Gin And Grapefruit

Tart, citrusy, and boozy is what I was going for with this gin and grapefruit cocktail. And let’s be honest, it’s needed right now. Strip it down and you have a gin and tonic base but the fresh pink grapefruit juice, lemon, and mint elevate this classic drink to a whole new playing field and one I think you’ll love.

This cocktail was inspired by one my good friend and I used to order long ago, way back in my paralegal days in NYC. In hindsight, it was just a vodka tonic with a splash of grapefruit, but that grapefruit splash made all the difference.  We called our drink “the fresher“.

Ironic in ways since I’ve never really loved grapefruit, but I learned I loved freshly squeezed grapefruit juice in cocktails. This week I received beautiful California grapefruits in my CSA box and felt inspired. I decided to modernize the “the fresher” to honor my friend I miss so much. And because I’m stressing about all my friends and family in New York facing such frightening times, I felt like this was an appropriate post for today.

The Gin Craze

While I give a substantial amount of credit to the fresh grapefruit juice, as well as the mint for that matter, thanks go to the many artisanal distillers who have made gin cool again. Serious. In 2018, global consumption of gin grew faster than any other beverage alcohol category.

Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its predominant flavor from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). Gin is one of the broadest categories of spirits, all of various origins, styles, and flavor profiles. Today, gin is produced in subtly different ways, from a wide range of herbal ingredients, giving rise to several distinct styles and brands. After juniper, gin tends to be flavored with botanical/herbal, spice, floral, fruit-flavors, or often a combination.

In this recipe I use a gin I have fallen in love with Greenbar Distillery City Bright Gin. This local LA Distillery has developed a fantastic complex gin with aromas of spice, lime, juniper, mint, and citrus. The name does it justice, it is bright and pops in this modern G&T twist. If you can find it, buy it, it’s that good. But in times like these when commodities are hard to come by, use what you have, it will still help soothe your anxiousness.