Grapefruit-Lemon Soda Mocktail

For as much as I love fruit, I have never loved grapefruit.  I’ve always wanted to, but it’s been a struggle.  When I was a little kid I thought that eating a halved, sectioned grapefruit, lightly sprinkled with sugar and topped with a maraschino cherry served with breakfast was considered an elegant side.  I never ate it, but bless my mom, she always did when I served it to her. Even years later, grapefruits on their own are still not my thing, but I have come to love and appreciate their flavor, especially in mocktails and cocktails.

Back during my paralegal days, a good friend of mine got me to add a splash of fresh grapefruit to my gin and tonics, we named that cocktail “the Fresher” and I still make that to this day. This cocktail recipe is a nod both to my friend and my continued quest to love grapefruit more.  This mocktail has a sweet-tart grapefruit flavor with a burst of lemon that’s refreshing and smooth for warm-weather sipping.

The grapefruit itself was bred in the 18th century as a cross between a pomelo and an orange. It was given the name “grapefruit” due to growing in clusters on trees, similar to grapes. Low in calories and loaded with nutrients, grapefruits are a whopping 92% water and are considered one of the highest water contents of any fruit. With that in mind, a grapefruit-lemon soda mocktail seemed appropriate, light, refreshing, and hydrating now that spring has finally arrived.

This mocktail has a touch of sweetness but is more on the tart side. It can, however, be easily adjusted if you want it more sweet and less tart. So if you love grapefruit or like me, are trying to embrace them more, this refreshing mocktail may be just the right thing to convince you.