Grapefruit Gin Cocktail
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 17.6% ABV ∙
The Grapefruit Gin Cocktail is a shaken gin sour of London dry gin, elderflower liqueur and fresh pink grapefruit juice, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlElderflower liqueur 20 mlPink grapefruit juice 30 mlGrapefruit bitters 2 dashes (opt.)
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and/or a grapefruit twist
Tips
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds over ice, then strain into the chilled coupe.
- Add the grapefruit bitters to sharpen the citrus edge, or skip them for a softer, more floral pour.
History
The pairing of gin and grapefruit is long-established rather than tied to a single named drink, and this particular grapefruit-and-elderflower gin cocktail has no documented inventor. It sits within a broad family of gin-and-grapefruit serves — the Grapefruit Gimlet, Grapefruit Gin Fizz, Grapefruit Negroni and Paloma-style riffs among them — that swap grapefruit into classic templates. The elderflower touch echoes the French Gimlet, which adds elderflower liqueur to the standard gin-and-lime Gimlet.
FAQ
What is a gin and grapefruit cocktail called?
There is no single name; gin and grapefruit appear in many cocktails. This version pairs London dry gin and pink grapefruit juice with elderflower liqueur.
What is in a Grapefruit Gin Cocktail?
45 ml London dry gin, 20 ml elderflower liqueur and 30 ml freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, with 2 optional dashes of grapefruit bitters.
Is this cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken, hard, for about 15 seconds. That chills the drink and mixes the grapefruit juice into the gin and elderflower liqueur before it is strained into a chilled coupe.
What gin is best with grapefruit?
A classic juniper-forward London dry gin works best against grapefruit's tang. Brands like Beefeater, Tanqueray, and Bombay Sapphire are common choices; gins with citrus peel or coriander complement grapefruit especially well.
What glass is it served in?
A coupe glass, served up without ice and garnished with a grapefruit wedge and/or a grapefruit twist.
