Mason Delacroix
The Hand Grenade is a cocktail that was invented in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on New Orleans' Bourbon Street. It is described as tasting like sweet melon and is served in a long plastic hand-grenade-shaped vessel. While the exact recipe is a well-kept secret, it is believed to contain vodka, grain alcohol, and melon liqueur. It is marketed as New Orleans' Most Powerful Drink and has become a popular drink on Bourbon Street, with people describing the effects as super tipsy and leaving you dancing on Bourbon Street.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Alcohol | Grain alcohol, vodka, Everclear, melon liqueur |
| Taste | Sweet, sugary, melon-flavoured |
| Recipe | Kept secret, but served with ice and blended with water |
| Container | Long plastic hand-grenade-shaped vessel |
| Volume | Half-yard |
| Calories | Not specified, but described as "high-calorie" |
| Effects | Intoxication, described as "powerful" |
| Legality | Legally sold only at six Tropical Isle locations in New Orleans |
| Popularity | Sells one million Hand Grenades every year |
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What You'll Learn
- The Hand Grenade cocktail was created in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
- It is made with cheap liquor, lots of sweeteners, and has a melon liqueur flavour
- It is served in a unique, hand-grenade-shaped souvenir glass
- The recipe is a well-kept secret, but it is believed to contain grain alcohol or Everclear
- It is marketed as New Orleans Most Powerful Drink and has become a popular drink on Bourbon Street
The Hand Grenade cocktail was created in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
The Hand Grenade cocktail was created in the 1980s by a couple who owned several popular bars on New Orleans' Bourbon Street. The couple, Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt, founded the Tropical Isle bar for the Louisiana World Exposition in 1984, and with it came their signature Hand Grenade cocktail. Marketed as "New Orleans' Most Powerful Drink", the Hand Grenade is a green melon-flavoured cocktail served in a long plastic hand-grenade-shaped vessel.
The exact recipe for the Hand Grenade is a well-kept secret, but it is believed to contain a mix of liqueurs, including melon liqueur, and grain alcohol. The drink is known for being extremely sweet and sugary, with a mild taste that masks its high alcohol content.
Some have attempted to recreate the Hand Grenade cocktail at home, with one person suggesting a recipe that includes a large packet of generic Crystal Light, a cup of vodka, ice, pickled ginger, and water, blended together. However, it is difficult to replicate the exact taste of the Tropical Isle Hand Grenade, as the bar holds trademarks for the cocktail and its non-alcoholic mix, carefully guarding their recipe.
Today, Hand Grenades are mixed with alcohol and water in 55-gallon tanks and pumped through refrigerated lines to the bartender, ensuring consistency and meeting the high demand for this iconic New Orleans cocktail. The drink has become a symbol of Bourbon Street and a must-try for many visitors to the city, despite some mixed reviews of its taste.
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It is made with cheap liquor, lots of sweeteners, and has a melon liqueur flavour
The Hand Grenade is a cocktail invented in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on New Orleans' Bourbon Street. The drink is made with cheap liquor, lots of sweeteners, and has a melon liqueur flavour. It is served in a unique, hand-grenade-shaped "glass" and has become a popular drink on Bourbon Street, with people often walking around with the drink acting as a walking billboard for the bars.
The exact recipe for the Hand Grenade is a well-kept secret, but it is known to be a mix of liqueurs with a green melon flavour. The drink is described as being super sweet and sugary, with a mild taste that masks its strength. Those who have tried it describe the alcohol content as being similar to that of Everclear or grain alcohol.
Some have attempted to recreate the Hand Grenade cocktail at home, with one suggestion being a blend of crystal light, vodka, ice, pickled ginger, and water. However, reviews of this recipe suggest that it lacks complexity and could benefit from the addition of tart flavours like lemon or lime.
The Hand Grenade is now available in a variety of forms, including on the rocks, frozen, low sugar, and as a martini (vodka with Hand Grenade flavouring). Despite its popularity, the Hand Grenade is not considered a traditional New Orleans drink, and its high price is likely due to the cost of the souvenir "glass" it is served in.
Legally, Hand Grenades can only be sold at the six Tropical Isle bar locations due to trademarks the bar holds. The bar has actively defended these trademarks and offers a cash reward for information leading to the termination of any illegal use of its registered trademark.
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It is served in a unique, hand-grenade-shaped souvenir glass
The Hand Grenade is a cocktail served in a unique, hand-grenade-shaped souvenir glass. It is a well-known drink in New Orleans, with its bright green colour and sweet melon flavour. The drink was created by Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt, founders of the Tropical Isle bar for the Louisiana World Exposition in 1984. The bar has trademarked the Hand Grenade cocktail, preventing other establishments not licensed by Tropical Isle from selling cocktails by the same name.
The recipe for the cocktail is a well-kept secret, but it is known to be a mix of liqueurs and grain alcohol. The drink is very sweet and sugary, and the alcohol content is high, with one review noting that they felt "super tipsy" after half an hour. The Hand Grenade is often described as a "gimmicky" drink, with its unique glass and bright colour, and it is popular among tourists on Bourbon Street.
The drink has become an iconic part of the New Orleans cocktail culture, with its high alcohol content and memorable presentation. While the exact recipe is unknown, some have attempted to recreate the drink at home, with variations including vodka, melon liqueur, and crystal light mixers. The drink is also available in different varieties, such as on the rocks, frozen, low sugar, and in a martini version.
The Hand Grenade is an interesting example of how a unique presentation and strong alcohol content can create a popular and iconic drink. The souvenir glass adds to the experience, providing a memorable keepsake for those who purchase the drink. While the taste may not be for everyone, the Hand Grenade certainly delivers on its promise of a strong and powerful drink.
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The recipe is a well-kept secret, but it is believed to contain grain alcohol or Everclear
The Hand Grenade is a popular cocktail that originated in New Orleans in the 1980s. It is known for its bright green colour and sweet melon flavour. While the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, some believe it contains grain alcohol or Everclear.
The Hand Grenade was created by Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt, founders of the Tropical Isle bar in New Orleans. The bar quickly became known for its signature cocktail, served in a unique hand-grenade-shaped vessel. The drink's popularity spread beyond the bar, and it soon became a well-known and iconic beverage in New Orleans, particularly on Bourbon Street.
Due to its high alcohol content and sweet flavour, the Hand Grenade has gained a reputation as a drink that can easily get someone drunk. Some describe the taste as unpleasant, likely due to the presence of grain alcohol or Everclear, which are types of liquor with a high alcohol content.
While the exact recipe remains a secret, some have attempted to create their own versions of the Hand Grenade cocktail. These recipes often include a mix of liquors, sweeteners, and flavours to try and replicate the original drink's taste and potency. However, without the proprietary mix of liqueurs used in the original Hand Grenade, these replicas may not capture the unique flavour and effect of the original cocktail.
The Hand Grenade's popularity has led to various serving options, including on the rocks, frozen, low sugar, and even a martini version with vodka and Hand Grenade flavouring. Despite some mixed reviews of its taste, the Hand Grenade remains a well-known and sought-after cocktail, with many curious to try it when visiting New Orleans.
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It is marketed as New Orleans Most Powerful Drink and has become a popular drink on Bourbon Street
The Hand Grenade is a cocktail that has become synonymous with New Orleans and, more specifically, Bourbon Street. It is marketed as "New Orleans' Most Powerful Drink" and is served in a long plastic hand-grenade-shaped vessel. The drink was invented in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on Bourbon Street. The idea was to create an expensive drink made with cheap liquor and lots of sweeteners, served in a unique, souvenir cup.
The Hand Grenade is a green, melon-flavoured drink made with a proprietary mix of liqueurs, including melon liqueur, guarded by the Tropical Isle bar. The exact recipe is a well-kept secret, but it is known to be very sweet and sugary, with a mild taste. It is also available in different varieties, such as on the rocks, frozen, low sugar, and in a Martini version (vodka with Hand Grenade flavouring).
The drink has become incredibly popular on Bourbon Street, with people often walking around with the distinctive hand-grenade-shaped cups. Tropical Isle holds trademarks for the Hand Grenade, allowing them legal ownership, and they sell around one million Hand Grenades every year.
The drink is also known for its high alcohol content, with some speculating that it contains grain alcohol or Everclear. It is not considered a traditional New Orleans drink, but its popularity and unique marketing have made it a well-known and sought-after beverage for many visitors to the city.
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Frequently asked questions
A hand grenade is a cocktail made with a proprietary mix of liqueurs guarded by the Tropical Isle bar in New Orleans. The exact recipe is a well-kept secret, but it is described as tasting like sweet melon. Some speculate that it contains grain alcohol or vodka.
The hand grenade cocktail was invented in the 1980s by a couple who owned several high-profile bars on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. They wanted to create an expensive drink made with cheap liquor and lots of sweeteners, served in a unique souvenir glass. The drink became popular, and today, Tropical Isle sells one million hand grenades every year.
Legally, hand grenades can only be sold at the six Tropical Isle locations in New Orleans due to trademarks held by the bar. However, you can order the drink mix online and add your own alcohol, or try making a similar drink at home using recipes available on the internet.
