Marse's Hand Grenade (Zoo City Special) Cocktail 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.
Marse's Hand Grenade (Zoo City Special) is an unapologetically high-octane, party-style highball built in the modern “kitchen-sink” tradition—multiple base spirits bolstered by a bold liqueur for maximum impact. It doesn’t sit in the canon of widely documented classics, so you’ll find its identity comes less from a storied origin and more from its intent: loud, sweet-leaning, and designed for big nights rather than quiet contemplation.
On the palate, coconut rum brings a rounded, tropical sweetness that softens the sharper edges of the lineup. Vodka keeps the profile clean and neutral, while gin adds a distinct botanical lift that cuts through the sugar. Grain alcohol turns the intensity up another notch, and melon liqueur ties everything together with a bright, candy-like fruit sweetness that sits front and center.
Serve it in a highball when you want something brash and attention-grabbing—ideal for late-night parties, pre-game lineups, or anyone who likes their drinks sweet but seriously strong. It’s a good fit for drinkers who enjoy fruit-forward flavors yet don’t mind a punchy, spirit-driven finish.
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.
Cocktail Colin says:
Coconut rum and melon liqueur lead with a thick, tropical sweetness while vodka, gin, and grain alcohol pile on a sharp, solventy heat that reads more like raw spirit than layered flavor. It “works” mainly by letting melon liqueur and coconut rum mask the aggressive alcohol load; it’s for thrill-seekers who want a loud, boozy highball, not nuance.
Method
How to make a Marse's Hand Grenade (Zoo City Special)
- Coconut rum 45ml, Vodka 45ml, Gin 45ml, Grain alcohol 45ml, Melon liqueur 45ml
-
- Stir together gin, grain alcohol, Malibu, Midori and vodka in a highball glass filled with ice and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Marse's Hand Grenade (Zoo City Special) 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
How does the alcohol content of Marse's Hand Grenade compare to other cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 47%, Marse's Hand Grenade is significantly stronger than many standard cocktails, which typically fall between 10% and 30% alcohol by volume (ABV). Its high proof is due to the combination of spirits including grain alcohol, making it a potent choice among cocktails.
Is there a specific technique to stirring the Marse's Hand Grenade cocktail?
For Marse's Hand Grenade, since the instructions specifically mention that it is not shaken but stirred, the technique is straightforward. Use a long spoon to stir the ingredients gently in the glass. The key is to combine the liquids evenly without creating too much dilution or froth, which would happen if shaken.
What is the ideal way to serve the Marse's Hand Grenade for the best experience?
The Marse's Hand Grenade should be served in a highball glass to accommodate its volume and allow for some ice. Given its strength and flavor profile, serving it cold is essential, so consider filling the glass with ice before adding the mixed ingredients. This keeps the cocktail cool and slightly dilutes the mix, making it more palatable.
Can I substitute any ingredient in Marse's Hand Grenade if I don't have everything available?
While specific flavors define Marse's Hand Grenade, in the absence of certain ingredients, you can experiment. For example, if you're missing coconut rum, try using a plain white rum and a dash of coconut flavoring or syrup. For melon liqueur, a watermelon or cucumber syrup could offer a fresh, albeit different, twist. Always be mindful that substitutions may significantly alter the final taste.
What type of occasion is Marse's Hand Grenade most suitable for?
Given its strength and unique flavor profile, Marse's Hand Grenade is best suited for lively and informal gatherings such as parties or celebratory events. Its potent mix makes it a conversation starter but should be enjoyed responsibly due to its high alcohol content.
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
Dive into this fruity rum drink that's pure bliss.
Bahama Mama
Coconut rum, Dark rum, White rum, Banana liqueur (crème de banane), Lime juice, Pineapple juice, Orange juice, Grenadine
Try this tropical mix of coconut and citrus
Caribbean Sex on the Beach
Coconut rum, Vodka, Spiced rum, Orange juice, Cranberry juice, Grenadine
Try this energizing twist of coconut and grenadine magic
Serve & Volley Sour
Coconut rum, Lime juice, Grenadine
Key West Cooler
Coconut rum, Vodka, Peach schnapps, Melon liqueur, Orange juice, Cranberry juice
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