Orange Crush
A fresh, crushed-ice highball using orange vodka and freshly squeezed juice.
The Orange Crush is a Mid-Atlantic regional classic defined by the use of orange-flavored vodka and the immediate freshness of pressed orange juice. Unlike the Screwdriver, which is often static and heavy, the Crush is served over crushed ice and topped with lemon-lime soda, making it aerated, effervescent, and incredibly crushable. It relies on the specific synergy between the flavored spirit and the fresh citrus oils to create a drink that tastes like a peaked-summer soda.
Ingredients
- • 2 oz orange vodka
- • 0.5 oz triple sec
- • 2 oz fresh orange juice
- • Lemon-lime soda to top
Did you know?
“The drink became a phenomenon in Ocean City, Maryland, in the mid-1990s, where bars famously installed industrial juicers to keep up with demand.”
Bartender's Note
You must use fresh-squeezed orange juice and crushed ice; bottled juice or cubed ice flattens the texture and flavor profile.
How to make the Orange Crush
- 1Fill a pint or highball glass with crushed ice
- 2Add orange vodka, triple sec, and fresh orange juice
- 3Top with lemon-lime soda
- 4Stir gently to mix
- 5Garnish with an orange wheel
