Transfusion Drink

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Effervescent and refreshing, the Transfusion will perk you up during a rough day on the links.

In my younger years, a few of them anyway, I worked in the cart barn at a golf course. Based on the experiences I had there, I do not partake in the game. My main observation I had when it came to those who hit the links was that the majority of them really, really liked to drink. A lot. We had regulars who would come and play almost every day, and sometimes they looked a little worse for wear from the day before.

Tonight’s cocktail is a potion that these professional drinkers/amateur golfers would often imbibe on those days when their putts were a little slower than usual. The Transfusion is a tasty and bubbly beverage, comprised of vodka, grape juice, lime juice and ginger ale. The electrolytes from the grape juice can help replenish you after tying one on the day prior, while the ginger ale might ease any nausea that’s nagging at you. The vodka present offers a little “hair of the dog”, as the expression goes, offering drinkers an unconventional “medical” elixir.

The history of this drink is often associated with the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, and has been a popular tipple there since the 1950s. It’s even been said that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a big fan of the cocktail, having a few whenever he played a few rounds there. Some even believed that Ike invented the concoction himself.

So the next time you feel a little rough after a night out, or when you’re at the 19th hole after a tough day below par, try a Transfusion.

What Is The Best Vodka To Use In A Transfusion Drink?

Flavor-wise, this cocktail is a sweet and spiced mixture due to the grape juice, ginger ale and citrus present. A plain, crisp and clear vodka is what you’ll need. The spirit will meld with the other flavors, helping to make your Transfusion a balanced and delicious beverage. I tend to prefer a peppery and smooth rye vodka, but a potato version offers some extra heat on the finish. For some extra, subtle sweetness, try a corn-distilled product.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

Fill a highball glass to the top with ice, and once your cocktail is in there, garnish with a fresh lime wedge and some juicy grapes on top too, if you wish.

WHY IS THIS COCKTAIL CALLED THE TRANSFUSION?

Legend has it that this drink is named as such because it has been said to “cure” more than a few hangovers, being a play on blood transfusions. While a little “hair of the dog” might take the edge off of a hangover, an actual cure is debatable.

Similar Cocktails To The Transfusion Drink

On the links and wondering what to imbibe? Don’t even worry about it. Here at Twist & Toast, we have a nice selection of some of golf’s most popular libations. So if the Transfusion piqued your interest for other refreshing tipples to accompany you through eighteen holes, try out some of these.

• Lemon, Lime, and Bitters – A tradition on the golf courses of Australia.
• Arnold Palmer – A non-alcoholic favorite, comprised of lemonade and iced tea.
• John Daly – Add some booze to your Palmer for a Daly.
• Shandy Beer – A refreshing and brilliantly simple beverage.