Its deep ruby-red colour gives the Ruby Tuesday its name, a simple highball of gin, cranberry juice, and a splash or two of grenadine poured over ice in a highball glass. Botanical gin meets the tart edge of cranberry, with the grenadine adding a touch of sweetness and deepening the colour. The drink is built directly in the glass and stirred, asking little of the maker beyond measurement. At roughly 9 percent alcohol by volume and around 220 calories, it belongs among the easy, low-effort cocktails meant for casual occasions, its appeal grounded in clean fruit flavour and an attractive hue rather than any structural complexity.

Ruby Tuesday cocktail in a highball glass — made with Gin, Cranberry Juice, and Grenadine

Ruby Tuesday

Difficulty Easy
Calories ~221 kcal
ABV 8.71%

Ingredients

Instructions

Pour gin and cranberry into a highball filled with ice cubes. Add grenadine and stir.

Fruity Refreshing

The Ruby Tuesday is a simple, refreshing highball built with gin, cranberry juice, and grenadine, resulting in a deep ruby-red color that inspired its name. The combination of gin's botanical character and tart cranberry makes for an easy-drinking, low-effort cocktail. It is served over ice in a highball glass with minimal preparation.

History & Origins

The Ruby Tuesday is a straightforward modern cocktail whose origin is disputed and likely emerged as a house drink at various bars during the 1980s and 1990s. Its name is often associated with the Rolling Stones song of the same title, though no direct link has been established. It belongs to a broad family of gin-and-juice highballs popularized across North America.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tart cranberry upfront with a subtle juniper note from the gin and faint pomegranate sweetness from the grenadine. Palate: Crisp and juicy cranberry dominates, with gin botanicals providing herbal structure and grenadine rounding the edges with gentle sweetness. Finish: Dry, slightly tart, with a clean citrus-like fade.

tart fruity cranberry botanical sweet

Pro Tip

Pour the grenadine last and avoid over-stirring so it layers slightly at the bottom for visual appeal.

Nutrition Facts →

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