The Madras

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/9/24
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Madras is a refreshing, fruity highball drink that should be included on everyone's list of drinks to know. It is one of those easy vodka cocktails that concentrates on fruit juice and is a great option for mixing up at a moment's notice for any reason or occasion.

The Madras has some real kinship with the Cape Cod, a simple cocktail of just cranberry juice and vodka, and the cosmopolitan, a martini-style cocktail of vodka, orange liqueur, and cranberry and lime juice. The cocktail's fruitiness makes it fitting for brunch, daytime, or evening drinking.

The mix is quite simple: a shot of vodka and a 3:1 ratio of cranberry and orange juices. Of course, you can play with these ratios in any way that you like and even switch out the vodka. Try any of the fruit-flavored vodkas or use the Madras as an experimental vodka cocktail to see how your homemade infusion works with common fruits.

Madras cocktails in three glasses garnished with lime

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
what you'll need to make this madras recipe
A Jigger
A Good Bar Spoon
A Sleek Highball Glass

"The cranberry Madras is another cranberry-based vodka cocktail. It's easy to make, refreshing, and not overly sweet. I like to add a bit more orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible, to give the drink a little more body. Or you could pull back on the cranberry and bump up the vodka." —Tom Macy

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka

  • 3 ounces cranberry juice

  • 1 ounce orange juice

  • Lime wedge, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for the madras cocktail recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Pour the ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice.

    Madras cocktail ingredients poured into a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Stir well.

    Madras cocktail being stirred with a stirrer

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

    Madras cocktail garnished with a lime wedge

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • Don't forget the fresh OJ: You can make fresh cranberry juice, but it's honestly easier and cheaper to buy it by the bottle. However, orange juice is a different story, and you'll save money and have a better-tasting drink if you take a minute to squeeze a little fresh juice. It's easy and doesn't require a fancy juicer.
  • Serve it as a punch: The Madras is a drink that is perfect for mixing up ahead of time to be served as a party punch. Simply increase the ingredients and stir them in a pitcher and chill until it is time to serve. Add a few slices of orange, and you have a super easy punch that your guests will love.
  • Add a little sparkle: Top the Madras with seltzer, club soda, or ginger ale. Add sparkling wine to transform it into a brilliant brunch cocktail as well.
  • Try another fruity vodka favorite: While the Madras may be an easy drink to make, it can be easily switched up a bit. If you enjoy this one, mix up one of its vodka-cranberry cousins like the sea breeze (vodka-cranberry-grapefruit) and bay breeze (vodka-cranberry-pineapple).

How Strong Is the Madras?

In reality, you can make mixed drinks like the Madras as strong or as light as you like. It is just a matter of adding more or pouring less juice. However, the average Madras is a pretty light drink.


When mixed in the proportions given in the recipe with an 80-proof vodka, the Madras has an average alcohol content of about 10 percent ABV (20 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
171 Calories
0g Fat
20g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 171
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 63mg 316%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 199mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)