Transfusion Drink Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Apr 22, 2026 
My Transfusion Drink recipe is a classic, country club-inspired cocktail I make when I want something cool and refreshing. I build it with smooth vodka, concord grape juice, and ginger ale for a drink that’s sweet, crisp, and perfectly balanced. It’s quick to mix and just right for warm days, whether you’re on the golf course or not.
According to my husband, this is a famous golfers country club favorite from before tee time to the 19th hole. There are a few different theories as to where the name Transfusion comes from… One likely reason is because of the drink’s vibrant blood-red color, or that it offers electrolytes along with a boozy punch. Whatever the case, like my best homemade margarita recipe, transfusion drinks are alcoholic beverages that are light and refreshing. However, this boozy bevy has sweet pops of purple grape juice and tangy lime juice to balance the sweetness. As far as golf course cocktails go, this one is definitely a winner on or off the green!
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Almost Too Easy – My transfusion recipe is a breeze to make with simple layers of ice, vodka, grape juice, and lime, topped with a generous splash of ginger ale. No fancy cocktail shaker or strainer needed! It’s dangerously simple, in my opinion, kind of like my Sunny D vodka seltzer.
Strong and Sweet – The combination of sweet juices and spicy ginger ale (you know, spicy like bite, not spicy like hot) mellow out any sharp vodka flavor. Together, this is a great balance of flavors that are deliciously (and deceptively) sippable. In fact, I might be a better golfer if I loosened up with one or two before playing!
Change it Up – I’m offering a pretty standard version of the traditional cocktail recipe. But even with only a handful of ingredients, there are several ways you can make this drink your own! I have some terrific variations for different juices and bubbly sodas to try in the notes below.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Limes – Fresh limes are a must, of course. I use about half of the fruit to squeeze and make lime juice. Then slice up the other half into thin discs to use as a garnish. That’s one lime per cocktail, so buy them accordingly.
- Vodka – I am a big fan of Belvedere vodka. Totally not an ad (but hey, Belvedere, give me a call if you see this, let’s talk *wink*) I think it has the best overall clean and delicate taste. But choose your preferred smooth vodka. If you really love grapes, feel free to use grape-flavored vodka. To me, they have an artificial flavor.
- Concord grape juice – I recommend 100% concord grapes, not a cocktail blend. You want the purest grape flavor for this beverage.
- Ginger ale – I use just classic ginger ale in my transfusion cocktails, but you can use other fun flavors like cherry or lime ginger ale. You can also use ginger beer which packs a stronger ginger punch, like in my Stormy Donkey Party Punch.
- Ice – Either crushed ice or cubed ice is fine.
How to Make
Find the full ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Prep – I start by slicing a lime in half width-wise. Next, I slice one half into thin rings to use as a garnish later, and juice the remaining half of the lime. Remember, one lime per cocktail, so squeeze as many as you need.
Pour – I fill either a highball glass or a tumbler almost to the top with crushed ice (or ice cubes). Then I measure and pour in the vodka, followed by the grape juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
Stir – If we’re going with the country club vibe, I use a fancy swizzle stick to stir and combine the ingredients for the transfusion cocktail. Otherwise, a regular spoon for mortals is, of course, totally fine.
Top and Garnish – Then I pour in an ounce or two of ginger ale. No need to stir it again, unless you just want to! Lastly, I use a sharp knife to make a small cut in one section of the lime slices, without going through the middle. Add a slice of lime on each rim to garnish, and serve!
Pro Tip: You’ll have extra lime slices. If you squeeze another whole lime, or two, you can make 3 or 5 Transfusions. The more the merrier, just saying. Half of a squeezed lime + 1 slice per glass.
Variations
- Create a pitcher for a crowd! Multiply this recipe by around 8 and combine the cocktails in a pitcher to serve to a crowd. Use my “servings slider” feature in the recipe form below to help with the math.
- This vodka drink recipe is traditionally made with grape juice. If you aren’t a huge fan of grape juice, you can replace it with cranberry juice instead.
- Give your drink even more bite by using ginger beer instead of ginger ale.
- Or for a milder flavor, swap the ginger for simple club soda, Fresca, or Sprite. Anything with a bit of carbonation.
- Make this a virgin transfusion (mocktail) by leaving out the vodka and using more soda.
Serving Suggestions
Whether I’m packing a cooler for my golf cart, or planning a summer cocktail hour, complementary snacks are a good call! I love to serve these grape libations with my boiled peanuts recipe… grape and peanuts, am I right?! Ham and cheese pinwheels, spicy oyster crackers, and spicy roasted chickepeas are also a nice touch. Pop and sip, baby!
Frequently Asked Questions
The ingredients listed are enough to make one cocktail. Use our “servings slider” to adjust the recipe for more drinks.
You do not need to shake this beverage. However, if you love the act of cocktail shaking like a fancy bartender, go for it! Just remember to add the ginger ale after shaking.
Bottled lime juice tastes, well, bottled, and includes preservatives. So I make my transfusion cocktails only with freshly squeezed lime juice, and suggest you do the same. Necessary… No. Way better? Yes.
Yes, but you are technically making a completely different cocktail… like a White Cosmos Spritz, maybe, or a White Grape Mule. Purple grapes have a deep, mellow sweetness, while white grapes are lighter and brighter. For a true Transfusion cocktail, you need the dark stuff.
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More Beverage Recipes
Transfusion Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces grape juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1-2 ounces ginger ale or ginger beer
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass or tumbler halfway with ice. Pour the vodka, grape juice, and lime juice over the ice. Stir well. Then top off the glass with ginger ale.
- Garnish with a lime wedge or fresh grape.
Can you share where that serving slide is? I am only seeing where it says this is for 1 serving, but I can’t change the number to change the recipe measurements. Thank you.
Is there a batch recipe?
Hi Jamie!
You can use the “servings slider” in the recipe form to adjust this for as many servings as you like.
thank you, I was looking for something different for cocktail hour this evening and these will do, hadn’t even had a transfusion before, of any kind, so much appreciated!
These were so yummy and refreshing! Can’t wait to enjoy them all summer long…I think they’d be perfect by the pool!
I will definitely be making this with sparkling water, since we don’t drink, but we love grape drinks! It will be so refreshing!
This flavor-packed transfusion drink is easy to make and is a great summer drink!