The Raven 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 05/13/21
The Raven Cocktail, A Blue and Purple Layered Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

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

The raven is a dark and mysterious vodka and rum cocktail that's as spectacular to look at as it is to drink. It's very colorful, with a blue base and a deep purple layer on top, creating a dark introduction to its delicious mix of fruits. While it makes a spectacular Halloween cocktail, it's so easy to mix up that you'll definitely want to make it more often than that.

The key to this drink is the layer. It requires a simple bartending technique to float Chambord on top of the shaken mix of vodka, rum, and blue curaçao. If it's your first attempt at layering, don't worry. This is an easy one that anyone can pull off because the raspberry liqueur will almost naturally want to float. Just make sure you don't stir the drink.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the vodka, rum, and blue curaçao into a cocktail shaker, then fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.

  5. Slowly pour the Chambord over the back of a bar spoon, so it floats on top.

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • This cocktail is the perfect use for a mid-range vodka and rum. There's no need to pour your best bottles, but you probably don't want to be too frugal. The drink will taste great with brands that fall somewhere in the middle.
  • Shaking breaks ice down significantly and it will melt faster, which is why it's always best to use fresh cubes in the serving glass. Using ice from your shaker will lead to an overly diluted drink.
  • Other raspberry liqueurs can be used in the raven, though they might have a slightly different specific gravity than Chambord and may not float as well. The drink will taste the same, though.
  • It is likely that this drink will not fill really tall highball glasses. The liquid volume is about 4 ounces, so you'll want to be sure to use plenty of ice. If possible, choose a smaller volume thin glass or simply don't worry about filling the glass completely.

How Strong Is a Raven Cocktail?

The raven is a cool looking drink and its sweet taste is captivating, but it can be deceiving. The combination of four liquors creates a very potent mixed drink with an alcohol content around 29 percent ABV (58 proof). That's as strong as the average vodka martini.


Also, keep in mind that sweeter drinks can trick you into drinking more than you might intend to. It's best to take it easy with this one.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
289 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 289
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 2mg 0%
*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.)