What ingredients are in a Grim Reaper?

1 oz Kahlua, 1 oz Bacardi 151 proof rum, 1 dash Grenadine

What glass do you use for a Grim Reaper?

A Grim Reaper is traditionally served in a Old-fashioned glass.

How strong is a Grim Reaper?

A Grim Reaper has an estimated ABV of 34,38%.

How many calories are in a Grim Reaper?

A Grim Reaper contains approximately 238 calories per serving.

Grim Reaper

Glas Old-fashioned glass

Schwierigkeitsgrad Easy

Kalorien ~238 kcal

ABV 34,38%

Zutaten

Kahlua 1 oz
151 proof rum 1 oz Bacardi
Grenadine 1 dash

Anweisungen

Mix Kahlua and 151 in glass. Quickly add ice and pour grenadine over ice to give ice red tint.

Strong Shot

The Grim Reaper is a strong, coffee-and-rum cocktail combining Kahlúa with overproof Bacardi 151 rum and a dash of grenadine, served over ice in an old-fashioned glass. The 151-proof rum dramatically elevates the ABV beyond a typical Kahlúa-based drink, creating a formidably strong, bittersweet, high-proof cocktail. The grenadine adds a faint red tint to the ice.

History & Origins

The Grim Reaper is a contemporary American bar creation with no documented single origin, typical of the high-proof, theatrically named drinks that emerged in American bar culture during the 1980s and 1990s. The name reflects the drink's dangerously high ABV, which approaches the ABV of many neat spirits despite containing multiple components. Its authorship is disputed.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: rich coffee and vanilla from the Kahlúa, sharp overproof rum, and a faint pomegranate sweetness from the grenadine. Palate: intensely strong and warming with the 151 rum's fire upfront, tempered slightly by the Kahlúa's coffee sweetness. Finish: long, fiery, and bittersweet with a lingering coffee-rum heat and a hint of pomegranate.

coffee rum bittersweet fiery strong

Pro Tip

Add the grenadine over the ice at the end as specified so it creates a visually striking red tint on the ice — do not stir it in as it is intended as a visual effect rather than a flavor driver.

Data verified September 2017

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