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Strawberry Kiss Cocktail

Name: Strawberry Kiss Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 2 oz Orange Juice; .75 oz Strawberry Schnapps; .75 oz White Rum; .5 oz Cranberry Juice; .25 oz Brandy

The Strawberry Kiss Cocktail is a sweet, fruit-forward concoction built for easy drinking. It’s a crowd-pleaser for those who prefer their cocktails on the sweeter side, with prominent notes of strawberry and orange. This drink doesn’t try to be complex; it delivers exactly what the name implies: a friendly, approachable sip. Expect to shake these up at casual parties or for anyone looking for a vibrant, boozy fruit juice.

Strawberry Kiss Cocktail Recipe

4.37 from 22 votes

Calories: 166kcal

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes minutes

Experience the sweet and refreshing flavors of the Strawberry Kiss Cocktail! This delightful mix combines orange juice, strawberry schnapps, white rum, cranberry juice, and a touch of brandy, creating a perfect drink for any occasion. Ideal for those who love a fruity and vibrant combination, this cocktail will add a touch of romance to your gathering.

Ingredients

▢ 2 oz Orange Juice
▢ .75 oz Strawberry Schnapps
▢ .75 oz White Rum
▢ .5 oz Cranberry Juice
▢ .25 oz Brandy

Instructions

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Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
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Add the orange juice, strawberry schnapps, white rum, cranberry juice, and brandy.
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Shake well to mix and chill the ingredients.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

The Strawberry Kiss Cocktail is perfect for those who enjoy a combination of sweet and citrus flavors. The mix of orange juice, strawberry schnapps, and cranberry juice creates a vibrant and refreshing flavor profile that is sure to leave an impression. This cocktail is ideal for parties, gatherings, or simply unwinding after a long day.

For the best experience, use fresh ingredients and serve the Strawberry Kiss Cocktail well-chilled. Its quick preparation and delightful flavors make it an excellent option for spontaneous fun or planned events. The fruity blend of ingredients will impress your friends and add a memorable twist to your party.

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Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 166kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 15g (5%)Saturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gPotassium: 125mg (4%)Sugar: 14g (16%)Vitamin A: 120IU (2%)Vitamin C: 30mg (36%)Calcium: 7mg (1%)Iron: 0.2mg (1%)

CourseCourse: Beverage, Cocktail, Drinks

CuisineCuisine: Beverage, Cocktail, Drinks

KeywordKeyword: Beverage Recipe, Cocktail Recipe, Drink Recipe

Where it came from

This kind of sweet, fruit-heavy cocktail isn’t tied to any specific historical period or region. It’s a modern bar creation, likely a riff on popular fruit-flavored drinks that gained traction in the late 20th century. Think resort bars or home mixologists experimenting with readily available flavored schnapps and juices. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, simple and sweet is exactly what people want.

The Strawberry Kiss lands squarely in the ‘shaken fruit cocktail’ family, sharing DNA with drinks like a fruity Daiquiri or a rum punch served individually. What sets it apart is the specific combination of strawberry schnapps, which brings a distinct candied fruit note, and the touch of brandy, which adds a subtle layer of warmth and depth often missing in similar sweet drinks.

You’d typically find or serve this drink at a lively house party, a casual backyard barbecue, or as a fun offering at a lounge bar that caters to a broad palate. It’s not a serious cocktail bar staple, but it certainly has its place when the goal is enjoyable, unpretentious refreshment.

What it tastes like

On the first sip, the Strawberry Kiss hits with a wave of sweet orange and candied strawberry from the schnapps. The white rum provides a subtle alcoholic backbone in the mid palate, quickly followed by a tart counterpoint from the cranberry juice. The finish is clean, with the brandy offering a fleeting, gentle warmth that rounds out the fruit without overpowering it. It’s a very fruit-forward, sweet, and approachable drink.

At roughly 12% ABV, this cocktail sits in the moderate strength category. It’s about as strong as a standard glass of wine, or a bit less potent than many spirit-forward classic cocktails like a Martini or Old Fashioned. It’s stronger than most beers, but the sweetness and fruit juice content make it easy to drink, so pace yourself accordingly.

The technique

Building a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail is straightforward. Grab your shaker, fill it with a generous amount of ice, and pour in all your liquid ingredients. Give it a good, hard shake for about 15 to 20 seconds. You want to ensure everything is thoroughly mixed and well chilled. Then, double strain it into your pre-chilled cocktail glass. Get it to the drinker quickly; this one doesn’t improve with time.

The most important technique here is a proper hard shake. Since this drink has a lot of juice and schnapps, it needs vigorous chilling and dilution to balance the sweetness and integrate the flavors. A weak shake leaves it warm, overly sweet, and less cohesive, making it taste like separate ingredients rather than a unified drink. Don’t be gentle with it.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Strawberry Schnapps

Use: Look for brands like DeKuyper, Bols, or Arrow. You want a clear, fruit-flavored schnapps around 15-20% ABV. Its primary role is to deliver a concentrated, sweet strawberry note.
Skip: Don’t substitute with strawberry liqueur, which is often thicker and sweeter with a different texture. Also avoid strawberry syrup on its own, as it lacks the alcoholic kick and flavor depth.
Why: This ingredient is the heart of the ‘Strawberry Kiss’ flavor profile. It provides a sweet, distinct strawberry essence that defines the drink, making it immediately recognizable and appealing to those seeking a fruit-forward experience.

White Rum

Use: Any decent light, unaged rum works well. Bacardi Superior, Cruzan Aged Light Rum, or even a good quality house white rum will do the trick. The goal is a neutral, clean spirit base.
Skip: Dark rum will dramatically change the color and introduce molasses or oak notes that clash with the bright fruit. Spiced rum will overpower the delicate strawberry and orange flavors.
Why: White rum provides the alcoholic foundation without competing with the vibrant fruit flavors. It’s a clean canvas that allows the schnapps, juices, and brandy to shine, contributing body and spirit without dominating the palate.

Three Variations

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

Strawberry Fizz

A lighter, spritzy take on the original.: After straining, top the cocktail with a splash of soda water or sparkling wine for added effervescence and a slightly drier finish. Serve in a highball glass.

Tropical Kiss

Swap some citrus for a more exotic fruit profile.: Replace half of the orange juice with pineapple juice and add a dash of coconut cream for a richer, more tropical twist on the original recipe.

Brandy Boost

More depth, less overt sweetness.: Increase the brandy to 0.5 oz and slightly reduce the strawberry schnapps to 0.5 oz. This gives the drink a more pronounced, sophisticated warmth from the brandy.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Strawberry Schnapps?

Use a strawberry liqueur or muddle a few fresh strawberries with a touch of simple syrup and a bit more white rum. The flavor will be slightly different, but still strawberry-focused.

No White Rum?

Vodka is a neutral substitute that will maintain the drink’s color and overall profile. A light gin could work if you don’t mind a subtle juniper influence.

No Brandy?

A touch of Cognac, Armagnac, or even a small amount of an aged rum can provide a similar warming depth. If you skip it entirely, the drink will be fruitier but lose some complexity.

No Cocktail Glass?

A chilled coupe, martini glass, or even a small wine glass will work. The key is serving it cold in an appropriate size for the volume of the drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is in a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail?

A Strawberry Kiss Cocktail contains orange juice, strawberry schnapps, white rum, cranberry juice, and a touch of brandy.

Is the Strawberry Kiss Cocktail very sweet?

Yes, it’s designed to be a sweet, fruit-forward drink. The schnapps and orange juice contribute significantly to its sweetness.

How strong is a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail?

It’s moderately strong, typically around 12% ABV, similar to a glass of wine. Its sweetness can mask the alcohol, so drink responsibly.

Can I make a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail less sweet?

To reduce sweetness, you can slightly decrease the orange juice and strawberry schnapps, and increase the cranberry juice for more tartness.

What’s the best way to garnish a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail?

A fresh strawberry on the rim, an orange twist, or a small sprig of mint makes a visually appealing garnish for this drink.

Can I prepare this cocktail in a large batch?

You can pre-batch the spirits and juices, but only add ice and shake just before serving. Pre-mixing with ice and letting it sit will lead to over-dilution.

What kind of rum is best for a Strawberry Kiss Cocktail?

A light, unaged white rum is ideal. It provides a clean alcoholic base that allows the fruit flavors to stand out without interference.

Is this a good cocktail for parties?

Absolutely. Its appealing color, sweet flavor, and easy-drinking nature make it a popular choice for parties and casual gatherings.

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