Grapefruit In Cocktails
Citrus is a common ingredient in cocktails. Because it is acidic, it has the power to tame the burn of ethanol while also adding a bright or slightly bitter flavor to your drink. Citrus became a common cocktail ingredient dating back to the time when sea voyagers suffered from Vitamin C deficiencies that led to scurvy, and citrus was used as a treatment. To learn a bit more about that history, we invite you to read our blog post on How Citrus Transforms Cocktails.
Grapefruit is a highly acidic citrus. It is less acidic than lemons and limes, but more acidic than oranges. It also has less sugar than an orange. Grapefruit are known for their bittersweet and tangy flavor, though there are some flavor differences between varieties, with red and pink ones tending to taste a little sweeter. In cocktails, the acidity of grapefruit adds a refreshing balance to sweet drinks, adding a bright hit of citrus that is a little tart, a little bitter, and a little sweet.
We’re excited to share our collection of cocktail recipes featuring the unique and complex flavor of grapefruit.
GRAPEFRUIT DAIQUIRI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-3/4 oz. of grapefruit juice
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1/2 oz. of simple syrup
-6 Dashes Scrappy's Grapefruit Bitters
Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for about 8-10 seconds. Strain contents into a coupe glass. Add a rosemary sprig for garnish.
GRAPEFRUIT MOJITO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 2 oz Rum 44
- 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
-club soda
- 8-10 mint leaves
Instructions:
Muddle Mint with simple syrup in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients, then shake with ice. Strain contents into a Collins glass, and top with club soda. Add a mint sprig & grapefruit for garnish.
HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1/4 oz. of grapefruit juice
-lime wheel
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a coupe or glass. Add a lime wheel for garnish.
WEST ERNEST 44
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1/2 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of fresh grapefruit juice
-1/2 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/4 oz. of grenadine
-1 can/bottle of IPA beer
-2 drops of Rizzo bitters
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except beer) in a shaker with ice. Shake and serve over ice in a collins glass. Top with IPA and a couple drops of Rizzo bitters. Add a grapefruit peel as garnish
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye
-2 oz. of grapefruit juice
-a dash of agave nectar
-3 sage leaves
-1 lime wedge
Instructions:
Muddle lime and 2 sage leaves in a rocks glass. Add ice, muddled ingredients, Revolution Rye, grapefruit juice and agave nectar to a shaker, and shake until frosty. Pour into a rocks glass, and garnish with a sage leaf.
In addition to grapefruit juice, there are other ways to incorporate the bright flavor of grapefruit into cocktails. Check out our Rum Punch recipe (which incorporates grapefruit bitters), or our Pink Grapefruit Highball recipe (which incorporates Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit). Another more unique way to incorporate grapefruit would be with a grapefruit oleo-saccharum. Grapefruit oleo-saccharum is a syrup made from muddling the citrus peel or zest along with sugar. The muddling releases oils from the grapefruit peel, which creates a much more concentrated and aromatic syrup (when compared to a simple syrup). We offer a recipe on how to make grapefruit oleo-saccharum on our website, along with an Old-Fashioned cocktail riff you can make using it.
Grapefruit is a great lower-sugar citrus option that adds a bright and refreshing balance (and color) to cocktails. We hope you enjoy the complex flavors this citrus can bring to your craft cocktailing adventures. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on February 23, 2026.
