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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Madras

Madras is a bright cranberry-orange cocktail with a simple chilled structure and an easygoing fruit-forward profile. It suits casual occasions where the drink should feel familiar and refreshing.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic12.1% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

204 kcalCalories
12.1%ABV
16.7gSugar
17.5gCarbs
1.42Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easybuilt drink

Why: 4 ingredients

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Build in order given into ice-filled Highball glass.Built
  2. Squeeze lime and add.Add

How to Serve

Glass
Highball Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Built
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Madras cold and taste the citrus balance before adding extra sugar. Fresh citrus usually makes the biggest difference. It is commonly matched with seafood, ceviche, salads style pairings.

Taste

What does Madras taste like?

Madras is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

TartCitrus

Supporting notes

BerryFruitySweet

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
  • Bright and citrusy
  • Fruity and vibrant

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Madras is right for you

Madras is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 11.6% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Madras if...

Skip Madras if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

  • Seafood DinnerSuggested from its citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.
  • SummerSuggested from its citrus notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, strict multi-signal supplemental rules, and cached for public page performance.

Food pairings

SeafoodCevicheSalads

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-FreeVeganVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

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

Vodka2.0 oz

GinWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect more juniper and herbal aroma.
What changes
Gin can replace vodka when a more botanical result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Cranberry Juice4.0 oz

Pomegranate JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust sweetness if the drink becomes too dry.
What changes
Pomegranate juice can replace cranberry juice when a deeper tart red-fruit note is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Orange Juice1.0 oz

Pineapple JuiceWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount first; reduce sweetener if the drink becomes too rich.
What changes
Pineapple juice can replace orange juice when a more tropical result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Grapefruit JuiceNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use less at first and consider adding a little sweetener.
What changes
Grapefruit juice is not a neutral substitute for orange juice; it makes the drink sharper and more bitter.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lime Wedge1 garnish

Lime WheelGood swap
How much to use
Use one wheel for one wedge; use extra juice only if the wedge was meant to be squeezed.
What changes
A lime wheel can replace a lime wedge when the garnish is mostly visual or aromatic.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-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

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Madras at home?
Yes. The Madras uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Highball Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.