Rosemary, Gin, and Grapefruit Cocktail

Rosemary simple syrup and Bristow gin pair beautifully with tart grapefruit juice in this rosemary, gin, and grapefruit cocktail.

This post was not sponsored by Eat Y’all or Cathead Distillery.

It’s humorous that this grapefruit cocktail is the drink I’m obsessed with this summer. One, because I hate grapefruit. And two, I hate gin. Until now.

Cathead Distillery

Recently, I toured Cathead Distillery, Mississippi’s first and only vodka distillery. They just moved operations to the downtown Jackson area. I tried to coax The Husband into touring the place during one of our rare baby-free weekends, but I didn’t get much interest. The evening I toured the distillery, I left him home alone with our two kids. I didn’t feel bad about it. No, not even a little bit.

During the tour, I participated in my first vodka tasting (still not feeling bad about leaving him alone with the kiddos). I wasn’t sure how the vodka would agree with my palate since I’ve never drank vodka straight before. Going in, I thought my favorite would be their signature Honeysuckle Vodka. I ended up being very surprised. My two top picks ended up being their Bristow Gin and Hoodoo Chicory Liqueur {not affiliate links}.

Bristow Gin

This gin has a pretty neat backstory. One of the owners of Cathead wanted to propose to his girlfriend. Her grandfather was a judge in South Carolina and a prolific gin drinker. This gin was intended to be a wedding gift for her grandfather only. I’m so glad they changed their mind! I have tried gin before. The Husband occasionally likes to sip on a gin and tonic after the littles have gone to bed. Typically, it has too much of an anise astringency for my liking. Bristow has a herbal flavor that’s much more palatable, especially for non-gin drinkers like myself.

Not surprisingly, The Husband was intrigued by this gin his non-gin drinking wife came home raving about. So the next time he made a trip to the liquor store, he bought a bottle. The first bottle went entirely into making gin and tonics for himself. However, I really wanted to try it in this grapefruit cocktail I’ve been making for several months now.

How to Make Rosemary, Gin, and Grapefruit Cocktail

The traditional name for this drink is a Rosemary Greyhound. It’s also traditionally made with vodka. But the herbal undertones in the gin pair so well with the rosemary simple syrup, I wouldn’t drink it any other way. The simple syrup also cuts the bitterness of the grapefruit juice making this sweet and almost floral.

Simple syrup is nothing more than equal parts sugar and water simmered until the sugar is dissolved. I added two sprigs of fresh rosemary to the simmering syrup to give the syrup an herbal flavor. After a minute or two, the sugar should be completely dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat an allow it to cool completely. I leave the rosemary sprigs in the pan while the syrup cools to give it more time to absorb the flavor of the herbs. Once the syrup has cooled, you want to remove the rosemary sprigs and throw them away.

To assemble to cocktail, combine two ounces of Bristow gin, three ounces of Ruby Red grapefruit juice and one ounce of rosemary simple syrup in a shaker with ice. If you want the drink to be a little sweeter, you can add more syrup. Shake vigorously until the ingredients are combined. Then strain everything into a glass filled with ice cubes. I garnished mine with fresh grapefruit wedges and rosemary sprigs.

I must warn you, though. At 94 proof, Bristow Gin packs a punch. When blended with this sweet, fragrant cocktail, it’s easy sippin’ and downright dangerous.

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4.5 from 6 votes

Rosemary, Gin, and Grapefruit Cocktail

Rosemary simple syrup and Bristow gin pair beautifully with tart grapefruit juice in this rosemary, gin, and grapefruit cocktail.

Course cocktails

Cuisine American

Cook Time 2 minutes

Servings 2 drinks

Calories 176kcal

Author Lisa B.

Ingredients

Rosemary Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 large sprigs of rosemary

Cocktail:

• 2 ounces Bristow gin
• 3 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup more if you want it a little sweeter

Instructions

For the rosemary simple syrup:

• Combine the simple syrup ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Heat to a boil, them allow to simmer until the sugar has dissolved, about a minute or two. Remove pan from heat. Allow the mixture to cool completely. Remove and discard the rosemary stems before serving.

For the cocktail:

• Combine cocktail ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for a few seconds until everything is combined. Strain into ice filled glasses.
• Garnish with grapefruit wedges and rosemary springs if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 0.9g | Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 16.9g