Ray Of SunshineCocktail 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.
Ray Of Sunshine sits firmly in the modern vodka-and-juice family: bright, fruit-led, and built for easy drinking. It doesn’t have a widely documented origin story, but it fits the late-20th-century wave of simple highball-style mixes that lean on flavoured vodka and citrus to deliver instant, crowd-pleasing refreshment. You’ll find it reads like a sunny twist on a screwdriver, with extra zip and a playful cherry edge.
On the palate, cherry vodka brings a sweet, red-fruit note that sets the tone from the first sip. Orange juice adds soft, rounded citrus sweetness, while lemon juice tightens everything up with a sharper, cleaner tartness. The lemon’s acidity keeps the orange from feeling too heavy and stops the cherry flavour from turning candy-like, leaving you with a crisp, fruity balance that finishes bright.
Serve it in a highball when you want something uncomplicated and upbeat—ideal for warm afternoons, casual get-togethers, or as a light pre-dinner drink. If you like your cocktails on the fruit-forward side but still want a clear citrus snap, this one lands right in that sweet spot.
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:
Cherry vodka leads with candy-like cherry over a rush of orange juice, while lemon juice snaps in with sharp citrus to keep the fruit from feeling flat. The orange rounds the cherry’s sweetness as the lemon adds lift and structure, making it a simple, bright highball for anyone who likes juicy, tart-leaning vodka drinks.
Method
How to make a Ray Of Sunshine
- Cherry vodka 60ml, Orange juice 60ml, Lemon juice 30ml
-
- Pour all ingredients into a tall glass with ice
-
- Stir and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Ray Of Sunshine 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.
Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail
· Stir ·Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the best way to serve a Ray Of Sunshine cocktail?
The Ray Of Sunshine cocktail is best served in a highball glass, cold. Ensure the ingredients are thoroughly stirred, not shaken, then pour over ice to maintain its chill and diluted balance perfectly.
Can I substitute cherry vodka in a Ray Of Sunshine cocktail for something non-alcoholic?
Yes, for a non-alcoholic version of the Ray Of Sunshine, you can substitute cherry vodka with cherry juice or a cherry-flavored syrup. Adjust the quantity to suit your taste preference but start with a 1:1 ratio to maintain the flavour profile.
What garnishes work well with a Ray Of Sunshine cocktail?
A slice of orange or a lemon twist works wonderfully as garnishes for a Ray Of Sunshine cocktail. You can also add a cherry on top for an extra touch that complements the cherry vodka's flavor.
How does the alcohol content in a Ray Of Sunshine compare to a standard cocktail?
With an alcohol content of 16%, the Ray Of Sunshine cocktail is slightly lower in alcohol than the average cocktail, which typically ranges from 18% to 22%. This makes it a milder option, suitable for those preferring a lighter alcoholic beverage.
What occasions are best suited for serving Ray Of Sunshine cocktails?
The Ray Of Sunshine cocktail, with its refreshing and vibrant flavors, is perfect for summer parties, outdoor gatherings, or any event where a light and uplifting drink is desired. Its delightful presentation and citrusy profile make it a hit for brunches and afternoon soirees as well.
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
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