Rum · Classic · Sweet
Bacardi Cocktail Recipe
The only cocktail a 1936 New York judge ruled couldn't legally be made without one specific brand of rum. Equal parts sweet, sour and pretty in pink, this is the drink to pour when you want a Daiquiri with a little more drama — perfect for a celebratory toast or a warm-weather happy hour.
- Prep Time
- 1.5 min
- Method
- Shaken
- Glass
- Coupe glass
- Strength
- Medium-Strong
Every recipe on Sipped Right is tested for taste and balance before it's published.
Last updated October 20, 2026
About the Bacardi Cocktail
In 1936, the New York Supreme Court ruled that a drink could only legally be called a "Bacardi Cocktail" if made with Bacardi-brand rum, after the company sued two Manhattan venues for serving imitations. The ruling cemented the drink's now-classic form: white rum, fresh lime juice and grenadine, born in Cuba and popularized in Prohibition-era New York bars.
Built on a 3:1.5:1 ratio of white rum to fresh lime juice to grenadine, the Bacardi Cocktail is essentially a Daiquiri with grenadine standing in for simple syrup — the same rum-forward, citrus-balanced backbone, but with a rounder sweetness and the signature blush-pink color that sets it apart at a glance.
Ingredients
- White rum1 ½ oz
- Fresh lime juice¾ oz
- Grenadine½ oz
- Lime wheel, for garnish1 wheel
Method
- Measure and pour the white rum, fresh lime juice and grenadine into a shaker tin.
- Add ice to the shaker tin.
- Shake for 15 seconds.
- Fine-strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass.
- Cut a lime wheel.
- Place the lime wheel on the rim of the glass.
Glass & Garnish
Coupe glass, chilled and served up. Garnish with a lime wheel, echoing the fresh lime juice in the shake.
Notes
Named for the rum brand at the center of a landmark 1936 New York trademark ruling. Use a good-quality white rum and real pomegranate grenadine, not a corn-syrup imitation, for the truest color and flavor.
Tools Used
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FAQ
- Can I batch the Bacardi Cocktail for a party?
- Yes — multiply the rum, lime juice and grenadine by your guest count and combine in a pitcher, but add ice and shake individual servings just before pouring so the drink stays cold and properly diluted; pre-mixed batches lose their bright citrus snap if they sit too long before shaking.
- What can I use instead of grenadine?
- Pomegranate molasses thinned with a little simple syrup, or a splash of raspberry syrup, both mimic grenadine's fruity sweetness and pink tint in a pinch. Avoid neon-red corn-syrup grenadine if you can — real pomegranate-based versions give a rounder flavor and a more natural blush color to the finished drink.
- Does a Bacardi Cocktail have to be made with Bacardi rum?
- Legally, yes, according to a 1936 New York Supreme Court ruling that sided with the Bacardi company against bars serving imitations made with other rums. Today most home bartenders use any light white rum, but purists and any bar serving it by name in the US still default to genuine Bacardi Superior.
- What's the difference between a Bacardi Cocktail and a Daiquiri?
- Both are white rum, lime juice and a sweetener shaken and strained into a coupe, but the Bacardi Cocktail swaps the Daiquiri's simple syrup for grenadine, giving it a pink hue and a rounder, fruitier sweetness. Some versions also add a touch of sugar syrup alongside the grenadine for extra balance.
- What garnish goes with a Bacardi Cocktail?
- A simple lime wheel is the standard garnish, placed on the rim or dropped into the glass, echoing the lime juice inside the drink. Some bars add a maraschino cherry alongside it for extra color, but a lime wheel alone keeps the presentation clean and true to the classic.
