I first discovered the Chuck Norris cocktail at a friend’s backyard barbecue last summer. The host – whose bartending skills were only rivaled by his love of dad jokes – handed me a mysterious, bright-red drink with a grin and said, “Brace yourself.” One sip, and I got it: the name fits. It’s sweet, tart, and just the right amount of ridiculous, with a surprising kick from the energy drink. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or if it just dared me to keep sipping, but, either way, it was a hit for the rest of the night.
The Chuck Norris isn’t likely to show up in any classic cocktail manual, but it’s developed a reputation at house parties and college gatherings – anywhere that prizes a bit of fun (and maybe a boost of caffeine for late-night antics). Vodka and energy drink do most of the heavy lifting, grenadine brings the color and a cherry sweetness, and a hit of lime juice keeps it from going over the top. Subtle? No. But sometimes subtlety just isn’t the vibe.
Strength & Profile
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Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 3 oz energy drink (classic Red Bull fits the bill)
- 0.5 oz grenadine
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge for garnish
How To Make It
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the vodka, lime juice, and grenadine.
- Shake it hard for 10–15 seconds.
- Strain into a highball glass packed with fresh ice.
- Top it off with the energy drink – don’t shake that or you’ll have a mess.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
If you’re making one for someone skipping the booze, just leave out the vodka and add extra energy drink or a big splash of club soda to cut the sweetness.
Heads up – there’s nothing low-calorie here, thanks to grenadine and the energy drink. If you want to lighten it up a bit, swap in sugar-free energy drink and scale back the grenadine. Still fun, fewer jitters.
I’ve found this cocktail pairs surprisingly well with spicy food. There’s something about the sweetness and the caffeinated bite that compliments a plate of buffalo wings or nachos, and it just works. I know – it sounds a little insane, but trust me on this one.
There’s plenty of room to improvise, too. Sometimes I’ll switch out the vodka for white rum, or use a splash of pomegranate juice instead of grenadine. My friend Taylor swears by a splash of cranberry – her “Chuck Norris Punch.” Not exactly canonical, but definitely party-approved.
If you’re playing host, you can prep the vodka, lime juice, and grenadine mix in a pitcher ahead of time. When guests arrive, just pour over ice and add the energy drink as you go. And one piece of advice: keep an eye on how many rounds people are pouring. Between the vodka and the caffeine, you’ll want to pace yourself – Chuck Norris has a way of sneaking up on everyone.
