Each sip of this strong and tropical-tasting cocktail will bless you with a good time.
Turns out, there are a few drinks that bear the name “Holy Water”. And it appears that most hail from New Orleans, home of the Sazerac and Mardi Gras. The name is derived from the Catholic tradition of consecrating water itself. In turn, priests will often sprinkle the now holy liquid onto churchgoers, foods, pets… anything really. And once the holy water hits something, it is now considered blessed. I grew up in a Catholic family, and can tell you honestly that real holy water should not be imbibed. Who knows how long that stuff was sitting there, and everybody that passes by any amount dips their fingers into it to bless themselves. The cocktail we’re looking at tonight is a little cleaner and tastes much better.
The most famous version of the Holy Water cocktail comes from a bar called Seaworthy, which is at the Ace Hotel in New Orleans. Invented by Lauren Schell, this take on the drink is a mixture of aged Jamaican rum, cognac, bitters and chartreuse. Lit on fire and served in a tarot card Tiki glass, I’m of a mind that this cocktail would’ve been right at home in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, which takes place in the Louisiana city and features a strong tarot motif throughout.
After some internet scouring, I’ve discovered a few other beverages called Holy Water. One recipe calls for vodka, gin, tequila, bourbon, whiskey, and two types of rum. Another is made with only three ingredients, a raspberry liqueur, blue curaçao and lemon-lime soda. The first one is definitely a booze bomb, while the second is a little easier on the palate. But both are not the cocktail we’re making tonight.
Our version combines vodka and rum, along with peach schnapps, blue curaçao and lemonade. Once you’ve combined everything and shaken it over ice into a tall, frosty glass, you’ll top it off with a splash of fresh pineapple juice. This gives your cocktail a mysterious and cloudy blue color. The peach, curaçao and pineapple add tropical, Tiki-tinged flavors that are sure to refresh your energy after a long and taxing day.
While each version of the Holy Water drink that exists offers different experiences, the simplicity of preparation and satisfying fruitiness of the one we’re making keeps it my favorite.
What is the Best Alcohol to Use to Make a Holy Water Drink?
When crafting this version of today’s cocktail, I always recommend a blanco, or white/silver, rum. Since it’ll be mixing with some vodka, a clear version of the spirit is the best choice. Both the vodka and rum will mix in a perfectly balanced way with the peach schnapps and blue curaçao, allowing all the flavors to shine without any of them being too overpowering or overwhelming the other ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rum
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1/2 ounce peach schnapps
- 1/2 ounce blue curaçao
- 4 ounces lemonade
- 1 splash pineapple juice
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice to chill the glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine rum, vodka, peach schnapps, blue curaçao, and lemonade.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake well until the mixture is chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into the prepared highball glass.
- Top with a splash of pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
- Stir gently to incorporate the pineapple juice into the drink. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Nutrition
What kind of glass is used?
A tall highball or collins glass, filled with ice, will keep your Holy Water nice and cold.
Why is there more than one recipe called a Holy Water?
I couldn’t find a definitive answer for this question. The few different versions I’ve run across seem to have varying levels of difficulty in terms of the ingredients used and how the drink is prepared. The simpler variations might have been created to be just that… simple.
Similar Cocktails to the Holy Water Drink
If the tropically-tinged Holy Water cocktail we made today keeps your boat afloat, you might be interested in checking out some other similar drinks. Mixing the right types of spirits in a balanced and tasteful way will not only hit you with a strong boozy bite, but the combination of flavors will keep you coming back for more. Twist & Toast will keep you in some robust recipes, so take a look at these for a start.
- LA Water – This green and murky-looking beverage will surprise you with its refreshing fruity flavors.
- Walk Me Down – The same cocktail as an Adios, Motherf***er, just with a less vulgar name.
- Texas Tea – A bourbon-tinged version of the popular Long Island Iced Tea.
- Sea Breeze – Let this vodka, cranberry, and grapefruit-flavored tipple carry your cares away.
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