unforgettable · shaken
Paradise recipe
Gin, apricot brandy and orange juice. Silky and fruity.
A Paradise is 35 ml (32.9 g) Gin, 20 ml (20 g) Apricot Brandy and 15 ml (15.6 g) Orange Juice, shaken and served in a coupe. It pours to about 70 ml before ice, at roughly 26.9% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glasscoupe
- Methodshaken
- Pour volume70 ml
- Strength (est.)26.9% ABV
- Time3 min
Paradise ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gin | 35 ml | 32.9 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Apricot Brandy | 20 ml | 20 g | 1.00 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Orange Juice | 15 ml | 15.6 g | 1.04 | Weighed by the coaster |
How to make a Paradise
- Set your coupe on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Add Gin, Apricot Brandy and Orange Juice to a shaker, weighing each ingredient rather than eyeballing a jigger.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
Paradise: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Paradise?
Roughly 26.9% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Spirit-forward. Sip it, do not sink it.
What glass should a Paradise be served in?
A coupe. Chill it first — a room-temperature stemmed glass will undo half the work you just did in the mixing tin.
Can I make a Paradise without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
If you like the Paradise
Angel Face
Equal parts gin, apricot brandy and Calvados.
Monkey Gland
Gin and orange juice with absinthe and grenadine.
Gimlet
Gin and lime, properly balanced. Shaken or stirred.
Bee's Knees
Prohibition-era classic. Honey and lemon make gin shine.
Clover Club
Pre-Prohibition gin sour with raspberry and egg white. Pink and frothy.
Last Word
Equal parts gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, lime. Perfectly balanced.