Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Scorpion

Almost a Fog Cutter without the gin, and with twice the orange juice. Rounder and juicier, and quietly holding 75 ml of rum and cognac under all that fruit.

Preparation~3 minEasyStrengthMediumabout 19% ABVMethodShaken10 guided stepsIngredients5Tall (highball) glass

Tropical

In the glassGold rum · Cognac · Orange juice · Fresh lemon juice · Orgeat syrup

See exact amounts

Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Pack it generously with crushed ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Gold rum60 ml
Cognac15 ml
Orange juice45 ml
Fresh lemon juice22 ml
Orgeat syrup15 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 60 ml gold rum into your shaker
- Gold rum
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml cognac
- Cognac
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 45 ml orange juice
- Orange juice
04
Measure into the shaker
Add 22 ml fresh lemon juice
- Fresh lemon juice
05
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml orgeat syrup
- Orgeat syrup
06
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
07
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
08
Ice the glass
Fill your glass with fresh crushed ice
09
Strain cleanly
Strain into your glass
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
10
Finish the drink
Finish it — add an orange slice and a sprig of mint
Why it mattersSlap the mint between your palms before planting it — that little hit releases the oils, and the smell is half the drink.

Know your drink

About the Scorpion

A Daiquiri, minty rum highball and dark rum rocks drink at a sunset terrace bar.

The shared bowl

The single-serve build here is a shrunken Scorpion Bowl, a Trader Vic's staple meant for a table of four with long straws and a gardenia floating in the middle. Making one glass changes how you drink it, not what it tastes like. The bowl is also where the drink's reputation comes from, since nobody keeps count of what they have taken from a communal vessel.

Common questions

Scorpion FAQ

Does it have to be gold rum?

Gold or lightly aged is right. White rum leaves the drink thin under that much orange juice, and a heavy dark rum starts fighting the orgeat. If white is all you have, add a bar spoon of demerara syrup to put back the body you are missing.

Is any grape brandy fine in the cognac half?

Yes. Cognac is the traditional pour, but any decent grape brandy works, and Armagnac gives it a rougher edge that suits the drink. Avoid flavored or heavily caramel-colored brandies, which push an already fruity glass straight into candy territory.

What changes when I make it for four people?

Multiply everything by the number of drinkers, shake in two batches with plenty of ice, then pour into a bowl over one large block rather than crushed ice, which waters it down within minutes. A gardenia floated on top is the traditional finish.

Is 45 ml of orange juice too much?

It is what makes this a Scorpion rather than a Mai Tai. Orange juice is low in acid, so the 22 ml of lemon does all the balancing. Squeeze it the same day. Cartoned orange juice tastes cooked and flattens the drink completely.

What ingredients are in a Scorpion?

A classic Scorpion calls for 60 ml (2 oz) Gold rum, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Cognac, 45 ml (1.5 oz) Orange juice, 22 ml (0.75 oz) Fresh lemon juice, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Orgeat syrup. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Scorpion?

A standard Scorpion is roughly 19% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Scorpion shaken or stirred?

A Scorpion is shaken — the rule of thumb is to shake anything with citrus juice. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

Sharpen the technique