Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Triple Sec
- 1 oz Light Rum
- 1 dash Grenadine Syrup
- Top with Tonic Water
Instructions
Combine Spirits:
- In a rocks glass filled with ice, add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz triple sec, and 1 oz light rum.
Top with Tonic Water:
- Top the mixture with tonic water.
Add Grenadine:
- Add a dash of grenadine syrup.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy the divine, refreshing flavors.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
This Holy Water Cocktail #2, with its blend of common spirits and a highball build, doesn’t claim a deep, historical lineage. It’s likely a modern bar invention or a popular house special, emerging in the latter half of the 20th century. Drinks like this are born out of a desire for accessible, crowd-pleasing options, often found in casual settings rather than classic cocktail lounges.
The Holy Water Cocktail #2 sits firmly in the highball family, a close cousin to drinks like a Long Island Iced Tea due to its multiple spirit base topped with a mixer. It’s a step up from a simple Vodka Tonic or Rum and Coke, with the triple sec adding a citrus sweetness and the grenadine providing a visual flourish and a touch of berry flavor that separates it from more basic builds.
You’d typically find or serve a Holy Water Cocktail #2 at a lively beach bar, a resort pool deck, or a backyard barbecue. It’s a go-to for casual gatherings where guests appreciate a refreshing, easy-to-drink option that doesn’t demand a lot of thought or highly specialized ingredients. Think sunshine, good company, and a drink that keeps the mood light.
What it tastes like
On the first sip, the Holy Water Cocktail #2 presents a sweet, citrusy front from the triple sec, quickly followed by the clean, smooth base of vodka and the subtle tropical notes of light rum. The mid-palate introduces the crisp bitterness and effervescence of tonic water, which balances the initial sweetness. The finish is light and refreshing, with a lingering whisper of grenadine berry and tonic’s quinine character.
With 2 oz of 40% ABV vodka, 1 oz of 20% ABV triple sec, and 1 oz of 40% ABV light rum, this drink contains approximately 1.4 oz of pure alcohol. When topped with roughly 4-6 oz of tonic water, a typical 8-10 oz serving means the Holy Water Cocktail #2 lands around 14-17.5% ABV. This puts it stronger than a standard beer, but on the lighter side for a multi-spirit cocktail, making it deceptively easy to drink.
The technique
Building a Holy Water Cocktail #2 is as straightforward as it gets. Grab a rocks glass, fill it with fresh ice. Pour in your vodka, triple sec, and light rum directly over the ice. Give it a quick stir to combine the spirits and chill them down. Next, top the glass with tonic water, filling it almost to the rim. Finally, add a dash of grenadine, letting it sink and create a visual layer before serving immediately.
The most important technique for this drink is how you add the grenadine. Dropping it in last, after the tonic, allows it to slowly descend and create an attractive, layered effect. If you dump it in with the spirits or stir it vigorously, you’ll just end up with a uniformly pink drink, losing that visual appeal which is part of the ‘holy water’ charm.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Vodka
- Use
- A good quality, neutral vodka like Tito’s, Absolut, or Smirnoff. You want a clean canvas here, not a spirit that will fight with the other flavors.
- Skip
- Heavily flavored vodkas or cheap, harsh spirits. A strong, rubbing alcohol taste will overpower the delicate balance and make the drink unpleasant.
- Why
- Vodka provides the primary alcoholic backbone without imparting strong flavors, allowing the rum and triple sec to add nuance while keeping the drink light and refreshing.
Light Rum
- Use
- An unaged, light-bodied white rum such as Bacardi Superior, Havana Club 3 Años, or Cruzan Light Rum. These offer a subtle sweetness and a hint of tropical character.
- Skip
- Dark rums, spiced rums, or agricole rums. Their strong, distinct flavors would completely alter the profile of the Holy Water Cocktail #2, making it a different drink entirely.
- Why
- Light rum adds a layer of complexity and a touch of the Caribbean without making the drink taste like a full-blown tiki cocktail. It’s a supporting actor, not the lead.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Holy Water Cocktail #1
- The rumored original, simpler iteration.
- This version often features just vodka, light rum, and blue curaçao, topped with tonic or lemon-lime soda. It’s a simpler, often bluer, predecessor to the #2.
Blue Holy Water
- A vibrant color swap.
- Substitute the grenadine with a dash of blue curaçao. This changes the color to a striking blue and adds a different citrus note, making it visually distinct and slightly tarter.
Holy Lemonade
- Sweet and tangy twist.
- Swap the tonic water for lemonade. This creates a sweeter, more overtly tart drink, turning it into a boozy, refreshing lemonade perfect for a hot day.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use Cointreau or Grand Marnier for a similar orange liqueur profile, though they might be sweeter or have a more pronounced orange flavor. A splash of orange juice with simple syrup can work in a pinch, but you lose some complexity.
White tequila can offer a different but complementary spirit profile, or simply increase the vodka by 1 oz for a stronger, vodka-dominant drink.
Club soda will provide effervescence with less bitterness. For a sweeter drink, lemon-lime soda or ginger ale are viable alternatives.
Any standard highball glass or even a pint glass will work. The key is enough space for ice and the tonic top off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Holy Water Cocktail #2?
The Holy Water Cocktail #2 contains vodka, triple sec, light rum, grenadine syrup, and is topped with tonic water.
Is Holy Water Cocktail #2 strong?
It’s moderately strong, typically ranging from 14-17.5% ABV depending on how much tonic water is used. It’s stronger than a standard beer but on the lighter side for a multi-spirit cocktail.
What does Holy Water Cocktail #2 taste like?
It tastes sweet and citrusy upfront, with a smooth, light spirit base, balanced by the crisp bitterness of tonic water and a subtle berry finish from the grenadine.
What kind of rum should I use?
Use a light, unaged rum like Bacardi Superior or Havana Club 3 Años. Avoid dark, spiced, or aged rums as they will significantly alter the drink’s profile.
Can I make a pitcher of Holy Water Cocktail #2?
Yes, you can pre-mix the vodka, triple sec, and light rum. When serving, pour the spirit mix over ice, then top with tonic water and a dash of grenadine in each glass.
What’s the best way to serve Holy Water Cocktail #2?
Serve it immediately after building in a rocks glass filled with ice, allowing the grenadine to create a visual layer as it sinks.
What’s the difference between Holy Water Cocktail #1 and #2?
Generally, Holy Water Cocktail #1 is a simpler version, often featuring vodka, light rum, and blue curaçao with tonic or soda, while #2 adds triple sec and uses grenadine for color.
Can I use flavored vodka?
While possible, using flavored vodka will change the intended profile of the drink. If you want to experiment, choose a flavor that complements citrus and light rum, like a berry or citrus vodka, but know it won’t be the classic Holy Water Cocktail #2.
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