Tag: grapefruit juice

tequila

Salted Sage Paloma | An Easy & Unique Cocktail Recipe With A Delicious Alcohol-Free Option

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This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it’s delicious with tequila, too. If you’re looking for a refreshing drink that’s not too sweet, this is the one for you.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I originally saw this recipe on my friend Jake’s Instagram page. A long time ago. And I’ve thought about it several times since then and finally got around to making it. Now I’m just kicking myself for waiting so dang long.

I think part of the reason I waited is that if I’m honest, the thought of salt in a cocktail–and not just around the rim of one– freaked me out. I’ve long seen a pinch of salt or # drops of saline as ingredients in fancy craft cocktails. And I knooowww that a smidgeon of salt really just enhances existing flavors instead of overruling them with saltiness. But I was still afraid. And if that’s you, too, I’m here to say Don’t worry, I promise you won’t feel like you’re licking a block of salt when you drink this recipe.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

The salt in the sage syrup is actually the perfect complement to the earthy sage and the bitter grapefruit. Ugh. Really, why didn’t I embrace this sooner? Now I wanna go around sprinkling sea salt in all my syrups.

Using herb simple syrups brings a lot of complexity to mocktails– you won’t miss the alcohol! This recipe is pretty similar to my Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer. Be sure to check that one out, too, if you’re down for mocktails that don’t only taste like juice. If you’re a big fan of sage, be sure to check out my Avendesora and Autumm in Tuscany recipes, too.

How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup

To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Ingredients for a Salted Sage Paloma (with Alcohol-Free Option)

  • 1 1/2 oz tequila reposado (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • 1/2 oz salted sage syrup*
  • 2 oz freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • 1+ oz soda water

How to Make a Salted Sage Paloma Cocktail & Mocktail

Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Salted Sage Paloma (w/ Mocktail Option)

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila or tequila alternative (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • ½ oz salted sage simple syrup*
  • 2 oz grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed is best
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • 1+ oz club soda

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top
  • Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water.
  • Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Notes

*How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup
To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.
Keyword club soda, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, lime juice, paloma, sage, salted sage simple syrup
This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
tequila

Isla del Sol | An Irresistible 4 Ingredient Passion Fruit Paloma Recipe Made with SimplyGala Syrup

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The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. SimplyGala passion fruit syrup gives it the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.

The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that’s packed with flavor. It’s not overly sweet and has got just the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.

This post is sponsored by SimplyGala. All opinions are my own.

I follow a lot of other mixologists on Instagram and my feed has been filled with passion fruit this and passion fruit that for months. Now, if you’re familiar with my style of cocktail-making, I don’t do fake syrups or drink mixes. I just can’t stomach artificial flavors. Plus a lot of commercial syrups are cloyingly sweet. That’s why I’ve admired all the passion fruit cocktail recipes from afar. I assumed they were using artificial passion fruit syrup and I wanted nothing to do with that.

Shame on me for not doing some research into passion fruit syrups because if I HAD I would’ve discovered much earlier on that SimplyGala syrups are anything but artificial.

If you’ve been around from the early days of Girl & Tonic, you may remember that I’ve actually made a Passion Fruit Paloma recipe before. That one was made with beet simple syrup and passion fruit sparkling water, making it preeetty light on the passion fruit flavor.

Quality ingredients in cocktails make ALL the difference. Most cocktail recipes, especially the ones on this site, are 5 ingredients or less. If you’ve got a sub-par ingredient in the mix, it’s gonna ruin the whole thing. I can’t tell you how many drinks I’ve ruined by trying to cut corners. That’s what happened with the first Passion Fruit Paloma recipe I made. I didn’t wanna spend money on passion fruit syrup so I used the passion fruit sparkling water instead. Now, it’s not a bad drink. I enjoyed it. I’d make it again. But calling it a Passion Fruit Paloma was probably not the right call.

This Isla del Sol recipe is definitely a passion fruit Paloma though. Y’all. It is BURSTING with flavor. Traditional Palomas can leave much to be desired taste-wise but the SimplyGala passion fruit syrup packs the tropical punch it’s asking for. I was honestly shocked at how delicious the syrup was when I took my first taste. I could straight up put a straw in the bottle and call it a day. But seeing as how this a cocktail blog and all, I figured I couldn’t post a recipe that said “Open bottle. Insert straw. Sip & enjoy.” So I lived out my previous passion fruit Paloma fantasy and was not disappointed this time.

The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. SimplyGala passion fruit syrup gives it the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.

But like I mentioned earlier, quality ingredients make all 👏 the 👏 difference 👏 in a cocktail.

When I Googled “passion fruit syrup” I was shocked to see that all the name brand ones have artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, “natural flavors” (another way to say they didn’t use passion fruit- read this article to see how companies manufacture the passion fruit flavor “naturally”), and other things that shouldn’t belong in a cocktail like titanium dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Umm… I’m sorry, is it too much to ask for it to just be made with passion fruit? Thankfully the SimplyGala passion fruit syrup has answered the call. You know what’s on their ingredient label? 3 things. Pure cane sugar. Water. Passion fruit pulp. *cue Hallelujah chorus set to a tropical tune*

That’s what sets SimplyGala apart from other syrup companies. They make it their goal to create quality products with real ingredients at an affordable price.

The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. SimplyGala passion fruit syrup gives it the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.

If you’re like me you’re still a little hesitant to invest your hard-earned money in a product you’re not sure you’ll like. (Hello, that’s why I used freakin’ passion fruit WATER instead of SYRUP. Don’t let me cut corners like that ever again.) It’s even harder to buy something from a company you’ve never heard of before. Trust me. I feel you. But I’ve had the privilege of getting to know the owner of SimplyGala for a few weeks now so I can bridge that gap for you.

Gala has had a long love affair with food and flavors. She attended culinary school and cooked professionally for awhile before switching to a job that was a little more suitable for a working mom. When her kids were done with their schooling career, she picked her culinary career back up–this time on the beverage side of things. Her knowledge of cocktails fueled her passion for quality cocktail ingredients, so she started making her own. She first sold them on Etsy and at farmers’ markets across California; now, SimplyGala equips people like you and me across the country with high-quality syrups to take our #happyhourathome to the next level.

She’s also been gluten-free for years like me, so we bonded over that. It’s always nice to know that products are not only gluten-free but are also handled by someone who actually knows what that means!

Using SimplyGala syrups in your cocktails means you’re not going to have to compromise on flavor in order to afford them. And THAT is music to my frugal ears.

The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. SimplyGala passion fruit syrup gives it the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.

If you end up making this Isla del Sol, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@girlandtonic_) and if you make it with SimplyGala passion fruit syrup, tag them, too (@simplygalagourmet)!

Ingredients for an Isla del Sol (Passion Fruit Paloma)

  • 1 1/2 oz tequila blanco
  • 3/4 oz grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz SimplyGala passion fruit syrup
  • 1+ oz grapefruit soda (or grapefruit sparkling water for less sugar & calories)

How to Make an Isla del Sol (Passion Fruit Paloma)

Add ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, and SimplyGala passion fruit syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a lowball glass that’s been filled with ice. Top off the rest of the glass with grapefruit soda or sparkling water. Garnish with additional grapefruit.

Isla del Sol – Passion Fruit Paloma

The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. It has just the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila blanco
  • ¾ oz grapefruit juice
  • ½ oz SimplyGala passion fruit syrup
  • 1+ oz grapefruit soda*

Instructions
 

  • Add ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, and SimplyGala passion fruit syrup to a cocktail shaker.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a lowball glass that's been filled with ice.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with grapefruit soda or sparkling water.
  • Garnish with additional grapefruit.

Notes

*You can substitute grapefruit sparkling water for less sugar and calories.
Keyword grapefruit, grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, grapefruit sparkling water, passion fruit, passion fruit syrup, SimplyGala passion fruit syrup, tequila
The Isla del Sol cocktail is a passion fruit Paloma that's loaded with flavor. SimplyGala passion fruit syrup gives it the right amount of tropical vibes so you can sip on summer all year round.
gin

Lavender Empress | An Unforgettable Gin and Tonic with Empress 1908 Gin

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The Lavender Empress is an unforgettable gin and tonic made with Empress 1908 gin. It's sophisticated, floral, and simple.

This Lavender Empress is a Gin and Tonic recipe that’s sophisticated, simple, and memorable. I’ve had countless Gin and Tonics in my life and I’ve enjoyed them all. But never has one stood out from the rest– until now. And it’s all thanks to the Empress 1908 Gin.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

The Gin and Tonic is one of the oldest cocktails in existence. As with many classic cocktails, there are a few origin stories floating around out there. Most people agree that this combination was invented in India during the 18th century while others claim it was created in Holland the century before that. What’s clear is that gin was created as a type of medicine in the 17th century and tonic consumption was encouraged for British citizens who were relocating to India.

Someone somewhere discovered that adding gin to the malaria-fighting tonic water made it a much more palatable remedy. Tonic water no longer has enough quinine in it to provide any kind of anti-malarial benefits but it still tastes dang good with gin.

The Lavender Empress is an unforgettable gin and tonic made with Empress 1908 gin. It's sophisticated, floral, and simple.

Gin and Tonics are one of my personal favorite cocktails, but they’re often seen as being bland and boring. This Gin and Tonic is anything but. First off, it’s purple. There’s something about sipping on a purple cocktail that’ll lift your spirits. Really. Try being angry while you drink a dainty purple drink. I just don’t think it’s possible.

Secondly, the specific gin I used in this Lavender Empress makes alllll the difference. I’m still learning a lot about the world of gin (it’s quite large, as it turns out) but so far, I’ve learned that gin varies more from one brand to another than any other liquor. Rum is going to taste rum-y. All tequilas have a similar tone. But gin varies wildly from bottle to bottle and I love that about it.

Now all you whiskey and tequila purists out there, don’t hear me wrong. I know that they don’t all taste the same. But all tequila is gonna taste like blue agave because by definition it must be made from blue agave to be considered tequila. And while gin is always distilled from juniper berries and other botanicals, it’s the ‘other botanicals’ part that leaves the door wide-open for diversity.

The Lavender Empress is an unforgettable gin and tonic made with Empress 1908 gin. It's sophisticated, floral, and simple.

Empress 1908 gin is what I used in the Lavender Empress recipe. It’s made with juniper berries, grapefruit peel, coriander seeds, rose petals, cinnamon, ginger root, the exclusive black tea served at the Empress Hotel, and butterfly pea blossoms. Mhmm. Yeah. Now you’re starting to understand why I say this Gin and Tonic recipe is memorable.

The butterfly pea blossom is where the Empress 1908 gets it’s color from. Before it’s mixed with anything, this gin is actually a deep indigo. However, after mixing it with different ingredients like citrus and tonic, it’ll change colors. It can turn fuchsia, lavender, or light pink. Just watch the color change when I add the tonic water. It goes from indigo to a gorgeous lavender:

Knowing that the gin was distilled with rose petals, I wanted to bring out that floral element. I considered using my rose simple syrup or a drop of rose water, but if you’ve had either before, you know how easily they can overpower a drink. I didn’t want to risk doing that to such a precious gin. Instead, I turned to lavender.

One of the things that people love about Gin & Tonics is that they’re dry and not sweet. By only adding 1/4 oz of the lavender simple syrup, you’re able to highlight the floral elements in the Empress 1908 Gin without covering up the bitterness of the tonic. But as I always say, cocktails are meant to be customized so feel free to add more lavender simple syrup if you’re into sweeter drinks. Lavender simple syrup is really easy to make. Hand to heart. You can find my step-by-step recipe here.

I also added a splash of grapefruit juice since Empress 1908 gin has grapefruit notes. I don’t think it’s necessary to add this and I would definitely make sure not to add too much. Just a literal splash or squeeze will do.

The Lavender Empress is an unforgettable gin and tonic made with Empress 1908 gin. It's sophisticated, floral, and simple.

If you wanna find out if a liquor store near you is selling Empress 1908, you can use the company’s Find Your Empress page. This gin is unique, fun (color-changing!!), and reasonably priced. If you don’t have Empress 1908, you can use whatever gin you’ve got in your liquor cabinet. The Lavender Empress will still taste floral and light, although it may be more appropriate to call it a Lavender Gin & Tonic. But if you can get your hands on some Empress 1908, do it! (I have two sample bottles thanks to my generous friend Mark!)

Ingredients for a Lavender Empress Gin and Tonic

How to Make a Lavender Empress Gin and Tonic

In a cocktail shaker or measuring glass, combine the Empress 1908 gin and the lavender simple syrup. Add a handful of ice and stir to both combine and chill. Strain into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top off the rest of the glass with tonic water & watch the color change before your eyes. Add a small splash or squeeze of grapefruit juice. Stir again before enjoying.

Lavender Empress Gin and Tonic

The Lavender Empress is a sophisticated & floral gin and tonic made with Empress 1908 gin.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz Empress 1908 gin
  • ¼ oz lavender simple syrup (see the note for recipe)
  • 4+ oz tonic water
  • splash grapefruit juice -optional

Instructions
 

  • In a cocktail shaker or measuring glass, combine the Empress 1908 gin, the lavender simple syrup, and handful of ice.
  • Stir to both combine and chill the ingredients.
  • Strain into a lowball glass filled with ice.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with tonic water & watch the color change before your eyes.
  • Add a small splash or squeeze of grapefruit juice.
  • Stir again before enjoying.

Notes

You can find a super simple lavender syrup recipe here.
You can make the Lavender Empress using a different gin and it will still be light and floral. Just know it won’t taste the same because Empress1908 truly is unique.
Keyword gin, grapefruit juice, lavender, lavender simple syrup, tonic
The Lavender Empress is a refined and floral gin and tonic recipe made with Empress 1908 gin.
gin

Hype Girl Cocktail| A Brilliant Cocktail & Mocktail

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The Hype Girl Cocktail is a simple fruity drink that's not too sweet. Make it with gin or vodka for a delicious cocktail or leave it out for a mocktail that won't make you miss alcohol. The tart raspberries and bitter grapefruit are balanced by the earthy sweetness of beet simple syrup. Add some grapefruit sparkling water and this drink will get you pumped about life in no time.

Just like a real-life hype girl, this Hype Girl cocktail recipe is sure to get you fired up. It’s bright, bubbly, and unique and is a drink that I think most everyone would enjoy. There’s even a mocktail version that’s bomb.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Before we go talking about the drink, though, what is a hype girl? A hype girl is the life of the party, your number one fan & supporter, the friend that can get you pumped about anything.

I think most people have a hype girl in their life. My mom’s definitely my OG hype girl but I’ve got several others, too. I have a handful of friends who constantly cheer me on and root for me, especially in this blogging business.

The Hype Girl Cocktail is a simple fruity drink that's not too sweet. Make it with gin or vodka for a delicious cocktail or leave it out for a mocktail that won't make you miss alcohol. The tart raspberries and bitter grapefruit are balanced by the earthy sweetness of beet simple syrup. Add some grapefruit Bubly and this drink will get you pumped about life in no time.

My inspiration for the name of this cocktail comes from my friend Ashley. Ashley feels like my own personal hype girl, especially when it comes to Girl & Tonic. But really, she’s encouraging and supportive of all women. She even has an account on Instagram called @theneighborhoodhypegirl. It’s a great account to follow if you need some positivity & pep talks dropped in your social media feed. Ashley– thanks for supporting me and my cocktail blog even though you don’t drink. This mocktail’s for you!

My recipe inspiration came in the form of a pint of raspberries that were on the last few days of life and yet were still incredibly tart. I needed to use them up somehow and figured a cocktail would be a great use (naturally). I looked around in my fridge to see what else needed to be used up. Grapefruit juice… a lonely can of grapefruit Bubly.. oh, yeah, I can make this work.

How to make a mocktail with Bubly | This Hype Girl mocktail is made with grapefruit Bubly, fresh raspberries, grapefruit juice, and beet simple syrup.

To tone down the raspberries and the grapefruit, I knew I’d need some kind of sweetener. Simple syrup is the obvious choice but I figured I’d stay on the pink trend and utilize the bag of beet powder hanging out in my pantry. Using beet simple syrup not only makes your drinks a gorgeous magenta color but it also provides a touch of earthiness that keeps your drink from tasting overly sweet. You could definitely make the Hype Girl cocktail or mocktail with traditional simple syrup, but beet simple syrup is way more fun.

This cocktail tastes great with either vodka or gin. Gin lends a more botanical feel while vodka’s clean taste highlights the raspberry and grapefruit. Use whichever you prefer. Or try both versions and tell me which one you like more in the comments!

If you’re needing some pep in your day, mix yourself up a Hype Girl Mocktail. And when you’re ready to unwind at night, mix up the cocktail version.

If you’re interested in other mocktails, these Girl & Tonic recipes can be easily turned into mocktails by skipping the alcohol:

Easy Colada

pineapple juice + coconut water + Demerara syrup

Jam Mocktail

jam + flavored sparkling water + herb + citrus juice

grapefruit juice + beet simple syrup + passionfruit sparkling water

Cero Miedo

guava nectar + lime juice + jalapeño basil syrup + chili powder + club soda

Golden Pothos

tonic water + lemon juice + turmeric + cardamom syrup

Ingredients for a Hype Girl Cocktail and Mocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz gin or vodka (omit for mocktail)
  • 3/4 oz grapefruit juice
  • 4 raspberries
  • 1/2 oz beet simple syrup (here’s the easy recipe)
  • 3-5 oz grapefruit sparkling water (like Bubly or La Croix)

How to Make a Hype Girl Cocktail and Mocktail

Pour the gin or vodka and grapefruit juice into a cocktail shaker. If you’re making a cocktail, just skip the gin. Add the raspberries and gently muddle them. No need to destroy them–just smoosh them a bit. Add the beet simple syrup and a generous amount of ice. Shake well.

If you don’t want raspberry seeds in your drink, you’ll need to “double strain” it. You’ll need a small strainer like this one.

Hype Girl Cocktail and Mocktail | This delicious and refreshing drink is perfect for getting you pumped up. It's a perfect blend of tart, bitter, sweet, and bubbly.

Fill your cocktail glass with ice. Hold the strainer over your glass while you pour the drink from the cocktail shaker. This should catch the raspberry bits.

Top off the rest of the glass with the grapefruit sparkling water and stir. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Hype Girl Cocktail and Mocktail | This delicious and refreshing drink is perfect for getting you pumped up. It's a perfect blend of tart, bitter, sweet, and bubbly.

Hype Girl Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

A fruity drink that's not too sweet. Make it with gin or vodka or leave it out for a refreshing mocktail.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker or lidded mason jar
  • small strainer

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka or gin (omit for mocktail)
  • ¾ oz grapefruit juice
  • 4 raspberries
  • ½ oz beet simple syrup *see note for recipe
  • 3+ oz unsweetened grapefruit sparkling water (add more for mocktail recipe)

Instructions
 

  • Add the liquor (optional), grapefruit juice, and raspberries into a cocktail shaker.
  • Gently muddle the raspberries, just enough to smoosh them a bit and release the juice.
  • Add the beet simple syrup and a generous amount of ice.
  • Shake well.
  • Double strain** over a cocktail glass that's been filled with ice.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with the grapefruit sparkling water and stir.
  • Garnish with a grapefruit slice. 

Notes

*Don’t be intimidated by the beet simple syrup. It’s actually quite easy and will only take you a few minutes. Check out the recipe here.
 
**To double-strain, you’ll need a small strainer (like this one). Hold the strainer over your glass while you pour the shaken cocktail. This will catch all the raspberry bits. You can omit this step if you don’t mind the raspberry seeds in your drink.
Keyword beet, beet simple syrup, gin, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, raspberries, sparkling water, vodka
rum

Sea Monster Cocktail | A Spiced Rum Drink with 4-Ingredients

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The Sea Monster cocktail is a refreshing sip with spiced rum, ginger beer, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. This 4 ingredient cocktail is perfect for beginners and those looking to make cocktails at home.

The Sea Monster was one of the first cocktails I ever made. It was in 2014 and my husband and I had just relocated to Reno for his job. I had recently started getting into making cocktails and spent a lot of extra time scrolling Pinterest and pinning any and every cocktail recipe I found. (Speaking of Pinterest, here’s a shameless plug for mine.)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

The first time I ever had a Sea Monster cocktail was with my cocktail/plant bestie (you might remember me talking about her in this post). We frequently got together to make cocktails and I’m pretty sure this was one of the first ones we tried. In fact, here are some Instagram photos from back in the day:

Aren’t those glasses gorgeous? They belong to my friend and they’re my favorite ever. I have glass envy. Is that a thing?

Once I accidentally called this drink a “Sea Monkey” and we’ve joked about it ever since. In fact, I still think of it as a Sea Monkey and have to remind myself that that’s not the real name of this drink. Or is it?… No, no it’s definitely a Sea Monster. But I do love Sea Monkies. I’ve bought a couple kits in my lifetime and wouldn’t mind having them again. I mean, teeny tiny freeze-dried shrimpies that come to life by adding water and require little-to-no care? Sign me up.

We made this drink several times together back then and on the rare occasion that I have grapefruit juice around, I’ll make one. It’s a fun nod back to my early cocktail-making days.

Looking for an easy 4 ingredient cocktail? The Sea Monster is a bright, spicy drink that anyone can make at home.

While we’re on the subject of grenadine, I’ll give a shout out to the one seen in the pictures. In the past, I had Rose’s grenadine. It’s alright if it’s what you can find, but I’m officially here for the Barsmith grenadine. Unlike Rose’s, it’s not too sweet and it actually tastes like pomegranate. It’s also colored with vegetable juice (yay for no red dye!), non-GMO, and has no high fructose corn syrup. If you ain’t about to make your own, this stuff is a superb option.

The Sea Monster cocktail is a refreshing sip with spiced rum, ginger beer, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. This 4 ingredient cocktail is perfect for beginners and those looking to make cocktails at home.

I would love to give credit to the original creator of the Sea Monster cocktail, but I can’t. I went back to the Pin that I saved all those years ago and that person said they got it from the “cute lil lady over at Sweet Toothed” but alas, Sweet Toothed.com no longer exists.

If you’re a fan of a Dark & Stormy, then you’ll probably love this Sea Monster cocktail. The base is spiced rum (Kraken is my favorite), then ginger beer, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. The ginger brings a spicy kick and the grapefruit and grenadine combo make it fruity without being too sweet.

Sea Monster Cocktail | Keeping canned grapefruit juice and ginger beer on hand means you can make one of these delicious drinks whenever the urge strikes.

If you’ve been around Girl & Tonic for a while, you know I always tell everyone to use fresh citrus juice. Bottled lemon juice and lime juice taste worlds different than their fresh counterparts. But I make an exception for grapefruit juice. Fresh is still definitely better, but I really don’t mind going pre-squeezed. I like buying these little grapefruit juice cans because I never go through a giganto bottle before it goes bad.

As always, let me know if you try this cocktail by tagging me on Instagram @girlandtonic_ and using the hashtag #girlandtonic.

Cheers to another easy 4-ingredient cocktail!

The Sea Monster cocktail is a refreshing sip with spiced rum, ginger beer, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. This 4 ingredient cocktail is perfect for beginners and those looking to make cocktails at home.

Ingredients for a Sea Monster Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz spiced rum
  • 2 oz grapefruit
  • 2+ oz ginger beer
  • 1/4 – 1/2 oz grenadine

How to Make a Sea Monster Cocktail

Pour the rum, grapefruit juice, and grenadine into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top off with the ginger beer. Stir to incorporate.

The Sea Monster cocktail is a refreshing sip with spiced rum, ginger beer, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. This 4 ingredient cocktail is perfect for beginners and those looking to make cocktails at home.

Sea Monster

A refreshing spiced rum, ginger beer, and grapefruit cocktail.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 min
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ oz spiced rum
  • 2 oz grapefruit juice
  • 2+ oz ginger beer
  • ¼ – ½ oz grenadine

Instructions
 

  • Pour the rum, grapefruit juice, and grenadine into a lowball glass filled with ice.
  • Fill the rest of the glass with ginger beer.
  • Stir to incorporate.
Keyword Sea Monster, Sea Monster Cocktail