Grapefruit cocktails are perfect for nearly everyone because of the way that they can balance between sour and sweet, and can be pushed towards one side to appeal to people's individual tastes. Try out one, or all, of these grapefruit cocktails to add some pucker power to your next cocktail party.
Jalapeño Grapefruit Margarita
Sour grapefruit and spicy jalapeños provide a kick in this spin on the classic margarita recipe. It's a great choice for a summer party or a chips and dip kind of night.
Ingredients
- Himalayan pink salt
- Grapefruit wedge
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces triple sec
- 2 ounces tequila
- 5 thin slices of seedless jalapeño, and extra for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- On a small plate, spread out a small amount of pink Himalayan salt.
- Run the grapefruit wedge around the rim of a margarita glass and dip it in the salt.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine thelime juice, grapefruit juice, triple sec, tequila, and jalapeño. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into the prepared margarita glass and garnish with jalapeno slices and grapefruit wedge.
Rosemary Grapefruit Rickey
Rosemary and grapefruit make a tasty flavor combination in this variation on a lime rickey. These herbal flavors mix perfectly with the gin's own botanical notes, resulting in a delightfully light cocktail.
Ingredients
- Two sprigs rosemary, one for garnish
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces gin
- Ice
- Seltzer water
- Grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1 rosemary sprig with the simple syrup.
- Add the grapefruit juice, gin, and ice. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice and top with the seltzer.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a slice of grapefruit.
Grapefruit Mojito
Although it may feel a bit weird to combine mint and grapefruit juice, they come together in this mojito recipe to create a refreshing drink that can cleanse the palate.
Ingredients
- Six fresh mint leaves
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces white rum
- Ice
- Seltzer
- Grapefruit slices and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint with the simple syrup.
- Add the grapefruit juice and rum. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with seltzer and stir.
- Garnish with grapefruit slices and a mint sprig.
Colony Cocktail
A historic cocktail that comes straight from the speakeasies of New York, this gin cocktail combines grapefruit juice and cherry liqueur for a deliciously tart beverage. So, tip your hat to the 1920s and stir up one of these.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces cherry liqueur
- 2 ounces gin
- Ice
- Grapefruit, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, grapefruit juice, and cherry liqueur. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Vodka Tart
Even the clumsiest person can make this easy cocktail recipe; simply combine vodka and grapefruit juice and you have a tart take on the vodka sour.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- Ice
- Club soda
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka and grapefruit juice. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Ruby Red Mimosa
Another incredibly simple variation on an easy cocktail, a ruby red mimosa switches out orange juice for grapefruit juice; this sour cocktail would go great with any sweet breakfast item like a chocolate croissant, syrup laden pancakes, and so on.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 3 ounces chilled Champagne
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a Champagne glass, combine grapefruit and Champagne.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Greyhound
This classic cocktail follows historic trends in combining only two ingredients; in this case, the Greyhound mixes gin with grapefruit juice for a botanical cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine gin and grapefruit juice. Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Chihuahua
Named after both the Mexican region and the country's infamous dog breed, the Chihuahua recipe mirrors the Greyhound, only it substitutes gin for silver tequila and would go great with every meal.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce silver tequila
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker combine tequila and grapefruit juice. Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Hemingway Daiquiri
Famed author, Ernest Hemingway, was so partial to this grapefruit and maraschino cherry daiquiri that it became his signature cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ once freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces white rum
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, maraschino liqueur, grapefruit juice, and rum.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
Grapefruit Screwdriver
This recipe takes the classic screwdriver and punches it up by incorporating the mouth-puckering tartness of grapefruit juice into a delicious brunch cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce vodka
- Splash of club soda
- Ice
- Grapefruit wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice and vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a collins glass filled with ice and top with club soda.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wheel.
Banker's Lunch
A lesser-known classic cocktail, the Banker's Lunch combines grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, vodka, and vermouth for a refined drink fit for any Wall Street businessperson.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- Ice
- Grapefruit wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, vodka, and vermouth.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rock glass filled with ice and garnish with a grapefruit wheel.
Rosewood Cocktail
This simple cocktail can easily be made at home since it only requires three separate ingredients: simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and bourbon.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and bourbon.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Grapefruit Rose Kennedy Cocktail
The iconic Rose Kennedy cocktail gets a citrus spin in this recipe which swaps out the splash of cranberry juice that gives the drink its signature pink color with grapefruit juice.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce club soda
- 1 ounce vodka
- Ice
- Splash grapefruit juice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass filled with ice, combine the club soda and vodka. Stir.
- Top with grapefruit juice.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Add Grapefruit Juice to Cocktails
Grapefruit juice often serves as a good replacement for other fresh citrus juices in cocktails. If these citrus juices are a bit too tart for you, try a half and half replacement. Take half of the citrus juice and replace it with grapefruit juice; be sure to take a sip of your mixture and check that you enjoy the balance before pouring it into your drink. You might find that you actually like a greater or smaller ratio of grapefruit juice to citrus juice. This is a great way to vary cocktails and come up with a new twist.
Tart and Refreshing
Grapefruit is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can help add tartness or sweetness to a drink depending on the other ingredients at play. However, adding grapefruit juice to any cocktail will result in something so tart and refreshing that it's perfect for all occasions.
