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 the Masters Tournament and the blooming beauty of the season.
Join me in raising a toast to the Masters tournament with this refreshing Azalea Cocktail! Try out the recipe, and share your experience with this delightful drink in the comments below.
What is an Azalea cocktail?
The azalea cocktail combines fresh lemonade, grenadine, and Kettle One Vodka. It’s known as the signature cocktail of the Masters golf tournament.
However, don’t be disappointed when you go to the Masters tournament and find out you can’t order an Azalea cocktail at the tournament concession stands. The only place at the National you can get this famous pink cocktail is at the bar in the clubhouse.
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.
Remember, if you attend the Masters, you will not find the Azalea drink served on the course, so be sure to add this recipe to your Masters viewing party menu on tournament Sunday.
Why is the cocktail called 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 the 13th green. I took this picture on Monday and as you can see some years they wait to show their glory on tournament Sunday.
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 color.
It is one of the most beautiful holes in professional golf!
Azalea 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.
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.
Make A Fancy 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.
Masters Cocktail Party Menu
Grab your green jacket, and let’s have a Masters Cocktail Party. Your guests will be impressed when you serve Masters-themed snacks and finger foods with their Masters’ signature cocktail.
Create a plate of finger sandwiches to serve using my Masers pimento cheese sandwich recipe, Masters Egg Salad, and Masters Chicken Salad recipe. A newer item on the Masters concession stand menu Southern Cheese Straws would be perfect as a cocktail snack.
If you are having a Masters viewing party, big batches of this refreshing cocktail will be a must-serve. Adjusting my recipe card makes it easy to make a pitcher full. In the recipe card below, all you have to do is tap 2X to double or 3x to triple this recipe. The amounts for each ingredient will change, then hit the print button. Here is another tip: slide over the sleep mode tab in the recipe card to prevent your phone screen from going dark while you are making the recipe. It’s that easy!
Do you have a question?
Do you have a question about this recipe❓ I will answer in the comment form below👇🏼 the recipe card. Did you make this recipe? If so, could you be a gem and leave a comment and rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below? This helps others find yummy 😋 recipes to make for their family and friends.
The Pink Masters Azalea Cocktail
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
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.