How to Make Nutcracker Drinks

Reviewed by Sander Raav

Last Updated: February 15, 2022 Approved

The nutcracker is an alcoholic beverage known for its high alcohol content and often bright, neon-type color. Most legends trace the drink back to one New York restaurant or another, and today, nutcrackers are often sold on the streets or beaches in clear plastic bottles or Styrofoam cups. Nutcracker vendors typically have their own unique recipes, but it’s often a rum-based drink blended with a mixture of other hard alcohols and various fruit juices to create a sweet, summer punch. The great thing about nutcracker drinks is that you have the freedom to experiment with different alcohol and juice combinations and quantities until you find a concoction that suits your tastes.

Ingredients

Basic Nutcracker

9 ounces (266 ml) Hawaiian punch
1 ounce (30 ml) Devil’s Springs vodka
1 ounce (30 ml) Bacardi 151
1 ounce (30 ml) water

NYC Nutcracker

2 cans of cold pineapple juice (96 ounces or 2.72 liters)
1 bottle of Bacardi 151 (33.8 ounces or one liter)
12 ounces (355 ml) grenadine
Amaretto (to taste)
Triple sec (to taste)
Lime juice (to taste)

Fruit Punch Nutcracker

1 ounce (30 ml) Grey Goose vodka
2 ounces (59 ml) Bacardi Grand Melon
1/2 ounce (15 ml) moonshine
1/2 ounce (15 ml) peach schnapps
1 splash apple pucker (sour apple schnapps or liqueur)
Cranberry juice (to taste)

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Basic Nutcracker

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A basic nutcracker requires nothing more than hard alcohol and fruit juice. Although this recipe calls for Hawaiian Punch, vodka, and rum,^{[1]
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Research source} you can substitute in juice or other alcohols if you prefer.
2
Mix your ingredients. Mix the vodka, rum, and water in a clear plastic single-serve juice bottle. Add enough Hawaiian Punch to fill the remainder of the bottle.
- For a stronger drink, increase the amount of vodka, rum, and water in equal increments.
- Instead of Hawaiian Punch, you can substitute other juices, such as apple, peach, or any other juice or fruit-flavored beverage.
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Replace the lid on the juice bottle and shake to mix the ingredients. Serve cold in the juice bottle.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a NYC Nutcracker

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1
Assemble your ingredients. The NYC recipe is not for a single-drink, but makes a pitcher designed to serve many people.^{[2]
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- Use a 750ml (25.35 ounces) bottle of rum if you can’t find the one-liter bottle.
- You can substitute half the rum for gold or dark rum, and you can also add Southern Comfort for a different variation.
- Instead of all or some of the pineapple juice, consider substituting peach, mango, or cranberry juice.
2
Mix your drink. In a large pitcher, pour in the entire bottle of rum. Add equal parts amaretto, triple sec, and lime juice. Finally, stir in half a bottle of grenadine, and the pineapple juice.
- For the amaretto, triple sec, and lime juice, start with a single ounce (30 ml) of each and adjust to taste if you feel the punch needs more.
Nutcrackers are served cold, as they are meant to be refreshing summer drinks. Consider serving over crushed ice, or chilling the beverage in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Fruit Punch Nutcracker

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This particular recipe is for a single-serving nutcracker, but be warned that as per tradition, the alcohol content is quite high.^{[3]
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Measure all your ingredients into a large glass or small pitcher. Serve in a glass or clear plastic juice bottle.
Another option for this drink is to serve it semi-frozen like a margarita. A frozen nutcracker is called a nemo, after the movie "Finding Nemo." Instead of mixing ingredients in a pitcher, blend them in a blender with equal parts ice until a slushy consistency is achieved.^{[4]
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Research source} Serve as usual.

Community Q&A

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Question

Are nutcrackers illegal to sell?

Thibsx2

Community Answer

It's illegal to sell any liquor without a license.

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How do I make a Hennessey nutcracker?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

Hennessey cognac is quite a nice drink; you might not want to throw a lot of soda and fruit in with it.

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Tips

Experiment with different flavors of alcohol or liqueurs and juices to find the perfect recipe for you. Tradition says they are supposed to be cheap and have a high alcohol content, but otherwise there is no one right way to make a nutcracker.

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Warnings

Drink alcohol in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol poisoning or other serious side effects.

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You must be of legal drinking age to purchase and consume alcohol.

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Don’t drink and drive, boat, cycle, or operate machinery.

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