San Francisco cocktail

San Francisco

Highball Glass
Ordinary Drink
Fruity
Sweet
Layered
Tropical
Summer

A vibrant and visually striking layered cocktail that mimics the warm hues of a sunrise. This refreshing highball combines the clean taste of vodka with the tropical sweetness of banana liqueur and fresh orange juice, finished with a careful sink of grenadine to create a beautiful red-to-orange gradient.

What it tastes like

The aroma is dominated by ripe banana and citrus zest. The drink has a thick, syrupy mouthfeel with a primary taste of sweet orange and tropical fruit. The finish is brief and sugary with a mild tartness from the orange juice.

Flavour profile

Sweet
Strength
Bitter
Complexity

Ingredients

  • Vodka2 cl
  • Crème de Banane2 cl
  • Orange Juice12 cl
  • Grenadine1.5 cl
  • Orange1 slice
  • Strawberry1 whole

Preparation

  1. 1

    Fill a highball glass with fresh ice cubes.

  2. 2

    Pour the vodka over the ice.

  3. 3

    Pour in the orange juice until the glass is nearly full.

  4. 4

    Add the Crème de Banane.

  5. 5

    Carefully pour the grenadine down the inside edge of the glass so it sinks and settles at the bottom, creating a layered effect.

  6. 6

    Garnish with a slice of orange and a fresh strawberry before serving.

Substitutions

  • VodkaWhite Rum — It adds a light molasses note that complements the banana flavor.
  • Crème de BananeBanana Puree — This increases the thickness of the drink while reducing the overall alcohol content.
  • GrenadineRaspberry Syrup — It maintains the layered look while introducing a sharper, berry-like tartness.
  • Orange JuicePineapple Juice — The drink becomes more tropical and slightly more acidic.

Variations

Sparkling San Francisco

Top the drink with a splash of soda water to lighten the syrupy texture and add carbonation.

Spiced Sunset

Use spiced rum instead of vodka to add notes of cinnamon and clove to the fruit base.

Explore

Vodka CocktailsGrenadine CocktailsOrange Juice CocktailsSummer CocktailsTropical CocktailsVodka & Orange Juice Cocktails
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