Easy
Citrusy, Bitter & Spirit-forward
3 minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
Six ingredients, perfectly weighted, delivering layer after layer of citrus with a bittersweet finish.
Elegant enough for an aperitif, bright citrusy enough for a casual summer afternoon, the Red Square cocktail has a place at every table.
How to Make a Red Square Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
Citrus Press
Knife
How to Mix
-
Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and pour Absolut Citron into a cocktail shaker, followed by Absolut Mandrin.
-
Measure and add Red Bitter Italian Liqueur, followed by Triple Sec and Cranberry Juice.
-
Cut a Lemon in half, then use a citrus press to juice half a Lemon.
-
Measure and add Lemon Juice.
-
Add Absolut Mandrin.
-
Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake until its ice cold.
-
Place a Hawthorne strainer over the opening of the shaker, then hold a fine mesh strainer over a pre-chilled cocktail glass with your other hand.
-
Pour the cocktail through both strainers into the glass. Enjoy!
All about the Red Square
If its layers of citrus flavor doesn’t grab your attention, it’s striking deep red color will. The Red Square cocktail combines Absolut Citron, Absolut Mandrin, bitter red Italian liqueur, cranberry juice, fresh lemon juice, and triple sec, shaken with ice and strained into a cocktail glass. Since it’s an equal parts cocktail, it’s also one that’s easy to make – just measure and pour.
Spirit-forward citrusy, and complex. Absolut Citron and Absolut Mandrin bring lemon and mandarin to the fore, while the bitter red Italian liqueur adds bitterness and depth. The cranberry delivers a tart backbone and that stunning red colur, with triple sec rounding everything out with a hint of orange sweetness.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice
With so much citrus already at play – orange-forward triple sec, lemon-flavored vodka, mandarin-flavored vodka, and bitter red Italian liqueur – fresh lemon juice is the ingredient that ties it all together, delivering a clean acidity that sharpens and balances every other flavor in the glass. Avoid store-bought bottled stuff – make your own juice instead. - Don’t rush the shake
Shake hard and long enough to properly chill and dilute the drink. The outside of your shaker should feel ice cold before you strain. - Chill your cocktail glass
Pop your glassware in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving to keep the drink at its coldest and best for longer. - Fine strain for a polished finish
Straining through both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer removes any ice chips or pulp for a crystal-clear, bar-quality result. Check out our article on how to double strain a cocktail.
- We recommend serving the Red Square cocktail into a pre-chilled cocktail glass.
- If you’re looking to elevate the drink further, express the oils from an orange peel over the surface of the glass, twist the peel to release its full aroma, and drop it in.
Red Square Cocktail FAQ
A Red Square cocktail is made with Absolut Citron, Absolut Mandrin, bitter red Italian liqueur, cranberry juice, fresh lemon juice, and triple sec.
The Red Square is made with two different flavored vodkas – lemon and mandarin. The other ingredients are triple sec, bitter red Italian liqueur, lemon juice and cranberry juice.
The Red Square cocktail is as versatile as it is elegant. Its bright citrus profile and vivid red color make it a natural fit for summer entertaining, while its bittersweet depth makes it the perfect aperitif in true Italian style.
