Grapefruit martinis bridge the gap between the best of the tartest martinis with the sweetest of the berry ones. Best enjoyed during grapefruit peak season between November and April, take a stab at making these six grapefruit martinis and see which one tingles your tastebuds the most.
Classic Grapefruit Martini
A classic grapefruit martini modifies a regular martini a bit by adding simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and orange liqueur to balance out the grapefruit flavor for a well-rounded drink.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with an olive.
Grapefruit Squared Martini
If your morning ritual starts with sprinkling sugar onto your grapefruit slice, then this recipe is meant for you. The grapefruit squared martini brings as much grapefruit flavor as it can in a single glass.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 grapefruit sections
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1½ ounces grapefruit vodka
- Ice
- Splash grapefruit juice
- Grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the simple syrup, grapefruit, lemon juice, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with a splash of grapefruit juice.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Blueberry Grapefruit Martini
An interesting pairing, this blueberry grapefruit martini muddles fresh blueberries and grapefruit with lemon juice, simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and gin for a backyard-style cocktail.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup grapefruit
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces gin
- Blueberry and sage leaf for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the blueberries, grapefruit, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Add the grapefruit juice and gin.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a fresh blueberry and a sage leaf.
Rosemary Grapefruit Martini
A great way to ring in the spring is to make yourself a glass of this rosemary grapefruit martini, which brings a light and complex flavor to your tastebuds.
Ingredients
- Sugar for garnish
- Grapefruit wedges for garnish
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Run a grapefruit wedge around the rim of a coupe to wet it.
- Dip the glass rim side down onto a plate filled with sugar. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the rosemary simple syrup, grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a few grapefruit wedges and a rosemary sprig.
Ballroom Martini
Inspired by the refined elegance of ballroom dancing, this cocktail closely resembles the classic martini recipe, even equipped with its splash of vermouth.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- Splash dry vermouth
- Grapefruit section for garnish
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, vodka, and vermouth. Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit section and a mint sprig.
Desert Mouth Martini
Your mouth'll feel just as hot as the desert when it gets a taste of this desert mouth martini. Bringing the heat with fresh jalapenos and tequila, you might find that this martini takes the number one spot on your list of favorite tequila drinks.
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge for garnish
- Salt
- 3 jalapeno slices, one for garnish
- 2 grapefruit sections
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces tequila
Instructions
- Take a chilled martini glass and run a lime wedge around the rim.
- Dip the martini glass into a plate filled with salt and set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the jalapeno, grapefruit, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Add grapefruit juice and tequila.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the martini glass.
- Garnish with a jalapeno slice.
Ways to Garnish a Grapefruit Martini
The garnish is just as important when making a drink as properly mixing it is. You don't have to have advanced knife-skills to be able to whip up a few camera-ready cocktail garnishes. In fact, any one of these six garnishes should take your grapefruit martini to the next level.
- Whether you're looking for a little bit of sweetness or some spice, adding a seasoning onto a martini glass's rim is a great way to garnish your glass.
- Top with a grapefruit wedge stuck to the rim for a classic finish.
- Stick your favorite fresh herb into the glass to add a bit of whimsy to your drink.
- Sprinkle in some slices of fresh fruit that're in season for a pop of color and a post-drink snack.
- Make herbaceous ice cubes by placing small pieces of your favorite herbs into an ice tray, and freeze.
- Place a large dried bloom in the center of your martini for an elegant, botanical touch.
Enjoy These Grapefruit Mar-tart-inis
Fruity martini style drinks are a great option for people who aren't a huge fan of the pure taste of spirits, and grapefruits are wonderful because they're both tart and sweet depending on the variety of juice or fresh fruit you choose. It doesn't hurt that these drinks also come in a full spectrum of red and pink colored hues either. Now that you've got a thirst to quench, it's time to get mixing.
