Should I shake or stir?
Stir is standard. The cocktail is mostly soda by volume and shaking it would knock the carbonation flat. A quick stir to combine is enough.
Can I use vodka instead of schnapps?
Adding an ounce of plain vodka makes the drink stronger but loses the peach note. Better to keep the schnapps and add the vodka on top if more alcohol is wanted.
What glass should I serve it in?
A tall highball or Collins glass over ice. The cocktail is around six ounces of finished drink and needs the volume.
Can I batch it for a party?
Combine the schnapps and the liqueur in a jug ahead of time. Top each glass with cherry soda at service so the carbonation lands sharp.
What other cocktails are similar?
A Cherry Bomb, a Vampire, a Sex on the Beach with cherry instead of cranberry, and a Pink Pussy. All four lean on a sweet fruit liqueur and a coloured mixer.
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