Grapefruit Gin Cocktail
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 22.4% ABV ∙
The Grapefruit Gin Cocktail is a shaken gin sour built on London dry gin, elderflower liqueur, and fresh pink grapefruit juice, served up in a coupe. Tart pink grapefruit leads, softened by floral, honeyed elderflower, with a dry juniper backbone and a clean, bittersweet finish — an easy-drinking aperitif for warm evenings.
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 dashesSaline solution 1 dash
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and/or a grapefruit twist
Tips
- Use freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice — bottled juice tastes flat and dulls the drink's bright acidity.
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds over ice, then double-strain through a fine sieve to keep the coupe clear of pulp.
- Add the two dashes of grapefruit bitters to sharpen the citrus edge; skip them for a softer, more floral pour.
- Express the grapefruit twist over the surface before dropping it in to release aromatic citrus oils.
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. Grapefruit's affinity with juniper-forward London dry gin is why bartenders reach for it, but no source records a firm origin, date, or creator for this specific recipe.
FAQ
What is a gin and grapefruit cocktail called?
There is no single name — gin and grapefruit appear in many cocktails, including the Grapefruit Gimlet, Grapefruit Gin Fizz, Grapefruit Negroni, and Paloma-style gin drinks. This particular version pairs London dry gin and pink grapefruit juice with elderflower liqueur.
What is in a Grapefruit Gin Cocktail?
London dry gin, elderflower liqueur, and freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, with an optional two dashes of grapefruit bitters. It is shaken with ice, strained into a coupe, and garnished with a grapefruit wedge and twist.
Is this cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Shaking with ice chills the drink and blends the grapefruit juice with the gin and elderflower liqueur; double-strain into a chilled coupe to keep the texture clean.
What gin is best with grapefruit?
A classic juniper-forward London dry gin works best, as its botanicals intertwine with grapefruit's tangy character. Brands like Beefeater, Tanqueray, and Bombay Sapphire are common choices; gins with citrus peel or coriander complement grapefruit especially well.
Does grapefruit juice mix well with gin?
Yes, grapefruit and gin are a natural pairing. The sharp, tangy citrus balances the crisp botanical flavor of gin, and here elderflower liqueur adds a floral, honeyed sweetness that rounds off grapefruit's bitterness.
What glass is it served in?
A coupe glass, served up without ice. Chill the coupe beforehand so the shaken cocktail stays cold, then garnish with a grapefruit wedge and an expressed grapefruit twist.
