I love cocktails…. those fancy little festive drinks that are fun to sip at swanky occasions, the 19th hole, or at home watching golf on tv. So, I am always on the lookout for something new to taste test with my gal pals. When reading about the Augusta National Golf Course, host to the Masters Tournament, I came across the Azalea Cocktail, a signature drink of the Masters. For all you seasoned golfers, you may already know about the Azalea Cocktail, but to new golfers, this is great news. I had to try it!
How to Make the Azalea Cocktail
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add to the shaker….
2 oz vodka (or gin if you prefer)
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon (or tsp of RealLemon)
1 tsp Rose’s Grenadine
Shake vigorously to blend all the ingredients– pour through a strainer into a tall glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lemon slice!
Voila…. You have made The Azalea Cocktail … a surprisingly refreshing sweet and tart drink that goes down very smoothly! And with a shade of pink in honor of the Azalea bush.
*This recipe makes a 4 oz beverage. Even though this is the official way to mix up this cocktail, you can increase/decrease the ingredients to suit your individual taste!
Note: Don’t be tempted to garnish the drink with an Azalea blossom since they are highly toxic to golfers, and all humans, when ingested!
The Origins of The Azalea Cocktail
I tried to find a little more history about the origins of the Azalea Cocktail… how and when it came into being, but there doesn’t seem to be much information about those facts. However, naming a cocktail after the Azalea is a perfect choice and here is why.
The Azalea is the official state wildflower of Georgia – a historic plant that blooms profusely in April – perfect timing to create a gorgeous backdrop to the Masters Tournament.
The Augusta National Golf Course showcases over 30 varieties of Azaleas throughout its landscape with special emphasis on the 13th hole, which is actually named Azalea! In fact, the 13th hole features over 1000 Azalea bushes in different varieties to create an explosion of color.
Also, the 13th hole (Azalea) is especially memorable. It is one of the Par 5’s on the course, albeit the shortest measuring in at 510 yards (other Par 5’s are holes 2, 8, 15). However, the 13th hole has become one of the most famous holes and is the last hole of a trio (11, 12 and 13) what is referred to as Amen Corner* because this is thought to be the most difficult section of the course. I’ve included a picture of Amen Corner at the end of this article!
More Fun Facts About Augusta National Golf Course
Did you know, each of the holes at Augusta National is named after a specific plant showcased at each particular hole? I have included a list of the hole names designated by their featured plantings below!
Holes And Their Associated Plant Namesake
The next time you watch The Masters Tournament, take your attention off the great golf for a minute to enjoy the beautiful landscape and pick out the signature plant of each hole. Here is a quick list of each hole and its associated plant. I also found a great article you might want to check out at Golf Monthly online… just click this link Augusta National Hole Names – The Masters – Golf Monthly
Also, Augusta National was founded in 1932 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts on the 365-acre site of a former nursery called Fruitland (later Fruitlands). No wonder there are so many gorgeous historical plants on the property. Jones sought to create a world-class winter golf course in his native state of Georgia and I think he has done just that! Click this link Augusta National Golf Club – Wikipedia for more great information about the August National Golf Club!
More About Amen Corner
Amen Corner consists of holes 11, 12, and 13 and is considered the most challenging part of Augusta National Golf Course!
