Oh my goodness. Now, I don’t drink a lot, but every now and again I’ll indulge in a real foodie cocktail at the end of the day. This one is as simple as it is delicious, and it’s really easy to customize. This is not so much a recipe as it is guidelines, I suppose. So here are the ingredients for a start, then I’ll explain what I do afterward.
JUICE:
Grapefruit
Blood orange
Lemon
Mango
Plus:
Vodka OR Rum OR Añejo tequila (optional: infused with hot peppers)
Sugar syrup
OPTIONAL:
Homemade grenadine (if using, omit sugar syrup)
So, there are really a variety of ways you could make this drink. For example, (1) you could blend all four juices together, or you could just pick your favorites! Whichever way you choose, it is guaranteed to be bright!
(2) The liquor you choose is also optional. Vodka is the flavorless way to go. Rum and citrus are typical combinations for island drinks, but tequila isn’t so bad in this either! I’ve had this drink with a mango/orange base with tequila infused with hot peppers and a zing of lime, and ow ow! YUMMMM-MMMMY!
(3) The sugar syrup I don’t find necessary if adding the grenadine, which is optional. Store bought grenadine is pretty horrible for you, so I suggest making your own from just a couple ingredients: pomegranate juice and honey. Add 1/4 as much honey as pomegranate juice and boil to reduce for 15 minutes, cool, and voila! Homemade grenadine.
(4) I say that it’s optional because I don’t always have homemade grenadine on hand, but I usually have sugar and water, which is all you need to make sugar syrup. :) However, the grenadine truly makes this drink a “sunrise,” when you pour the other ingredients on top of the grenadine at the bottom.
OPTION 1: OVER ICE
This is the lazy way to make this drink. Fill up a tall glass with ice. Pour in 1 oz. of grenadine. Then pour in the juices. Then add 1-2 oz. of liquor. Drink up!
OPTION 2: SHAKEN
If you want to use a martini glass, fill a shaker with ice. Pour 1 oz. grenadine into the shaker. Then add 1-2 oz. of liquor. Then add 2-3 oz. of juices. Shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Pour.
For BETTER real foodie cocktail recipes that also have easier and more straight-forward directions, check out the recipe book “Natural Cocktails.” I personally have used this book to learn to make my own bitters, syrups, infusions, and a variety of homemade cocktails that are just as good as $12 specialty cocktails you’d get at a fancy bar. Except they are strong and cheaper! ;)
