Skip to main content
WhatDrink

Cocktails

Paddington

Paddington is a cocktail made with Absinthe, Light Rum, Lillet Blanc, and Fresh Grapefruit Juice. The listed recipe is built and served in a Cocktail Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic18.1% ABV7 ingredients

At a Glance

421 kcalCalories
18.1%ABV
25.4gSugar
33.5gCarbs
3.02Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 7 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

  • 1.0 ozAbsintheBase Spirit
  • 2.0 ozLight RumBase Spirit
  • 2.0 ozLillet BlancFortified Wine
  • 2.0 ozFresh grapefruit juiceJuice
  • 2.0 ozFresh lemon juiceJuice
  • 1.0 ozOrange marmaladeOther
  • 1 garnishgrapefruit twistGarnish

How to Make It

  1. Pour absinthe into chilled cocktail glass, swirl to coat inside, and discard excess.Pour
  2. Shake remaining ingredients with ice and strain into glass.Shaken
  3. Add grapefruit twist.Add

How to Serve

Glass
Cocktail Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Paddington 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 Paddington taste like?

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

Primary flavours

CitrusAnise

Supporting notes

BitterAperitifFloral

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

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

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Paddington is right for you

Paddington 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 18.1% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Paddington if...

Skip Paddington 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 lemon and citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

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

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

Light Rum2.0 oz

Aged RumKnown variation
How much to use
Use the same amount; reduce rich sweeteners only if the drink becomes too heavy.
What changes
Aged rum can replace light rum when a fuller, oakier variation is acceptable.
Dark RumWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount; reduce rich sweeteners if the result becomes too heavy.
What changes
Dark rum can replace light rum when a deeper, heavier rum profile is welcome.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Fresh Grapefruit Juice2.0 oz

Orange JuiceNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use the same amount, then add lime or lemon if it needs more bite.
What changes
Orange juice can replace grapefruit juice only if a sweeter, softer citrus result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Fresh Lemon Juice2.0 oz

Lime JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if the drink tastes too sharp.
What changes
Lime juice can usually replace lemon juice, but the drink becomes sharper and more tropical.
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.

Rate this recipe

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 Paddington at home?
Yes. The Paddington uses 7 ingredients, making it more involved to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.