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Here’s how to make Crown and Coke: one of the easiest Crown Royal cocktails there is! Here’s the ratio to use and a few tricks to step it up.

Crown and coke
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Got a bottle of Crown Royal whisky? Here’s the easiest way to make it into a cocktail: make Crown and Coke! This variation on the popular rum and coke might sound simple, but it tastes even better than the sum of its parts. The sweet caramel of cola is a fitting match for Crown Royal with its vanilla, brown sugar and oaky notes. It might be considered low brow by some, but with the right ratio and a few tips, it’s a legit Crown Royal cocktail!

Another popular cocktail with Crown? Try the Royal Flush.

The Crown and coke ratio

Here’s how to make the best Crown and Coke recipe: use the right ratio! It’s easy to mix up a version of this drink that’s too heavy on the coke. Use the right ratio to get just the right flavor combination! The Crown and Coke ratio is:

  • 2 ounces Crown Royal whisky to 4 ounces cola =
  • 1 part Crown to 2 parts cola

Of course, if you prefer a stronger drink, you can up the ratio by another ½ ounce or even 1 ounce of Crown Royal. But this is the standard and you can customize your drink from there.

Crown royal cocktails

Use lemon to add brightness to this Crown Royal cocktail

Most rum and coke or Crown and coke recipes don’t require lemon juice. But we’ve found it’s absolutely necessary for the flavor. The sweetness of the cola can be overwhelming, so a squeeze of lemon cuts the sweet with acidity.

Use the juice from 1 lemon wedge (1 teaspoon), or go up to ½ ounce of fresh lemon juice (1 tablespoon). You can taste the difference!

Crown and coke

Make Crown Royal cocktail variations!

You can make endless varieties of Crown Royal cocktails by varying the type of Crown! This Canadian whisky was introduced in 1939: it was a tribute to the royal tour of Canada of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (a fact The Crown fans will certainly appreciate!). It was available only in Canada until 1964, then introduced in the US in the 1960’s. Here are a few recommended types of Crown Royal to use in this drink:

  • Apple Crown Royal: Crisp tart undertones
  • Peach Crown Royal: Fruity sweetness
  • Vanilla Crown Royal: Warm smoothness
  • Black Crown Royal: Bold and flavorful (the whisky is aged in charred oak barrels)

One note: we recommend avoiding Crown Royal Maple. It had such a strong maple flavor that it overpowered the drink!

Crown and coke

Crown and Coke variations

There are many ways to vary this very simple drink concept! The Rum and Coke was introduced in the 1900’s, and it’s become one of the most popular drinks around the world. You can mix cola with just about any type of alcohol. Here are some ideas:

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Crown and Coke

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Here’s how to make Crown and Coke: one of the easiest Crown Royal cocktails there is! Here’s the ratio to use and a few tricks to step it up.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ounces (¼ cup) Crown Royal whiskey
  • 4 ounces (½ cup) cola
  • 1 lemon wedge

Instructions

  1. Add the Crown Royal whiskey and ice to a glass and stir to combine.
  2. Top with the cola. Squeeze in the juice from the lemon wedge and serve. Garnish with additional lemon wedges or wheels. 

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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2 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Avoid the Maple Crown Royal (I agree 💯…makes it taste Like I’m drinking Mrs. Butterworths pancake syrup. ) but all the pictures you use depict Maple Crown Royal. 🤦🏻‍♂️

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      :) We used up the regular bottle and needed something in the shot :)