Navigator
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.8% ABV ∙
The Navigator is a gin sour that shakes London dry gin with limoncello and fresh pink grapefruit juice, fine-strained into a chilled coupe. Grapefruit tartness leads, lemon sweetness rounding out the middle, with a crisp juniper backbone and a dry, citrus-oil finish from the twist.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlLimoncello liqueur 20 mlPink grapefruit juice 40 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Pre-chill the coupe before straining — a warm glass takes the edge off the fine, cold texture this shake produces.
- Squeeze the grapefruit juice fresh just before shaking; bottled juice loses brightness and throws off the citrus balance.
- Fine-strain to keep grapefruit pulp and ice shards out, so the pour looks clean and glossy in the coupe.
- Express the lemon twist directly over the drink right before serving so the citrus oils sit on top of the aroma.
History
The Navigator is a modern gin cocktail credited to Jamie Terrell, a bartender in London, who created it in 2005. It combines gin with limoncello and pink grapefruit juice, a citrus-forward pairing that places it among the wave of 21st-century cocktails built around Italian lemon liqueur.
FAQ
Is a Navigator cocktail vegan?
Yes, a Navigator is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it contains only gin, limoncello, fresh grapefruit juice, and a lemon twist garnish.
