Fresh Lime Juice
Bright, tart citrus juice that adds acidity and freshness to cocktails. Always use fresh-squeezed for optimal flavor and color. It’s used in 141 cocktails on Garnish.
Flavor Profile
History & Origins
Lime juice has been used in cocktails since the Age of Sail, when sailors used it to prevent scurvy. It became central to tropical and tiki cocktails.
How It's Made
Fresh limes are hand-squeezed or mechanically juiced. Persian limes are most common, though key limes offer more intense flavor.
Pro Tips
- •Roll limes before juicing to extract more liquid
- •Use within 2 hours for best flavor and color
- •Key limes are more flavorful but harder to find
- •Never use bottled lime juice in cocktails
Substitutes
Cocktails
Pornstar Royale
A modern classic that captured the zeitgeist of the early 21st-century cocktail renaissance, combining tropical passion fruit with vanilla sweetness, elevated by theatrical sparkling wine service.
Margarita
Tequila, lime and orange liqueur in flawless harmony—Mexico's most famous cocktail and a symbol of celebration.
Frozen Margarita
The blender classic—tequila, triple sec, and lime blended with ice; salt rim optional.
Mai Tai
The quintessential tiki concoction marrying a blend of rums with lime, orange curaçao, and nutty orgeat.
Naked & Famous
A modern classic that masterfully balances smoky mezcal with bittersweet Aperol and herbal Yellow Chartreuse, all brightened by fresh lime juice. Created by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co in 2011.
Old Cuban
A modern classic—aged rum, lime, mint, and Angostura bitters shaken and topped with brut Champagne.
1934 Zombie
The original Donn Beach Zombie with gold Puerto Rican rum, dark Jamaican rum, and 151-proof Demerara rum—the authentic recipe that launched the tiki craze.
Jungle Bird
Malaysia's 1970s tiki gift: blackstrap rum, Campari, pineapple and lime shaken into a bittersweet tropical sipper.
Classic Mojito
Cuba's iconic highball of rum, lime, mint, and sugar lengthened with bubbly soda for ultimate refreshment.
Naked and Famous
A quintessential modern classic created by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co. in 2011. This audacious equal-parts cocktail combines smoky mezcal, honeyed Yellow Chartreuse, bittersweet Aperol, and fresh lime juice in perfect harmony.
Spicy Margarita
A modern classic that elevates the beloved Margarita with a piquant kick, perfectly balancing the tartness of lime, the sweetness of orange liqueur, and the fiery warmth of fresh jalapeño.
Cuba Libre
Simple and iconic—light rum, fresh lime, and cola over ice for a crisp, refreshing highball.
Daiquiri
A crisp Cuban rum sour that showcases perfect balance—just rum, lime and sugar shaken icy cold.
Moscow Mule
Vodka, ginger beer, and lime served icy cold in a copper mug—the drink that launched a vodka craze in mid‑century America.
Black Magic
The legendary Mai-Kai Tiki cocktail featuring dark rums, tropical juices, and coffee—a complex, powerful creation representing the pinnacle of Polynesian Pop culture.
Don the Beachcomber's Planter's Punch
Donn Beach's 1937 masterpiece that transformed the rustic Jamaican punch into a complex tiki classic with three distinct rums, falernum, grenadine, and Angostura bitters.
Medicina Latina
A mezcal Penicillin—mezcal with lime, honey‑ginger syrup, and a tequila float.
Paloma
Mexico's beloved tequila highball mixing grapefruit soda, lime, and a pinch of salt for thirst-quenching tang.
Tommy's Margarita
Tequila, lime, and agave nectar—a clean, modern take on the Margarita without orange liqueur.
Last Word
Equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime shaken cold—a neon green Prohibition relic turned modern darling.
Cosmopolitan
Vodka, cranberry, orange liqueur, and lime combine for a tart, vividly pink martini that defined 1990s cocktail culture.
Frozen Daiquiri
A blender classic—white rum, lime, and sugar blended smooth with ice.
Pornstar Martini
Vanilla vodka and passion fruit served with a side of champagne for a modern showstopper.
Caipirinha
Brazil's national cocktail of muddled lime, sugar, and cachaça—simple, vibrant, and fiercely refreshing.
Hugo
Alpine spritz—elderflower, mint, and lime with sparkling wine and a splash of soda.
Pisco Sour
Peru's frothy national cocktail blending grape brandy, lime, sugar, and egg white with a bitters finale.
Southside
Gin, lime, mint, and simple syrup. Chicago's answer to the mojito.
1950 Zombie
Donn Beach's simplified home version of the Zombie from his 1950 'Barbecue Chef' book—more approachable yet still potent with a dramatic 151 rum float.
Batanga
Mexico's beloved cantina classic from Tequila, Jalisco—blanco tequila, fresh lime, and Mexican Coca-Cola, stirred with the lime-cutting knife for authentic flavor.
Brown Sugar Caipirinha
A contemporary evolution of Brazil's national cocktail that substitutes traditional white sugar with brown sugar to introduce a richer, more complex flavor profile. This variation adds notes of caramel, toffee, and molasses that complement the grassy, funky notes of cachaça.
Mexican Mule
Tequila bucks the Moscow Mule template—earthy agave, zesty lime and fiery ginger beer over ice in a frosty copper mug.
Mezcal Margarita
A modern classic smoky twist on the beloved Margarita—mezcal's earthy, complex character balanced with fresh lime, agave, and orange liqueur.
Mezcal Mule
A bold and smoky reinterpretation of the classic Moscow Mule, where complex mezcal transforms this refreshing ginger beer highball into a contemplative craft cocktail experience.
Michelada
Spicy Mexican lager refresher—lime, hot sauce, Worcestershire, and a salted rim topped with cold beer.
Minty Cucumber Cooler
A quintessential icon of the modern craft cocktail renaissance, fusing crisp cucumber, aromatic mint, and bright citrus over gin for the ultimate garden-to-glass refreshment.
Planter's Punch
Dark rum punch with citrus and spice—the Caribbean's signature party drink.
Queen’s Park Swizzle
Trinidad classic—demerara rum swizzled with mint, lime, and demerara syrup over crushed ice with Angostura bitters.
Ramos Gin Fizz
New Orleans' creamy showstopper of gin, citrus, cream, egg white, and orange blossom water shaken to a silky cloud.
Southside Fizz
A timeless and refreshing cocktail that elegantly marries the botanical complexities of gin with the bright, aromatic notes of fresh mint and citrus, all lifted by the effervescence of soda water.
Basil Gimlet
A modern classic that elevates the traditional Gimlet with fresh basil—herbaceous, aromatic, and supremely refreshing with botanical complexity.
El Diablo
Trader Vic’s tequila highball—reposado, crème de cassis, and lime lengthened with spicy ginger beer for a vivid, ruby refresher.
Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai
The tourist-friendly evolution of Trader Vic's original Mai Tai, featuring the addition of pineapple and orange juices that transformed it into a globally recognized symbol of tropical leisure.
Spiced Fruit Punch
The foundational mixed drink that built the art of cocktail making, evolved from a 17th-century British sailors' necessity into a sophisticated and endlessly adaptable concoction featuring aged rum and aromatic spices.
Spicy Mexican Mule
A vibrant riff on the Moscow Mule that brilliantly marries the fiery kick of chili heat with the earthy notes of tequila and the sharp, sweet spice of ginger beer.
Strawberry Colada
A vibrant, fruit-forward variation of the iconic Piña Colada, blending tropical rum, coconut, and pineapple with fresh strawberries for a creamy, refreshing drink with beautiful pink hue.
Trader Vic's Planter's Punch
Trader Vic's definitive version of Planter's Punch - a harmonious blend of bold Jamaican rum, bright citrus, and just enough sweetness to create a refreshingly complex tropical experience.
Zombie
Don the Beachcomber's infamous blend of rums, citrus, and spice that launched the tiki craze—tropical, potent, and theatrical.
Frozen Hemingway Daiquiri
El Floridita’s dry daiquiri rendered frosty—white rum, grapefruit, lime, and a touch of maraschino blended with ice.
Hemingway Daiquiri
El Floridita’s dry daiquiri for Hemingway—white rum balanced with grapefruit, lime, and a touch of maraschino.
Kentucky Mule
Bourbon buck—bourbon, lime, and spicy ginger beer over ice in a frosty copper mug.
Mezcal Paloma
A smoky reinvention of Mexico's beloved Paloma, where mezcal's earthy complexity transforms the classic grapefruit highball into a sophisticated, layered cocktail.
Singapore Sling
Raffles Hotel's iconic rosy gin punch—layering cherry brandy, Bénédictine, citrus, and pineapple for a frothy tropical sling.
Cosmopolitan Royale
A bubbly Cosmo—vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime finished with brut Champagne.
Three Dots and a Dash
Donn Beach's WWII tribute—rhum agricole and Demerara rum layered with falernum, allspice dram, citrus, honey, and a dash of bitters, served tall over crushed ice.
Basil Virgin Mojito
A sophisticated, non-alcoholic interpretation of the classic Cuban Mojito that substitutes traditional mint with fresh basil, creating a more complex, herbaceous, and peppery flavor profile.
Bourbon Bastard
A bourbon-centric interpretation of the classic Suffering Bastard, a legendary hangover cure born in World War II Cairo. This potent and restorative cocktail balances bourbon, gin, lime, bitters, and ginger beer in a complex interplay of spirits and refreshing elements.
Elderflower Virgin Mojito
A sophisticated, floral twist on the classic mojito featuring elderflower syrup, fresh mint, and lime—a flagship beverage of the modern craft mocktail movement.
Gimlet
A crisp blend of gin and lime that began as a naval ration and evolved into a minimalist classic.
Kamikaze
Vodka, Cointreau, and lime—shaken icy cold for a clean, citrusy classic served up or as a shooter.
Navy Grog
Three‑rum classic—blend of rums with lime, grapefruit, and honey syrup over a cone of crushed ice.
Passion Fruit Caipirinha
A vibrant tropical adaptation of Brazil's national cocktail that elevates the classic combination of cachaça, lime, and sugar with exotic passion fruit, creating a refreshing and complex drink.
Pegu Club #2
A definitive gin sour from the twilight of the British Empire, perfectly balanced and bracingly tart with botanical complexities of gin, bright lime, orange curaçao, and aromatic bitters.
Planter's Punch
The authentic Jamaican formula following the classic 'one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak' rhyme, featuring quality Jamaican rum, demerara syrup, and aromatic allspice dram for the true Caribbean experience.
Vodka Gimlet
A testament to the elegant power of simplicity, a clean and crisp variation of its gin-based progenitor that transforms a classic naval cocktail into a smoother, more approachable icon.
White Cosmopolitan
A sophisticated and elegant reinterpretation of the classic Cosmopolitan, swapping cranberry juice for elderflower liqueur and white cranberry juice for a delicate, floral sweetness and crystal-clear appearance.
Batida
Brazil's quintessential blended cocktail featuring cachaça with passion fruit, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut milk—a creamy, tropical celebration.
Eastside
A garden‑fresh cousin of the Southside—gin, lime, mint, and cucumber shaken bright and served up.
Spicy Tommy's
The Tommy's Margarita with a kick—blanco tequila, fresh lime, agave nectar, and muddled jalapeño for clean heat.
Bacardi Cocktail
A pre‑Prohibition rum sour—white rum, lime juice, and a blush of grenadine shaken icy cold.
Basil Rickey
A modern classic that marries the bracing refreshment of a 19th-century Rickey with fresh basil—herbaceous, effervescent, and perfectly balanced without added sugar.
Corn 'n' Oil
Barbadian classic—blackstrap rum with falernum and a dash of bitters over ice.
Gin Rickey
A no-sugar highball of gin, lime, and sparkling water—crisp, tart, and ultra-refreshing.
Picador
The definitive blueprint for the Margarita, this 1937 London creation combines tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in perfect harmony—the Margarita in its purest, unadorned form.
Pineapple Pornstar Martini
A tropical twist on the modern classic Pornstar Martini, featuring bright pineapple juice that enhances the vanilla and passion fruit flavors with refreshing complexity.
Cadillac Margarita
Premium margarita spec—reposado tequila and lime sweetened with agave, finished with a float of Grand Marnier.
Yellow Bird
A classic tropical cocktail celebrated for its vibrant, sunny hue and refreshingly complex flavor profile, blending rum with the distinctive vanilla-anise notes of Galliano L'Autentico.
Bacanora Naked and Famous
A Sonoran variation of the Naked and Famous using Bacanora instead of mezcal—drier, more herbaceous, and mineral-driven with desert terroir.
Barracuda
Sparkling tropical Italian classic—gold rum, Galliano, pineapple, and lime topped with Prosecco for herbaceous fizz.
Cantarito
A Jalisco roadside classic—blanco tequila with lime, orange, grapefruit and a splash of grapefruit soda over ice.
Cointreau Mexican Mule
A citrusy tequila buck—blanco tequila and Cointreau with fresh lime, topped with spicy ginger beer.
Dark and Stormy
Trademark Bermudan highball of Gosling's Black Seal rum over fiery ginger beer with a squeeze of lime.
Pegu Royale
A modern, effervescent twist on the classic Pegu Club cocktail, elevating the original gin-based sour with Champagne to create a celebratory and more complex libation.
Southside Royale
An effervescent elevation of the classic Southside with Champagne. Where gin, mint, and lime meet celebratory bubbles for sophisticated sparkle.
Strawberry Virgin Mojito
A non-alcoholic interpretation of the classic Cuban Mojito, elevated with fresh strawberries. This refreshing mocktail combines muddled strawberries, fresh mint, lime juice, and sparkling water for a sophisticated alcohol-free experience.
Tequila Soda
A paragon of minimalist cocktail construction, offering a clean, crisp, and unadulterated expression of tequila. This simple yet profound combination of tequila, soda water, and fresh lime stands at the confluence of the global tequila boom and the health-conscious drinking movement.
Tropical Fruit Punch
A vibrant rum punch celebrating the golden age of punch with tropical fruit juices, following the classic 'one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak' formula.
Dirty Mojito
A darker take on the Mojito—aged rum, demerara sweetness, mint, and lime built tall with soda.
Floradora
Edwardian crowd‑pleaser—gin, lime, and raspberry built tall with ginger ale for a bright, berry‑ginger fizz.
Chilcano
Peruvian highball—pisco, lime, and ginger ale over ice with a dash of bitters for a bright, snappy refresher.
London Mule
A gin mule—London Dry gin, lime, and ginger beer over ice with a bright botanical snap.
Pineapple Tommy's
A tropical Tommy’s riff—blanco tequila with fresh pineapple and lime, lightly sweetened with agave for sunny, fruit‑forward balance.
Blue Margarita
A vibrant margarita riff—blanco tequila, blue curaçao, and fresh lime served tart with an optional salted rim.
Missionary's Downfall
Don the Beachcomber classic—light rum blended with pineapple, lime, peach liqueur, mint, and honey for a frosty tiki sipper.
Ramos Rum Fizz
A modern adaptation of the legendary Ramos Gin Fizz, substituting gin's botanical structure for rum's diverse sugarcane notes while maintaining the luxurious, cloud-like texture.
Southside Rickey
A sublime marriage of gin, mint, and lime lengthened with club soda. The effervescent intersection of the Southside and Gin Rickey.
Trader Vic's Suffering Bastard
A rum-centric tiki cocktail that's more robust and complex than the original gin and brandy Cairo creation. Essentially a more potent variation of the Mai Tai, featuring a blend of aged rums with citrus, orgeat, and curaçao.
Caipiroska
Vodka, lime, and sugar muddled and built over ice—Russia meets Brazil in this crisp caipirinha cousin.
Pegu Club
A zesty gin sour from the British colonial club in Rangoon, balancing citrus, bitters, and orange liqueur.
Dark ‘n’ Stormier
A bolder take on the Bermuda classic—extra dark rum with spicy ginger beer and fresh lime over ice.
Virgin Mojito
All the mint-lime sparkle of a Mojito minus the rum, a staple of modern mocktail menus.
Caipirissima
A rum caipirinha—light rum muddled with fresh lime and sugar over crushed ice for a breezy, tropical refresher.
Dying Bastard
Amped Suffering Bastard—gin and brandy with added bourbon, lime, bitters, and ginger beer.
Dead Bastard
The boozy apex—Suffering Bastard with added bourbon and rum, lime, bitters, and ginger beer.
Oriental
A sophisticated pre-Prohibition cocktail representing the intersection of American whiskey tradition and early 20th century's global cocktail culture. The elegant balance of spicy rye, rich sweet vermouth, bright orange curaçao, and tart lime creates a complex yet refreshing flavor profile.
Sunny and Stormy
A modern, vibrant riff on the classic Dark 'n' Stormy, trading deep spice for bright citrus. This contemporary cocktail combines aged rum with fresh pink grapefruit, lime, ginger syrup, and ginger beer for a refreshing, sunny twist.
Ron Collins
A deceptively simple and profoundly refreshing cocktail that marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Collins family of drinks. It transforms the gin-based Tom Collins into a distinctly Caribbean icon with Cuban-style rum.
Rum Fruit Punch
The foundational template for mixed drinks, following the classic Caribbean formula of 'One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak' with rum as the backbone.
Spiced Jungle Bird
A contemporary evolution of the Malaysian Jungle Bird that introduces warming spices like cinnamon, allspice, and clove, creating a complex interplay of bitter, sweet, tropical, and spiced notes perfect for both summer and cooler evenings.
Suffering Bastard
Gin, brandy, lime and ginger ale built as a bracing hangover remedy in WWII Cairo that later migrated into tiki lore.
Virgin Pornstar Martini
The non-alcoholic counterpart to the UK's most ordered cocktail, preserving the original's theatricality and tropical flavor with passion fruit, vanilla, and citrus, served with a sparkling wine sidecar.
Ginger Beer Fizz
Zesty ginger beer brightened with lime and a hint of sweetness.
Spicy Cucumber Cooler
A modern classic embodying the garden-to-glass movement, featuring the dynamic interplay between cooling cucumber and piquant jalapeño heat in a refreshingly complex tequila cocktail.
Cucumber Cooler
Cucumber, lime, and soda for a crisp zero-proof cooler.
Chilean Pisco Sour
Chile's national cocktail featuring pisco, lime juice, and simple syrup – crisp, clean, and spirit-forward without egg white or bitters.
Equal Parts Smoke
A modern conceptual cocktail embodying the elegant simplicity of equal-parts recipes with the dramatic flair of smoked cocktails. Built on the foundation of the Naked & Famous, it harmoniously balances smoky mezcal with herbal Chartreuse, bittersweet Aperol, and bright lime.
Green Chartreuse Naked and Famous
A bold, herbaceous variation of Joaquín Simó's modern classic, substituting Green Chartreuse for Yellow to create an intense, vegetal, and profoundly complex equal-parts cocktail with assertive mezcal.
Shirley Temple Black
The sophisticated, adult evolution of the beloved non-alcoholic classic, elevated with dark rum while maintaining the familiar sweet and effervescent profile.
Spiced Virgin Mojito
A sophisticated non-alcoholic evolution of the classic Cuban Mojito, elevated with warming spices that create a complex, aromatic experience perfect for mindful drinking.
Vampiro
A uniquely Mexican cocktail that offers a captivating blend of savory, sweet, tart, and spicy flavors, setting it apart from its more famous cousin, the Bloody Mary.
Vodka Rickey
A supremely refreshing highball cocktail representing the clean, crisp evolution of the historic Gin Rickey. The bright tartness of fresh lime and effervescent soda water showcases the clean slate of vodka in this minimalist masterpiece.
Tokyo Tea
A visually striking, vibrant green variation of the Long Island Iced Tea, distinguished by Midori melon liqueur. This potent disco-era cocktail prioritizes bold aesthetics and sweet melon flavor over subtle complexity.
Clarified Jungle Bird
A modern classic transformation using milk washing to create crystal clarity while preserving the signature rum, Campari, and pineapple harmony.
Chi Chi
A tropical vodka cocktail that's essentially a Piña Colada made with vodka instead of rum – creamy, fruity, and refreshingly tropical.
Cement Mixer
A notorious novelty shot that curdles in your mouth – lime juice mixed with Bailey's Irish Cream creates an intentionally unpleasant texture.
Coffee Jungle Bird
A modern classic cocktail that marries the tropical, tiki-style bitterness of the original Jungle Bird with the rich, roasted complexity of coffee.
Dublin Minstrel
A modern classic cocktail that reimagines the Last Word with Irish whiskey, created by Simon Difford in 2015.
Frozen Pornstar Martini
A modern, blended interpretation of the classic Pornstar Martini, with a vibrant, tropical flavor profile of passion fruit and vanilla.
Frozen Ramos Fizz
A modern, textural reinterpretation of the iconic New Orleans classic, the Ramos Gin Fizz, transformed into a dense, chilled, sorbet- or slushy-like consistency.
Gin Jungle Bird
A modern, sophisticated twist on the classic tiki-era Jungle Bird, substituting the traditional rum with the botanical complexity of gin.
Isbjørn (Blue Lagoon)
A quintessential retro drink, capturing the spirit of the late 20th century with its vibrant, approachable nature and electric blue hue.
Jamaican Rum Punch
A cultural cornerstone of Jamaica, this punch follows the simple, memorable rhyme: 'One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak'.
Joe Rickey
A foundational American highball, born from the sweltering political climate of late 19th-century Washington D.C., combining American whiskey, fresh lime, and sparkling water.
La Floridita #4
A pivotal evolution of the classic Daiquiri, created by Constantino Ribalaigua Vert at Havana's El Floridita bar in the 1930s, introducing the subtle, nutty sweetness of maraschino liqueur.
Last of the Oaxacans
A modern classic that brilliantly substitutes the gin in a traditional Last Word with the smoky complexity of mezcal.
Lighter Colada
A modern reimagining of the classic Piña Colada, prioritizing fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and lower caloric content without sacrificing the transportive, tropical essence.
Mai Tai Swizzle
The complex, grapefruit-driven, and historically significant forerunner to the more famous Trader Vic's Mai Tai, created by the father of tiki culture, Donn Beach.
Mango Colada
A lush, tropical cocktail that represents a natural and sublime evolution of its famous parent, the Piña Colada, by introducing the rich, honeyed sweetness of mango.
Maracuyá Sour
A vibrant and seductive twist on Peru's national cocktail, the Pisco Sour, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Amazonian region through its use of passion fruit.
Mexican Martini
A potent and piquant cocktail that stands as a proud emblem of Austin, Texas's unique culinary and social identity, a masterful hybrid of a Margarita and a Dirty Martini.
Mezcal Jungle Bird
A modern, smoky reimagining of the classic 1970s tiki cocktail, the Jungle Bird, substituting the traditional rum with mezcal.
Mezcal Tommy's
A modern classic that elevates its parent cocktail, the Tommy's Margarita, into a more complex and contemplative experience by substituting mezcal for tequila.