It’s disappointing that our apartment doesn’t have enough space for a bar cart because I would LOVE to start collecting specialty liqueurs and mixers. Sadly, I barely have enough space to store the basics, but one day I hope to have a very well-stocked bar cart. I’ve never been much of a cocktail shaker – I’m a Jack and Coke kind of girl – but it’s fun to try new cocktails, and doing that at restaurants can get expensive very quickly.
That’s why I recently started trying to mess around with the basic types of alcohol I usually have in the house. In this case, that’s bourbon because I often drink it with Coke. Then I added some seasonal flavors and BAM! I had a spiced grapefruit cocktail that I will probably be drinking all season.
Tis the season for blood oranges, and I originally planned this recipe for blood oranges, which were nowhere to be found, so I decided to take a chance with grapefruit. Luckily, it really worked! The sweetness of the spiced simple syrup tones down the tartness of the grapefruit, and the bourbon balances it out. Then I added some sparkling grapefruit water to make it nice and bubbly.
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1/3 cup bourbon whiskey
- Grapefruit La Croix water
- Grapefruit slices and anise star (garnish, optional)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Mix the cooled syrup, grapefruit juice and bourbon in a shaker
- Stain into glasses, filling about half full
- Top remainder of glass with La Croix
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil
- Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes
- Strain solids with a sieve and discard
- Store syrup in the fridge until cool enough to use
- The simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container for about one month