Looking for a Grand Pacific Cooler recipe that captures the vastness of the ocean in a single glass? This is the one. Fruity sweetness, tart lime, and gin’s sharp edge blend seamlessly, while ginger ale’s fizz ties the whole thing together with a light, effervescent finish.
It’s a natural fit for a summer evening, easy enough for beginners yet layered enough to keep things interesting. Give it a try.
Recipe & Method
Ingredients
Recipe no.046
- Dry gin — 1 + 1/3 oz (40ml)
- Southern Comfort — 5/6 oz (25ml)
- Lime juice — 1/3 oz (10ml)
- Grenadine syrup — 1/3 oz (10ml)
- Ginger ale — Full
- Maraschino cherry
- “Full” means filling the glass to about 80–90% capacity.
Instructions
Add the dry gin, Southern Comfort, lime juice, grenadine, and ice to a shaker, in that order.
Shake well, then strain into a glass filled with ice.
Fill gently with ginger ale to avoid excess foam, then stir slowly and lightly. When mixing in something carbonated, one to two slow rotations while lifting and lowering the ice is all it takes to combine everything.
Slice a maraschino cherry and perch it on the rim of the glass to finish.
- Technique ｜ Shake & Stir
- Glass ｜ Collins glass / Tumbler
- ABV ｜ Roughly 11–12%
- Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime
- Style ｜ Cooler
Grand Pacific Cooler in Detail
Flavor & Character
Where this cocktail’s name actually comes from is genuinely uncertain — one theory holds that it evokes the sheer scale and refreshing spirit of the Pacific Ocean itself, while another claims it’s named after a fictional hotel called the “Grand Pacific.” Neither has been definitively confirmed.
What can be said with more confidence is that the Grand Pacific Cooler is generally believed to have originated in the United States sometime around the 1950s, later gaining a following stateside through the 1970s and ’80s. I’d argue the mystery around its name actually suits the drink — it’s the kind of cocktail whose flavor speaks for itself regardless of the story behind it.
This long drink strikes a genuine balance between refreshment and complexity. Gin’s sharp bite meets Southern Comfort’s peachy sweetness, lime juice’s acidity, and grenadine’s rich sugar, all pulled together and cleaned up by ginger ale’s crispness.
The first sip opens with a burst of fruity aroma, followed by gin and ginger delivering a bracing, refreshing kick. What lingers afterward is a finish that’s gently sweet but never cloying. Served well-iced, it’s tailor-made for a summer evening.
Not too sweet, not too sharp, and layered enough to keep every sip interesting — this genuinely qualifies as a cocktail that never gets old, and I’d recommend it confidently to beginners and more seasoned drinkers alike.
Points, Twists & Food Pairings
Points — A common mistake is pouring the ginger ale in too fast, which kills the carbonation before it even hits the glass. Pour slowly down the side of the glass, and you’ll keep every bit of that fizz intact.
Twists —
- Peach Boost — Add a splash of peach schnapps to amplify Southern Comfort’s natural peachy character.
- Citrus Swap — Replace lime juice with fresh grapefruit juice for a slightly more bitter, adult-leaning edge.
- Spiced Version — Use a spicier ginger beer instead of ginger ale for a bolder, warming kick.
Best Pairings —
- Grilled peach skewers — the caramelized fruit sweetness mirrors Southern Comfort’s peach notes, creating a seamless flavor bridge.
- Spicy buffalo cauliflower — the cocktail’s ginger and citrus cut through the heat, refreshing the palate between bites.
- Prosciutto-wrapped melon — the salty-sweet contrast plays beautifully against the drink’s layered fruitiness, and I’d genuinely serve this pairing at any summer gathering.
Grand Pacific Cooler Recipe: An Easy 5-Ingredient Gin Cocktail
A refreshing gin cocktail balancing Southern Comfort's peachy sweetness, tart lime, and crisp ginger ale — easy to make and layered enough to stay interesting.
タイプ: Cocktail
料理: American
キーワード: Grand Pacific Cooler, gin cooler cocktail, Southern Comfort cocktail, gin ginger ale drink
レシピー歩留まり: 1 drink
準備時間: PT5M
所要時間: PT5M
レシピー材料:
- Dry gin — 1 + 1/3 oz (40ml)
- Southern Comfort — 5/6 oz (25ml)
- Lime juice — 1/3 oz (10ml)
- Grenadine syrup — 1/3 oz (10ml)
- Ginger ale — Full
- Maraschino cherry
レシピーの説明:
Combine:
- Add the dry gin, Southern Comfort, lime juice, grenadine, and ice to a shaker, in that order.
Shake:
- Shake well, then strain into a glass filled with ice.
Stir in the carbonation:
- Fill gently with ginger ale to avoid excess foam, then stir slowly and lightly. When mixing in something carbonated, one to two slow rotations while lifting and lowering the ice is all it takes to combine everything.
Finish:
- Slice a maraschino cherry and perch it on the rim of the glass to finish.
