Ingredients
- 45 ml vodka good quality
- 90 ml cranberry juice unsweetened cocktail style
- 45 ml orange juice fresh if possible
- 1 wheel orange garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the vodka.
- Add the cranberry juice, then top with orange juice.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with an orange wheel on the rim.
Notes
Where it came from
The Madras showed up in American bars in the 1960s, named after the Indian city (now Chennai) famous for its bright orange-red madras plaid fabric. The colour of the drink matches the cloth. Whoever named it nailed the visual.
It is essentially a Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry) with orange juice added. The orange softens the tartness of the cranberry and adds body. Brunch menus and beach bars latched on quickly.
Why three juices work
Cranberry brings tart and slight bitterness. Orange brings sweet and pulp body. Vodka stays neutral. The juices balance each other so neither dominates. Add a splash of soda and you have a low-ABV summer pour.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The cranberry juice
- Use
- Ocean Spray cranberry juice cocktail (the standard) or Cranberry Classic
- Try
- Pure unsweetened cranberry plus a teaspoon of sugar syrup
- Skip
- Cran-apple or cran-grape blends, they shift the flavour
The orange juice
- Use
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice
- Try
- Pulpy not-from-concentrate from the chiller
- Skip
- Orange drink concentrate, far too sweet
The vodka
- Use
- Any clean premium vodka: Tito’s, Absolut, Ketel One
- Try
- Citron vodka for extra brightness
- Why
- Vodka should be neutral. The juices are the flavour.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Pomegranate juice plus a squeeze of lime is the closest cousin.
Mandarin or tangerine juice both work. Pineapple juice tilts the drink towards a Bay Breeze.
White rum makes it a Bay Breeze cousin. Gin works if you like botanicals with cranberry.
Top with a splash of soda water. Drops the ABV, keeps the flavour.
Add a quarter ounce of fresh lime juice and a dash of orange bitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Madras cocktail?
The Madras is vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice over ice in a highball glass. Standard build is 45ml vodka, 90ml cranberry juice and 45ml orange juice with an orange wheel garnish.
Why is it called a Madras?
Named after the bright orange-red plaid fabric originally produced in Madras (now Chennai), India. The colour of the drink matches the cloth.
What is the difference between a Madras and a Cape Codder?
A Cape Codder is just vodka and cranberry juice. The Madras adds orange juice. The orange softens the tartness and adds body, making the Madras a touch sweeter and rounder.
What is the difference between a Madras and a Sea Breeze?
A Sea Breeze swaps the orange juice for grapefruit juice. Same vodka and cranberry base, sharper and drier with grapefruit. The Madras is sweeter and softer.
How strong is a Madras?
About 9-11 percent ABV in the glass. Roughly the same as a glass of wine. The juices dilute the vodka, which is part of the appeal.
Can I make a Madras with rum or gin?
Yes. Light rum gives a Bay Breeze cousin. Gin adds botanical lift and pairs well with cranberry. Both are good variations, neither is technically a Madras anymore.
Should the cranberry juice be unsweetened?
Standard cranberry juice cocktail (Ocean Spray) works fine and is what most bars use. Pure unsweetened cranberry is too tart on its own; if you use it, add a teaspoon of sugar syrup.
What food goes with a Madras?
Brunch food (eggs benedict, smoked salmon), salads with vinaigrette, grilled chicken, sushi. The cranberry tartness cuts richness.
