Red and Yellow Cocktail

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.
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Updated on 04/8/21
Red and Yellow Rum-Soda Mixed Drink

  The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The red and yellow is a simple, refreshing mixed drink that anyone—no matter your level of experience—can quickly mix up at home. All you need is your favorite rum and a few common ingredients which may already be in your bar or kitchen. It's semi-sweet, effervescent, and inexpensive rum cocktail, making it perfect for entertaining or last-minute guests.

Bacardi Superior (the brand's standard white rum) and 7-Up are the two recommended brands that originally came with this recipe. They are excellent together, but you can certainly pour any light rum or lemon-lime soda you like. Adding grenadine brings in a hint of sweetness and the "red" color, while a splash of lime juice gives it a sweet-tart accent. It's pleasant and you really cannot beat the simplicity!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces light rum

  • 1/2 ounce grenadine

  • 1/4 ounce sweetened lime juice

  • 1 to 2 ounces lemon-lime soda, to taste

  • Lemon wedge, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In an old-fashioned glass filled with ice, pour the light rum, grenadine, and lime juice.

  3. Top with soda to taste.

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

Tips

  • For "sweetened" lime juice, you're essentially looking at any of the bottled lime juices, including Rose's.
  • You certainly can switch to fresh lime juice—squeezing half a lime will produce about 1/4 to 1/2 ounce—because the other ingredients will take care of the sweetness.
  • If you use real lime, it's easiest to switch to a lime wedge garnish so you don't have to cut up two pieces of fruit.
  • Other popular lemon-lime sodas include Sprite and Sierra Mist. Mountain Dew can be too sweet and Squirt will give it a grapefruit twist, which is nice.
  • For a naturally sweetened soda option, look to craft soda companies, such as Jones Soda and Q Drinks.

Recipe Variations

  • Serve this drink in a tall glass—adding more soda—to make it even more refreshing. Add a little more grenadine and lime to taste.
  • For a drier profile, pour tonic water instead of the citrus soda.
  • Switch to an aged or spiced rum for a little more depth.
  • Pour a sweet fruit liqueur rather than grenadine. Raspberry (e.g., Chambord), strawberry, or crème de cassis are excellent options.
  • This drink will also work very well with tequila, vodka, or whiskey if you happen to run out of rum.

How Strong Is a Red and Yellow Cocktail?

The red and yellow is probably not as light as you might expect, though it's just a little stronger than a glass of wine. When made with the full 2 ounces of soda, its alcohol content will be around 15 percent ABV (30 proof). Adding more soda will knock that down a little more.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
485 Calories
2g Fat
104g Carbs
9g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 485
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 27mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 104g 38%
Dietary Fiber 22g 79%
Total Sugars 46g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 431mg 2,154%
Calcium 204mg 16%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 1306mg 28%
*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.)

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