Cocktails

Grim Reaper

Grim Reaper is an alcoholic cocktail built on Kahlua. It leans sweet, coffee and roasted. Built and served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. Expect about 41.5% ABV and roughly 203 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic41.5% ABV3 ingredients

At a Glance

203 kcalCalories

41.5%ABV

9.5gSugar

12.4gCarbs

1.4Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easybuilt drink

Why: 3 ingredients, uses syrup

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

1 ozKahluaLiqueur Modifier
1 oz Bacardi151 proof rumBase Spirit
1 dashGrenadineSweetener

How to Make It

Mix Kahlua and 151 in glass.
Quickly add ice and pour grenadine over ice to give ice red tint.Pour

How to Serve

Glass: Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Sweet Coffee Roasted

Supporting notes

Vanilla Aromatic

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

High ABV
Full-bodied

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

DessertSuggested from its coffee and vanilla notes, pairing with desserts pairing.
After DinnerSuggested from its coffee notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

DessertsChocolateCoffee Desserts

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Kahlua1 oz

Coffee LiqueurWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount and adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes: Coffee liqueur can usually replace Kahlua, though sweetness and coffee intensity may vary.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Grenadine1 dash

Fresh GrenadineGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Fresh grenadine is usually a close substitute for grenadine.

Pomegranate SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes: Pomegranate syrup can replace grenadine when a more pomegranate-forward flavor is acceptable.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated June 18, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Grim Reaper?: The Grim Reaper is a cocktail made with 3 ingredients, traditionally served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 41.5%. A standard serving contains approximately 203 calories.
What does a Grim Reaper taste like?: Grim Reaper has a flavour profile featuring Sweet, Coffee, Roasted, Vanilla. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a Grim Reaper?: Grim Reaper pairs well with Desserts, Chocolate, Coffee Desserts. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a Grim Reaper?: The Grim Reaper has an ABV of approximately 41.5%. That's approximately 1.40 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 203 kcal, 9.5g sugar, 12.4g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a Grim Reaper typically served?: Grim Reaper is often suggested for After Dinner, Dessert, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a Grim Reaper?: If you enjoy Grim Reaper, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make a Grim Reaper at home?: Yes. The Grim Reaper uses 3 ingredients, making it easy to prepare at home. You will need a Old-Fashioned Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of Grim Reaper with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.