CharmaineCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Charmaine is a bright, fruit-forward whiskey highball that leans into an easygoing, retro mixed-drink vibe rather than a tightly documented origin story. With a split base of whiskey and apricot brandy, it sits in that crowd-pleasing family of tall, juice-topped cocktails designed for relaxed sipping. You’ll find it reads more like a casual bar favourite than a formal classic, built to keep the spirit character present while letting tropical fruit do the heavy lifting.
On the palate, the whiskey brings warmth and a gentle edge that stops the drink from turning overly sweet, while the apricot brandy adds a soft stone-fruit richness. Pineapple juice lifts everything with a rounded, juicy sweetness, and orange juice adds a brighter citrus note that keeps the fruit from feeling flat. Together, the pineapple and orange smooth out the spirits, with the apricot acting as a bridge between the whiskey’s depth and the juices’ freshness.
Serve it long in a highball when you want something approachable but still spirit-led—ideal for warm afternoons, casual get-togethers, or as an easy party pour. If you like whiskey but prefer it softened and fruitier, this is a comfortable middle ground that still tastes like a proper drink rather than straight juice.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Tags
Cocktail Colin says:
Whiskey and apricot brandy lead with warm grain and ripe stone-fruit sweetness, while pineapple juice and orange juice top-ups flood the highball with tangy tropical-citrus brightness that softens the spirits. It works because the pineapple’s acidity and orange’s zest keep the apricot brandy from turning cloying and round off the whiskey’s edge, ideal for easy sipping and fruit-forward drinkers.
Method
How to make a Charmaine
- Whiskey 30ml, Apricot brandy 30ml, Pineapple juice Top up, Orange juice Top up
-
- Put Southern Comfort, apricot brandy and ice into a cocktail shaker and shake well
-
- Strain into a frosted ice-filled highball glass
-
- Top with orange and pineapple juice and a cherry to garnish, and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Charmaine with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Can I use a different type of whiskey in the Charmaine cocktail?
Yes, you can use different types of whiskey to make a Charmaine cocktail. While the recipe calls for a specific whiskey, feel free to experiment with others such as bourbon, Scotch, or Irish whiskey to find the flavor profile that best suits your taste. Each type of whiskey will bring its unique characteristics to the cocktail.
What are some garnish recommendations for the Charmaine cocktail?
For garnishing the Charmaine cocktail, consider using a slice of orange or a twist of orange peel to complement the orange juice, a cherry for a touch of color, or even a pineapple wedge to echo the pineapple juice used in the drink. These garnishes not only add visual appeal but can also enhance the overall flavor experience.
What is the best way to serve the Charmaine cocktail?
The Charmaine cocktail is best served cold in a highball glass. To achieve this, make sure all your ingredients are well chilled before mixing. You could also consider pre-chilling the glass in the freezer for a few minutes to keep the drink colder for longer. Serve immediately after shaking to enjoy its refreshing qualities.
Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Charmaine cocktail?
Yes, you can create a non-alcoholic version of the Charmaine cocktail by substituting the whiskey and apricot brandy with non-alcoholic alternatives or simply omitting these and increasing the quantities of pineapple and orange juice. There are also non-alcoholic spirits available that mimic the flavor of whiskey, which could be used to retain some of the original character of the cocktail.
What foods pair well with the Charmaine cocktail?
The Charmaine cocktail, with its balance of whiskey, apricot brandy, and fruit juices, pairs well with a variety of foods. Consider pairing it with grilled chicken, seafood dishes, or summer salads. The fruity elements of the cocktail complement spicy and savory flavors, making it a great match for Asian cuisines or barbecue meals.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Experience this perfect Scotch and soda balance.
Scotch Whisky Highball
Whiskey, Soda water
Experience this elegant blend of whiskey and sherry.
Rapscallion
Whiskey, Aniseed liqueur, Sherry (dry)
Dive into this robust mix of whiskey and cola.
Jack's Godfather Highball
Whiskey, Amaretto, Cola
Try this vibrant vodka and whiskey concoction
Venom
Vodka, Whiskey, Orange, WKD blue
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments