Skip to main content
WhatDrink

Cocktails

What The Hell

What The Hell is a cocktail made with Gin, Dry Vermouth, Apricot Flavored Brandy, and Lemon Juice. The listed recipe is stirred and served in a Old-Fashioned Glass.

Reviewed by How 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

How to Make It

  1. 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

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve What The Hell cold and taste the bitterness before adjusting sweetness. A citrus peel or clean garnish can lift the aroma without making it sweeter. It is commonly matched with seafood, ceviche, salads style pairings.

Taste

What does What The Hell taste like?

What The Hell has a drier, more aromatic profile. Bitter, herbal or botanical notes give it structure and make it feel less sugary.

Primary flavours

CitrusBotanicalHerbal

Supporting notes

ApricotDryJuniperStone 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?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if What The Hell is right for you

What The Hell suits drinkers who like drier, more aromatic cocktails. Choose it when you want structure, bitterness or herbal lift instead of a sweet fruit profile. The listed serve is about 21.3% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip What The Hell if...

Skip What The Hell if you prefer soft, sweet or fruit-led drinks. Bitter and herbal cocktails can feel dry or intense if you are expecting easy sweetness.

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

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

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.

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 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.