Cocktails

What The Hell

What The Hell is an alcoholic cocktail built on Gin. It leans citrus, botanical and herbal. Stirred and served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. Expect about 21.3% ABV and roughly 202 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic21.3% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

202 kcalCalories

21.3%ABV

10.8gSugar

15.6gCarbs

1.42Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 4 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

1.0 ozGinBase Spirit
1.0 ozDry VermouthFortified Wine
1.0 ozApricot Flavored BrandyBase Spirit
1.0 ozLemon JuiceJuice

How to Make It

Stir in old-fashioned glass over ice cubes.Stirred

How to Serve

Glass: Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Cubed ice
Method: Stirred

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Citrus Botanical Herbal

Supporting notes

Apricot Dry Juniper Stone Fruit

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

AcidityFlat – Crisp

FruitinessEarthy – Fruity

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

AperitifSuggested from its dry and botanical notes.
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, strict multi-signal supplemental rules, and cached for public page performance.

Food pairings

Seafood Ceviche Salads

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 Vegan Vegetarian

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

Gin1.0 oz

VodkaKnown variation

How much to use: Use the same volume; expect less juniper and botanical aroma.
What changes: Vodka can replace gin when you want a cleaner, less botanical drink, but it usually changes the cocktail identity.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Dry Vermouth1.0 oz

Dry SherryWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount, then taste; the result will be less herbal and more savoury.
What changes: Dry sherry can replace dry vermouth when a drier, more saline and less herbal variation is acceptable.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lillet BlancKnown variation

How much to use: Start with the recipe amount and taste; reduce it if the drink becomes too soft or sweet.
What changes: Lillet Blanc can stand in for dry vermouth in a Martini-style drink, but it produces a softer and slightly sweeter variation.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Sweet VermouthNot a neutral swap

How much to use: Use only if a sweeter vermouth profile is acceptable.
What changes: Sweet vermouth is not a neutral substitute for dry vermouth; it makes the drink sweeter and rounder.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lemon Juice1.0 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.

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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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Related searches

Try alcohol-freeBrowse mocktails and zero-ABV alternatives.Make it lighterTry a longer serve style, more ice, soda, tonic or a lower-ABV alternative.Lower the sugarCompare with drinks that use less estimated sugar per serve.Lower the caloriesCompare with drinks that sit lower on estimated calories per serve.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a What The Hell?: The What The Hell is a cocktail made with 4 ingredients, traditionally served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 21.3%. A standard serving contains approximately 202 calories.
What does a What The Hell taste like?: What The Hell has a flavour profile featuring Citrus, Botanical, Herbal, Apricot. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a What The Hell?: What The Hell pairs well with Seafood, Ceviche, Salads. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a What The Hell?: The What The Hell has an ABV of approximately 21.3%. That's approximately 1.42 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 202 kcal, 10.8g sugar, 15.6g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a What The Hell typically served?: What The Hell is often suggested for Aperitif, Seafood Dinner, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a What The Hell?: If you enjoy What The Hell, 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 What The Hell at home?: Yes. The What The Hell uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward 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 What The Hell 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.