This refreshing Transfusion Drink Recipe is the perfect way to cool down after a golf round or sip while you watch your favorite golfer play in The Masters Tournament! The Transfusion Cocktail is a vodka-based cocktail made with concord grape juice, vodka, lime juice, and ginger ale. easy to make with only four refreshing ingredients.
The best transfusion recipe creates a thirst-quenching, bubbly, slightly fruity drink that goes down so easily!
What Is a Transfusion Cocktail?
A transfusion is a golf niche cocktail rumored to have origins in a former Augusta National member. Supposedly, former president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, enjoyed ordering a transfusion from the clubhouse bar after a round of golf.
Why it’s so popular in the golf world isn’t exactly known, but I think it’s because the flavor combination is the perfect way to cool down after spending hours on the golf course.
Whether you are just looking for a fun, new cocktail to enjoy or you’re planning a Masters Tournament party, you can’t go wrong with this transfusion drink recipe. If you would like to try some other golf drinks, you might also enjoy an Arnold Palmer drink or the famous Augusta Azalea Cocktail.
🛒 Ingredients For The Perfect Transfusion Cocktail
The transfusion golf drink is made with simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store and liquor store.
- Vodka: I recommend making this cocktail with a good quality vodka such as Ketel One, Tito’s or
- Concord grape juice: Make sure you choose Concord grape juice. Concord juice is made using the Concord grape found in America and some areas of Canada. This small fruit has a distinctive flavor and aroma that is different from other purple grapes.
- Fresh lime juice and lime wedges for garnish: Only use fresh lime juice when making a transfusion cocktail.
- Ginger ale: This soda with delicate ginger notes is the perfect sweet, bubbly mixer, and it’s what makes this golf drink so refreshing.
🍹How To Make This Transfusion Drink Recipe
Here’s a preview of how to make the perfect transfusion cocktail. For the full instructions, see the recipe card below.
1 Fill a glass (preferably a highball glass) with ice.
2. Juice lime to get 1 tablespoon
Tip for juicing: When I was in Bra, Italy, I purchased this citrus reamer because I liked how it looked. To my surprise, this kitchen tool is the best way I have found to juice lemons and limes, hands down. You don’t need to go to Italy to get a similar one. This Amazon lemon juice reamer with a seed catcher has a very handy seed catcher.
3. Pour lime juice and grape juice into the glass ice.
4. Add vodka.
5. Top with ginger ale, give it a quick stir and garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
Tips For Making A Transfusion Cocktail
- Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer before using it.
- Wait to pour your ginger ale just before serving for lots of bubbles.
- Be sure you buy Concord grape juice for its unique flavor.
- Only use fresh lime juice, not the bottled kind.
- Add plenty of ice for a perfectly chilled cocktail.
- Add a slice of fresh ginger to the glass for more effervescence.
How To Make A Low-Calorie Transfusion Drink
With a few substitutions of ingredients, you can make this a low-calorie transfusion drink.
- Ginger ale: Swap a regular ginger ale for a zero-calorie ginger ale soft drink.
- Grape Juice: Purchase a lite grape juice such as Welches Lite Concord Grape.
Recipe For A Transfusion Mocktail
You can make a great mocktail with a few simple tips and substitutions from the original cocktail recipe.
- Bubbles: Leave out the vodka and add a little more ginger ale and lime.
- Non-Alcoholic Vodka: Visit your local liquor store and ask them about their non-alcoholic section. You could try brands such as Arkay, Hackamore, Strykk, or Memento. Measurements will be the same as the original recipe.
Tips For Making The Cocktail
Transfusions are great to serve at cocktail parties or a Masters Viewing Party. Here are a few more tips for serving this special drink.
Do you need to shake or mix the transfusion cocktail?
A transfusion cocktail is layered into a glass and then mixed with a long cocktail spoon. To make a transfusion golfer’s drink, you build it in a highball glass. Start by pouring in the grape juice, then lime juice and vodka.
Slowly pour in the ginger ale. Stirring the cocktail too much will destroy the bubbles and make the drink a bit flat. You can give it a quick gentle stir after all the ingredients are in the glass.
Where can I find Concord grapes to use for garnish?
Concord grapes are most commonly used for making classic grape jelly and juice rather than being sold fresh in grocery stores. These small grapes are a deep, dark purple color and almost look a little bit like black olives.Â
They aren’t commonly available fresh because they are more delicate and harder to keep from being damaged. Every once in a while, you will find them in the grocery. They make an extra special way to garnish a transfusion cocktail.
What can I use instead of ginger ale?
If you do not like ginger ale, then you can substitute it with Fresca or Sprite.
What To Serve With A Transfusion Cocktail
Serve this cocktail with foods inspired by the Masters tournament and August, Georgia. My favorites are this Green Jacket Salad, Masters Pimento Cheese, and The Masters Peach Ice Cream Sandwich. You will also enjoy the Masters Egg Salad. It’s the #2 most popular sandwich served at the Masters concession stands. Did you know there is a Masters secret menu drink? The newest sandwich served in Augusta is the delicious Masters Chicken Salad on Brioche. They are all perfect recipes to serve when hosting a golf party or Masters Viewing Party.
More Cocktail Recipes
#️⃣ Need to make a big batch? I can help. 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. Or, if you prefer, slide over the sleep mode tab to prevent your phone screen from going dark. It’s that easy!
Famous Thirst Quenching Transfusion Drink Recipe
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces vodka, about 2 shots
- 1 ½ ounces Concord grape juice, about 1 shot
- 1 tablespoon lime juice, fresh squeezed
- ginger ale
- lime wedge, frozen grapes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a chilled glass (preferably a highball glass) with ice.
- Juice the lime to equal 1 tablespoon.
- Pour lime juice and grape juice into the glass ice.
- Add vodka.
- Top with ginger ale. Give it a quick gentle stir and garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
Notes
- Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer before using it.
- Wait to pour your ginger ale just before serving for lots of bubbles.
- Be sure you buy Concord grape juice for its unique flavor.
- Use fresh lime juice.
- Add plenty of ice for a perfectly chilled cocktail.
- Add a slice of fresh ginger to the glass for more effervescence.
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I love this cocktail! It’s a classic and my husband and son are so happy to have a recipe that they can make to watch the big tournaments! Great recipe
Cheers!