This refreshing cocktail is a perfect way to celebrate spring with its vibrant and invigorating flavors and a delightful nod to the shades of pink on the Augusta National golf course.
Whether you’re a golf enthusiast or simply enjoy a well-crafted cocktail, the Azalea is a must-try drink that captures the essence of Augusta National’s Masters Golf Tournament.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Azalea Cocktail
The Azalea cocktail is closely associated with the Masters Tournament, one of golf’s most prestigious events held annually in Augusta, Georgia. The drink gets its name from the beautiful azalea flowers that bloom throughout Augusta National Golf Club, where the tournament takes place. This refreshing cocktail is a popular choice for those celebrating the Masters, making it a must-have beverage for golf fans and springtime gatherings alike.
- Flavor: The azalea cocktail combines fresh lemonade, grenadine, and Kettle One Vodka. It’s known as the signature cocktail of the Masters golf tournament.
- Authentic Recipes: Many online recipes call for pineapple juice, but my recipe does not include it. I have several friends (to remain anonymous) who work at the National, and they have shared with me how the drink was made during employee events.
- Prep Tip: A helpful trick for making the process smoother.
- Ingredient Tip: Special ingredient swaps or enhancements.
Why is the cocktail called an Azalea?
If you ever visit Augusta, Georgia, in the spring, you’ll be amazed by the colorful flowers that cover the yards and the Augusta National golf course. It only seems fitting that a cocktail would be created to emulate the beautiful pink azaleas on the 13th green.
The par 5,510-yard hole is named Azalea due to the cascade of beautiful azalea bushes that surround the green when in full bloom each spring during the Masters. On the south side of this hole, there are many varieties of azaleas, about 1,600 bushes in all. The golfers are engulfed in a cascade of pink colors.
Azalea Drink Ingredients
This cocktail is straightforward to make. The key is to use fresh lemonade, not concentrate or artificially flavored.
- Lemonade: Don’t skimp and buy cheap lemonade. Make your own with fresh lemons and sugar, or purchase 100 % juice lemonade.
- Grenadine: Grenadine is a cocktail mixer syrup made from fresh pomegranate juice reduced with sugar. It is a simple syrup with a hint of citrus flavor and adds a stunning red color to your drink. I like to use Rose’s Grenadine. The grenadine is the key ingredient that evokes thoughts of gorgeous pink azaleas at the 13th green.
- Kettle One Vodka: You can use your favorite brand, but to keep it authentic to our local golf club, use Kettle One.
- Garnishes: The Augusta tradition is to garnish the Azalea with 1 maraschino cherry and a slice of orange.
How To Make An Azalea Cocktail
This signature drink of the Masters will be a hit with any golf fan while watching the Masters on a lovely spring day.
- Combine 5 ounces of fresh-squeezed lemonade, 1/2 ounce of grenadine, and 1 1/2 ounces of Ketel One Vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake the contents well.
- Pour and strain the mixture into an ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and a slice of orange.
Serving Ideas For An Azalea Cocktail
To add a touch of fancy, serve the Azalea cocktail in a large martini glass or coupe glass. To add a special floral accent to this drink, I like to garnish it with pink rose petals. I float them on top of the drink for looks, but they are edible. They have an earthy and floral taste with a slight sweetness.
To add a touch of floral accent to this drink, I like to garnish it with pink rose petals. I float them on top of the drink for looks, but they are edible. They have an earthy and floral taste with a slight sweetness.
Garnish Warning: When garnishing your Augusta Azalea Cocktail, it’s essential to remember that azalea flowers are toxic, so they should not be used as a garnish in your drinks. To keep it safe and floral opt for dried rose petals as a beautiful and harmless alternative. I’ll give you a link to purchase them later on in the post.
The Azalea Cocktail is the signature drink of the Masters, bringing a refreshing mix of gin, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and grenadine to the tournament’s iconic experience. Just like this vibrant cocktail, the food at Augusta National is just as legendary. Explore the History of Masters Golf Tournament Concession Stand Food to learn about the classic snacks and sandwiches that have been enjoyed alongside this beloved drink for decades.
Masters Party Food and Drink Menu
Get ready for the 2025 Masters Tournament with these authentic tasting copycat recipes inspired by the historic Augusta National’s Masters golf tournament. Create a full Masters Party Food Menu with these make-at-home recipes.
Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
Signature Azalea Cocktail Recipe
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
You can add any recipe from Intentional Hospitality to your shopping list to plan a full menu!
Ingredients
- 5 ounces Lemonade, fresh-squeezed
- 1/2 ounce Grenadine
- 1 1/2 ounces Vodka, Ketel One Vodka
- 1 Maraschino cherry, Garnish
- 1 slice orange , Garnish
Instructions
- Combine 5 ounces of fresh-squeezed lemonade, 1/2 ounce of grenadine, and 1 1/2 ounces of Ketel One Vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake the contents well.
- Pour and strain the mixture into an ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and a slice of orange.
Equipment
I will try this recipe. I learned how to make an Azalea from Reggie, an ANGC bartender. He used vodka, real lemon juice (not lemonade), pineapple juice and grenadine garnished with a maraschino cherry and orange slice.
Do you think this could be made in a bug batch to put in punch bowl for a masters party? garnish on the side
Absolutely YES — the Azalea Cocktail is perfect for batching in a punch bowl for a Masters party!
Azalea Cocktail for 15 Servings (Masters Party Punch Bowl)
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups vodka (that’s 20 oz or about 1 standard bottle)
2 ½ cups pineapple juice
1 ¼ cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup grenadine (adjust to taste — more if you want deeper pink and sweeter)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a large jug or directly in the punch bowl.
Stir well and chill until ready to serve.
Right before guests arrive, add a large ice block or ice ring to keep it cold without watering it down too fast.When you freeze the ice, add in Maraschino cherries, orange wedges or my favorite, a few pink golf balls.