Perfecting The Azalea, The Masters' Most Popular Cocktail

The Azalea

Everything You Need To Know About The Azalea

The unofficial signature cocktail of the Masters Tournament, the Azalea is designed to mimic the pink hue of the Augusta National flowers. While its exact origin is part of tournament lore, the build is a vodka-based cooler that uses pineapple and lemon to provide a bright, tropical lift. The addition of grenadine is purely functional, providing the drink’s namesake color while rounding out the tartness of the citrus.

Azalea

Prep Time3 min
Yield1 Cocktail
Base SpiritVodka

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Vodka
  • 2 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 0.25 oz Grenadine
  • Lemon wheel and maraschino cherry, for garnish
Perfecting The Azalea, The Masters' Most Popular Cocktail

Instructions

  1. Add vodka, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and grenadine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  2. Shake well until thoroughly chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled rocks glass or highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry.
Pro Tip
For a more botanical profile, some prefer to swap the vodka for a London Dry Gin. Ensure the grenadine is a high-quality pomegranate syrup rather than a neon-red artificial version to keep the flavor profile balanced and the "Azalea" pink authentic.

Azalea Riff

While typically served over ice, the drink can be served "up" in a coupe for a more formal presentation. You can also adjust the sweetness by slightly increasing the grenadine if the lemon juice is particularly tart.