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Grapefruit juice and fresh rosemary pair up in this refreshing cocktail perfect for a hot summer day.
Oh boy, the heat is on. Summer has arrived and with it the quest for the perfect summer cocktail. That blend of tart, crisp, bright and ahhhhh…so refreshing. Lucky for me, my quest was a short one this year and inspired by a tasty libation that I slurped down to escape the midday sun when visiting Charleston last weekend.
A group of us descended upon Charleston for a friend’s wedding (best. weekend. ever.) and made it our mission to cram as many tasty meals and drinks into our gullets as humanly possible. Easy to do in a food-centric in a city where you actively have to seek out a bad meal.
Well lucky for us when walking off an especially filling lunch we stumbled on the Hire Wire Distilling Company and ducked in to sample the wares and escape the heat. While the guys opted for tasting flights of their small-batch spirits (incredibly flavorful btw), the Ruby Slipper cocktail spoke to the ladies. The description was simply vodka, ruby red grapefruit, rosemary and club, aka…heaven. The ruby red grapefruit juice brought a subtle drop of sweetness to an otherwise tart drink and the rosemary flavor was just enough to be noticeable but not overwhelming.
Christened the favorite cocktail of the weekend, I knew I would be shaking up my version as soon as I got home. I wanted a simple preparation that would be as easy enough to execute for one cocktail as it would be for a group. Little fuss, but big flavors.
Why ruby red grapefruit juice?
I enjoy a tart cocktail with just a hint of sweet, especially in the summer heat. Ruby red brings that naturally without the addition of sugar or simple syrup.
Prefer a sweeter cocktail?
You can make a quick rosemary simple syrup and stir it in to suit your tastes. It’s a great way to introduce a deeper rosemary flavor into the cocktail as well.
- Rosemary Simple Syrup: Combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan with sprigs of fresh rosemary (ex 1 cup water : 1 cup sugar : 4 sprigs rosemary). Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the mixture steep while it cools, strain, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Did you say muddle?
You bet I did. Muddling (in this case pressing the rosemary and grapefruit together with a muddler to release the flavors) is necessary to bring out those herbal notes, especially if you’re not using the rosemary simple syrup. There is an art to muddling btw…think pressing, not destroying, the herbs which can result in an overly bitter cocktail.
Okay, so mixology class is over my friends. Let the party begin (ba ba dooo)!
Grapefruit juice and fresh rosemary pair up in this refreshing cocktail perfect for a hot summer day.
- 3 sprigs rosemary, divided
- 2 slices grapefruit, divided
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Ruby Red grapefruit vodka
- 2 oz Ruby Red grapefruit juice
- 2 oz club soda
- ice, for serving
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Muddle two sprigs of rosemary and one slice of grapefruit in a cocktail shaker.
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Add the vodkas and juice to the cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
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Top with club soda and garnish with a rosemary sprig and slice or wedge of grapefruit to serve.
- Inspired by Hire Wire Distilling Company's Ruby Slipper Cocktail.
- If you don't have grapefruit vodka you can substitute regular vodka.
- To up the rosemary flavor, toss some rosemary sprigs in the grapefruit juice an hour or so before serving. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Julie says
Did you use Ocean Spray Ruby Red juice or another brand—or Fresh squeezed (e.g. Natalie’s)?
This looks amazing!! Can’t wait to try it!
Cathy says
I’ve used a few different brands and all work well. Just depends on your personal preference. Cheers!