3 Ways to Make a Rosemary Gin Grapefruit Cocktail

I don’t know about you, but I love cocktails that use fresh fruit and garden herbs – but what’s even better is when a cocktail incorporates both into a uniquely crafted concoction.

If you’re new around these parts, I’ll let you in on a little secret known amongst those I physically do life with – I have a small obsession with mixology. As someone who loves to cook and explore new restaurants, this comes as no surprise. Over the years since I’ve come of age, I’ve sampled enough adult beverages to recognize what I like and don’t like in a cocktail. For me, it’s fresh and simple ingredients, no added sugar or watery fillers, and strong, smooth liquor blended strategically, that work together to create a masterpiece in a glass. Too often seen at bars and restaurants are drinks overpowered with sugar and soda and I don’t know about you but I like bang for my buck, especially when cocktails range anywhere in price from $8-$20+. In my prideful mind, I thought, I can make this better! Thus, I began my mixology journey.

With that said, I’m a gin girl. I know, I never would have pegged myself for it either but it seems I gravitate towards gin-based cocktails whenever I go out. I also love citrus. Gimme all of the lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits! I love them all!!!

Now that you know what got me into mixology, let me tell you another story. While playing around at my home bar one evening, I stole some fresh rosemary leftover from a roasted chicken dish and muddled it to extract its essences. Then I added ice, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and gin and shook it in a cocktail shaker. I served it straight up in a martini glass (martinis are my go-to cocktails) and never looked back. 

It’s been years since I discovered that smooth and easy delight, but it often finds its way back into my cocktail shaker as ol’ trusty. As a treat for you, I mixed up two other variations that I equally enjoy. Serve them up straight or over ice, whichever you prefer, just be sure to have fun with it! 

Grapefruit Rosemary Cocktail (aka, Ol’ Trusty)

Ingredients:

• 3oz of fresh grapefruit juice
• Fresh rosemary, muddled
• 2oz of good-quality gin 
• Ice

Let’s do this!

1. Muddle rosemary in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
2. Combine ice, grapefruit juice and gin in a cocktail shaker. 
3. Shake it up!
4. Strain into a martini glass and serve straight up OR serve over ice

Grapefruit Lemon Rosemary Change-Up

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ oz of fresh grapefruit juice
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• Fresh rosemary, muddled
• 1 ½ oz of good-quality gin 
• 1oz Lillet Blanc
• Ice

Let’s do this!

1. Muddle rosemary in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
2. Combine ice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, gin, and Lillet Blanc in a cocktail shaker.
3. Shake it up!
4. Strain into a martini glass and serve straight up OR serve over ice

Grapefruit Rose Flower

Ingredients:

• 3oz of fresh grapefruit juice
• Fresh rosemary, muddled
• 1 ½ oz of good-quality gin 
• 1oz elderflower liquor
• Ice

Let’s do this!

1. Muddle rosemary in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
2. Combine ice, grapefruit juice, gin and elderflower liquor in a cocktail shaker. 
3. Shake it up!
4. Strain into a martini glass and serve straight up OR serve over ice

*I do not endorse drinking in excess (drunkenness), underage drinking nor consuming alcohol if you’re an addict or are in recovery. Know your limits. Please drink responsibly.