Grapefruit Christmas Cocktail Ideas to Bring the Cheer
If you want a bright and refreshing drink for the holiday season, a grapefruit Christmas cocktail is the perfect choice! Grapefruit adds a crisp, tangy flavor that works well in many drinks. Its bright and refreshing taste makes these cocktails perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holiday season.
Whether you love grapefruit or you’ve never tried it, we bet you can find a great drink to love for this Christmas season in the list below. Keep reading to find out some tasty recipes for making Christmas cocktails with grapefruit.
Key Takeaways
- For the festive season, you can try the grapefruit Moscow mule recipe. It's a delicious drink that pairs well with desserts.
- If you like citrus drinks, you’re going to love the rosemary grapefruit Paloma with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.
- The classic Salty Dog is another must-try. All you need is a Rio red grapefruit, vodka, lime, and sea salt.
- For a classic cocktail that lets fresh grapefruit juice shine alongside delicious honey, the Brown Derby doesn’t just sound amazing, it tastes that way too!
- To enjoy your grapefruit cocktail, use Texas Rio red grapefruit instead of pink or white grapefruit. They are extra juicy and naturally sweet, giving your drink a tastier flavor.
Grapefruit Juice Moscow Mules
A grapefruit Moscow Mule is a tangy, delicious Christmas cocktail. It's a delicious drink that balances citrus and ginger flavors. It’s ideal for pairing with desserts like grapefruit cakes during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 Texas Rio red grapefruit
- 1½ ounces of vodka
- 4 ounces of ginger beer
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Directions
- Place your Texas Rio red grapefruit upright on a cutting board and cut it in half, vertically.
- Using a handheld citrus juicer, juice and strain about 3 ounces worth of juice from one half of the fruit.
- From the remaining grapefruit half, cut out a few wedges and set them aside for garnishing.
- To make your vanilla mule drink, fill copper mugs or cocktail glasses with ice. Then pour the grapefruit juice, vodka, ginger beer, and vanilla extract over the ice.
- Stir until well combined, garnish with your grapefruit wedges, and serve.
Rosemary Grapefruit Paloma
The rosemary grapefruit Paloma is a refreshing cocktail that combines crisp grapefruit flavor with aromatic rosemary. It takes just 10 minutes of prep time, so it’s quick to make for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 large Texas Rio red grapefruit
- 2 small limes
- ½ cup of water
- 6 ounces of tequila
- 2 ounces of lime juice
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- Coarse salt for rims (optional)
- 1½ ounces of rosemary simple syrup
- 6 ounces of sparkling water or lime-flavored club soda
- Ice
Directions
- Cut a large Texas Rio red grapefruit in half and juice both halves. Strain the freshly-squeezed juice through a fine mesh strainer.
- Then, cut one lime, juice it, and filter the juice into a separate cup to remove any seeds or pulp.
- Set both juices aside until you’re ready to mix your cocktail.
- For garnishing, slice a wedge or two from the second lime and then set it aside.
- Remove the leaves from the rosemary sprig and chop it coarsely.
- In a small saucepan, put your sparkling water or lime-flavored water, sugar, and chopped rosemary leaves.
- Cover the pan and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
- In a measuring cup with a spout or cocktail shaker, add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and simple syrup.
- Then stir until fully combined.
- If you want salted rims, rub a lime wedge along the edges of your glasses. Spread some coarse salt on a plate or shallow dish and gently press the rims into the salt to coat them.
- Fill the glasses with ice, then pour the cocktail mixture evenly into each glass. Top off with sparkling water and garnish with lime if you like.
Classic Salty Dogs
The classic Salty Dog is a simple and timeless grapefruit cocktail for Christmas that lets the fresh red grapefruit juice shine. The salted rim adds a savory flavor that balances the tart juice.
Ingredients
- 1 large Texas Rio red grapefruit
- 1 small lime
- Sea salt
- 1½ ounces of vodka
- Ice
Directions
- Place the grapefruit upright on a chopping board and cut it in half, vertically. Juice one half using a handheld citrus juicer and strain.
- From the other half grapefruit, cut a slice for garnishing.
- Cut one slice of the lime and set it aside.
- Run a lime slice around the rim of your glass, then press the rim into a small plate of sea salt to coat it.
- Add ice to the glass, pour in the vodka, and follow with the grapefruit juice.
- Give it a gentle stir, then finish it off with a slice of grapefruit for garnish.
Classic Brown Derby
The Classic Brown Derby is a smooth, slightly sweet cocktail with a bright grapefruit flavor. Bourbon and honey syrup balance the tart juice so the drink tastes just right.
Ingredients
- 1 large Texas Rio red grapefruit
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- ½ ounce of honey syrup
- Ice
- 1½ ounces of bourbon whiskey
Direction
- Place the grapefruit on a chopping board and slice it from top to bottom.
- Using a handheld juicer, juice half the grapefruit and strain. Set one and one-half ounces of juice aside.
- Next, heat two tablespoons of water and one tablespoon of honey in a small saucepan.
- Stir over low heat until the honey dissolves completely. Then take it off the heat and let it cool.
- Add the bourbon, grapefruit juice, and the honey syrup to a shaker with a few ice cubes.
- Shake firmly for about eight seconds until the mixture is chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice and enjoy.
Enjoy Winter Sweetz Grapefruit Cocktails This Holiday Season
These recipes show how easy it is to make delicious, refreshing grapefruit Christmas cocktails at home. Each drink has its own flavor, from sweet and bubbly to tangy and herbal. You can definitely find the perfect drink for your holiday season in the recipes above. If you love recipes that combine tangy grapefruit with other tasty flavors, you can find tons of more ideas on our Recipez page.
For your cocktails, fresh Texas Rio red grapefruit is a must. It’s juicy, naturally sweet, and adds a flavor that really pops in every sip. You can grab this top-quality grapefruit from Winter Sweetz, which is perfect for winter cocktails or gifting. Our season is underway here in Texas, and you can get grapefruit at peak ripeness this winter!