AK-47

What is AK-47?

The AK-47 is one of the most audacious multi-spirit cocktails in modern American bartending, taking its name from the AK-47 assault rifle designed in 1947 by Soviet weapons designer Mikhail Kalashnikov. The AK-47 firearm is the most produced firearm in history, with over 100 million manufactured worldwide since its introduction, and its name has become globally recognized as a symbol of raw power and mechanical simplicity. The cocktail's name reflects the drink's bold identity: six different base spirits (vodka, gin, white rum, brandy, whiskey, and bourbon) combined into a single glass with Cointreau, lime juice, and soda water, creating a drink with maximum impact from surprisingly few ingredients. The AK-47 belongs to the broader family of multi-spirit high-impact cocktails that emerged from 1990s and 2000s American nightlife culture, alongside drinks like the Long Island Iced Tea (created 1970s at the Oak Beach Inn), the Adios Motherfucker, the Zombie, the Four Horsemen, and the Terminator. These "kitchen sink" cocktails are designed to disguise substantial alcohol content behind bright citrus foundations, making them deceptively smooth despite their intensity. The AK-47 stands out for using both whiskey and bourbon as separate ingredients, delivering distinctive American whiskey character that many multi-spirit cocktails lack.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Taste profile

The AK-47 is complex, spirit-forward, and surprisingly balanced despite combining six different base spirits into a single glass. The six spirits collectively provide a layered alcoholic foundation with each contributing distinct character: vodka delivers neutral spirit backbone, gin adds juniper and herbal botanicals, white rum contributes subtle tropical molasses warmth, brandy brings grape-based warmth with oak-aged complexity, whiskey adds grain-forward spice and gentle fruit notes, and bourbon completes the profile with caramel, vanilla, and sweet corn-derived depth. The combination of these six spirits creates layered warmth that no single spirit could achieve alone, with the American whiskey elements (both whiskey and bourbon) providing the drink's dominant flavor foundation. Cointreau contributes essential citrus complexity with clean orange peel character that ties the disparate spirits together and prevents the drink from feeling chaotic. Fresh lime juice delivers sharp citrus acidity that provides bright lift and creates productive contrast against the six spirits' collective warmth. Soda water lifts the entire cocktail with effervescent carbonation that lightens the substantial alcoholic content considerably, creating the "refreshing despite its strength" character that defines the drink. The combined flavor drinks like a bright, whiskey-forward highball with unexpected complexity: bold, warming, and dangerously drinkable.

Serving suggestions

Given the substantial alcohol content (six spirits totaling 3 oz of pure alcohol), pace your consumption and serve with water alongside. Build the cocktail in two distinct stages for the best result: shake the six spirits with Cointreau and lime juice vigorously with a full load of ice for 10 to 15 seconds to properly chill and integrate all ingredients, then strain into a fresh highball glass over ice, and top with soda water last. Adding the soda water separately preserves the carbonation that defines the drink's refreshing character. Quality matters across all six spirits: use a quality vodka such as Tito's or Ketel One, a London dry gin like Tanqueray or Beefeater, a white rum such as Bacardi Superior or Plantation 3 Stars, a VS-grade brandy like Hennessy VS, a rye whiskey such as Rittenhouse or Sazerac Rye (to distinguish it clearly from the bourbon), and a quality bourbon like Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, or Woodford Reserve. Authentic Cointreau over generic triple sec is genuinely worth the upgrade: in a cocktail with this much spirit character, the cleaner orange peel character integrates more elegantly than budget alternatives. Fresh-squeezed lime juice is non-negotiable rather than bottled. Garnish with a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig for aromatic brightness. For a stronger variation, add a splash of Grand Marnier alongside the Cointreau.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for AK-47

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker with ice add vodka, white rum, gin, brandy, whiskey, bourbon, triple sec, and fresh lime juice.
2. Shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Fill a highball glass with fresh ice.
4. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass.
5. Top with chilled soda water, and stir gently to combine.