The Red Rooster is an easy-drinking frozen vodka cocktail (vodka slush). Makes a batch that keeps in the freezer all summer or helps kick off your next gathering.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Additional Time12 hourshrs
Total Time12 hourshrs5 minutesmins
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: American
Keyword: frozen vodka cocktail, red rooster cocktail, vodka slush
Calories: 166kcal
Author: Carolyn Gratzer Cope
Ingredients
6cups1(420 ml) cranberry juice cocktail
2cups(475 ml) vodka
6ounces(180 ml) frozen orange juice concentrate, defrosted
Use a fork to scrape into a slush. This will be easy since vodka doesn't completely freeze.
Scoop into glasses and serve. It's great frozen but also as it melts.
Notes
You'll start with a top-shelf vodka. I'm using Grey Goose, which has a lovely, toasty vibe and creamy finish. Belvedere is another great choice. I'm not really on the Tito's bandwagon, but if you are, that would be a fine option, too.
Cranberry juice cocktail gives the Red Rooster its reddish-pink hue and adds delicious flavor. This is the run-of-the-mill stuff from the grocery store with plenty of added sugar. If you've got unsweetened cranberry juice, add an equal amount of simple syrup.
Orange juice concentrate feels like an old-school ingredient these days. Do seek it out for this vodka slush, since we don't dilute it with water.
There's no substitute for freshly squeezed lime juice, which adds brightness and balance to this cocktail.
You can make this vodka slush way in advance if you like. As long as you store it in an airtight container, it will keep in the freezer for months at a time with no discernible loss of quality. Consider make a batch at the beginning of the summer and treating yourself from time to time.
You can easily make this recipe nonalcoholic by replacing the vodka with an equal measure of water, pineapple juice, or lemonade. Just note that in the original recipe, the vodka helps prevent the slush from freezing solid. Without this element, you'll need to scrape the mixture every hour or so throughout the freezing process to ensure a slushy consistency.