Arkansas Buttermilk

The Arkansas Buttermilk is a formidable party punch designed for a crowd, not a cocktail shaker. This isn’t about delicate balance, it’s about big flavor and an even bigger presentation, usually involving a very clean plastic gas can. It’s the kind of drink that turns up at a backyard barbecue, a tailgate, or any gathering where quantity and fun outweigh pretension. Expect it to disappear quickly.

Arkansas Buttermilk

4.34 from 12 votes

Calories: 253kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Instructions

▢
Pour ingredients one at a time. preferably in a "new" plastic gas can that has been cleaned and serve from gas can.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 253kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 40g (13%)Sugar: 38g (42%)

Punch

Where it came from

This drink’s exact origins are hazy, much like the juice it contains. It likely hails from the Southern United States, with “Arkansas” hinting at its regional roots. The “buttermilk” part is pure cheeky misdirection, probably referring to its opaque, slightly cloudy appearance once all the juices and grenadine combine, or just a bit of local humor. This isn’t a drink you’d find on a classic cocktail menu; it’s a homemade, large-format concoction for social events.

The Arkansas Buttermilk sits squarely in the punch family, a distant cousin to drinks like the Fish House Punch or the Jungle Bird, though far less refined. What sets it apart is its sheer scale, its unapologetically straightforward ingredient list, and its distinctive, if unconventional, serving vessel. It prioritizes volume and communal consumption over intricate preparation or delicate garnishes.

You wouldn’t order an Arkansas Buttermilk in a craft cocktail bar. This is a drink for a casual, outdoor gathering: a college football tailgate, a summer cookout, or a camping trip with a big group. It’s meant to be made in bulk, shared freely, and consumed without much thought beyond refilling your cup.

What it tastes like

On the first sip, the Arkansas Buttermilk hits with a wave of sweet, tangy fruit. The apple, orange, and grapefruit juices provide a complex, layered citrus and orchard fruit profile, immediately followed by the rich sweetness of grenadine. The lemon juice cuts through some of that sweetness, adding a necessary tartness. The vodka provides a clean, boozy kick, while the bourbon introduces a warmer, oaky depth on the finish, balancing the fruit with a subtle caramel note.

Given its substantial volume and the generous spirit content, the Arkansas Buttermilk clocks in around 5.8% ABV. This puts it roughly on par with a standard beer, but don’t let that fool you. Served in large quantities, this punch can sneak up on you. It’s designed for leisurely sipping over an afternoon, not rapid consumption.

The technique

Building the Arkansas Buttermilk is straightforward: grab your (very clean) plastic gas can or a similarly large, food-safe container. Start by pouring in all the fruit juices, followed by the grenadine. Give that a good stir to ensure everything is well combined. Then, add the vodka and the bourbon. Stir again until the spirits are fully integrated. The key here is to mix everything thoroughly before serving, ensuring a consistent flavor throughout the batch.

The most crucial technique for this punch is ensuring your serving vessel is impeccably clean and food-safe. If you’re using a plastic gas can, make absolutely certain it has never held fuel and has been thoroughly washed and rinsed multiple times. A lingering gasoline odor or residue will ruin the entire batch and could be dangerous. Safety and cleanliness are paramount when repurposing containers.

Drink Buddy Exclusive

Tell us what's in your cabinet.

Our Cocktail Builder takes whatever bottles you've got and hands you every drink you can actually make tonight.

Open the Builder →

Get the Drink Buddy newsletter

One drink, one tip, one Tuesday a month.

Plus the recipes we drop before they hit the site. Zero spam.

Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Vodka

Use: Any standard, unflavored vodka works well here. Brands like Smirnoff, Gordon’s, or even a store-brand clear spirit are perfectly acceptable for a punch of this scale. The goal is neutral alcohol content.
Skip: Avoid expensive craft vodkas or any flavored varieties. Their nuances will be lost among the strong fruit flavors, and a flavored vodka will likely clash with the overall profile.
Why: Vodka provides a clean, potent alcoholic base without introducing competing flavors. It boosts the ABV without altering the intended fruit-forward taste of the punch.

Bourbon Whiskey

Use: Opt for a reliable, mid-range bourbon. Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, or Wild Turkey 101 offer a good balance of flavor and value, bringing notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak that complement the fruit juices.
Skip: Don’t use your top-shelf single barrel bourbons here; their complexities will be overwhelmed. Likewise, avoid the cheapest, harshest bourbons, as they can introduce an unpleasant bite to the punch.
Why: Bourbon adds a critical layer of warmth and depth to the punch, providing a robust counterpoint to the sweetness and tartness of the fruit juices. It gives the drink its distinctly Southern character.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Peach Buttermilk

A peachy twist on the Southern classic.: Substitute half the orange juice with peach nectar and consider a splash of peach schnapps alongside the vodka for a sweeter, stone-fruit forward punch.

Spiced Apple Punch

Warm spices for cooler weather.: Infuse the apple juice with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves overnight. You can also swap the bourbon for a spiced rum to deepen the aromatic profile.

Citrus Buttermilk

Zesty and bright, with extra tang.: Increase the lemon juice slightly and add a portion of lime juice to the mix. Consider a grapefruit-flavored vodka for an extra layer of citrus punch.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Apple Juice?

White grape juice or pear nectar can provide a similar sweet, mellow base, though the flavor profile will shift slightly.

No Grenadine Syrup?

Raspberry syrup or a good quality cranberry juice concentrate can offer a comparable sweet-tart, red fruit note. Adjust quantity to taste.

No Bourbon Whiskey?

Rye whiskey will offer a spicier kick, while a dark rum can provide molasses and caramel notes. Both will change the character, but still work.

No plastic gas can?

A large, food-grade cooler, a big punch bowl, or even a clean five-gallon bucket with a spigot will work. Just ensure it’s spotless and safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in an Arkansas Buttermilk?

The Arkansas Buttermilk is a large-format punch made with apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, grenadine syrup, vodka, and bourbon whiskey.

Why is it called Arkansas Buttermilk?

The name is likely a humorous reference to its Southern roots and the opaque, slightly cloudy appearance the mixed juices and grenadine give the punch. There’s no actual buttermilk involved.

Is Arkansas Buttermilk strong?

At approximately 5.8% ABV, it’s roughly as strong as a standard beer. However, it’s served in large quantities, so it’s easy to consume more alcohol than intended if you’re not careful.

Can I make Arkansas Buttermilk ahead of time?

Absolutely. This punch is designed for batching. Mix all ingredients a few hours before serving to allow flavors to meld, and keep it chilled. Add ice just before serving to avoid dilution.

What kind of vodka should I use?

Any unflavored, standard vodka is suitable. Its role is to add alcohol without interfering with the punch’s fruit-forward profile. Save your premium vodkas for different cocktails.

What kind of bourbon should I use?

A mid-range bourbon like Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark is ideal. It provides good flavor and character without being so expensive that it’s wasted in a large batch punch.

What’s the deal with the gas can?

Using a clean, plastic gas can is a quirky, often rural, tradition for serving large batches of punch. It’s mostly for novelty and ease of dispensing, but ensure it’s never held fuel and is thoroughly sanitized.

Can I make a smaller batch?

Yes, you can easily scale down the recipe. Just maintain the ratios of juices to spirits and grenadine. For example, divide all quantities by four to make a more manageable amount.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read