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    Home » Recipes » Cocktail Recipes

    Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail

    Modified: Jun 15, 2025 · Published: Feb 16, 2021 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Skip to Recipe Watch the Video
    Brown Sugar Grapefruit Cocktail.

    The tartness of grapefruit and the smokiness of bourbon come together with brown sugar to create this citrusy Bourbon Grapefruit cocktail.

    Glasses of bourbon grapefruit cocktail.

    Looking for a cocktail that’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and totally delicious? This Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail is a cozy twist on a classic citrus drink. Fresh grapefruit juice pairs perfectly with warm brown sugar simple syrup and your favorite bourbon or rye whiskey to create a cocktail that's bright, balanced, and easy to make. Whether you're hosting brunch, planning a cozy night in, or just craving a unique grapefruit cocktail, this simple recipe is sure to impress. 

    This cocktail is my variation on a Brown Derby. The classic Brown Derby cocktail recipe is made with bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey syrup. But I love tweaking classic cocktails, and bourbon and grapefruit are a surprisingly tasty combination.

    When it comes to bourbon, I love brown sugar syrup over honey syrup or unsweetened simple syrup for adding sweetness. The addition of grapefruit bitters plays up the fresh grapefruit juice in this cocktail. This drink is perfect for your next party and a great way to introduce bourbon to friends who don't love an Old Fashioned. 

    What's in a Grapefruit Bourbon Cocktail

    Ingredients for Brown Sugar Grapefruit cocktails.
    • Bourbon - Choose your favorite bourbon for this recipe, but there's no need to choose the most expensive one since we're mixing it with other ingredients. If you're new to bourbon, go with a Kentucky Bourbon like Buffalo Trace or Four Roses.
    • Fresh grapefruit - Squeezing a fresh grapefruit will take only a couple extra minutes versus pouring it from a bottle and give you such better flavor. One large, red grapefruit should produce enough juice for at least 3 cocktails.
    • Brown sugar simple syrup - The little bit of molasses in the brown sugar plays up the flavors of the bourbon while adding sweetness.
    • Grapefruit bitters - These bitters enhance the fresh grapefruit juice in this drink while adding in delicious flavor and keeping the sweetness in check. If you don’t have grapefruit bitters, leave them out instead of substituting a different bitters. I like the cocktail better with the grapefruit bitters in it, but it’s still tasty without them. 

    How to Make a Brown Sugar Grapefruit Cocktail

    Brown sugar syrup being poured into a mixing glass.

    Combine grapefruit juice, bourbon, brown sugar syrup, and grapefruit bitters in a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes. 

    A hand stirring a bar spoon in a mixing glass filled with bourbon grapefruit cocktail.

    Stir for 10-15 seconds to chill. 

    Bourbon grapefruit cocktail being poured into a rocks glass with a large ice cube in it.

    Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes, or one big ice cube.

    A hand picking up a glass of bourbon grapefruit cocktail.

    Garnish with a grapefruit slice. Sip and enjoy!

    A glass of bourbon grapefruit cocktail.

    Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail

    Katy McAvoy
    This Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail uses brown sugar and grapefruit bitters to enhance the main ingredients and create an easy, well-rounded drink.
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    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Servings 1 cocktail

    Equipment

    • Jigger
    • Hawthorne Cocktail Strainer
    • Mixing Glass
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • Rocks Glasses

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1.5 oz grapefruit juice fresh squeezed
    • 1 oz brown sugar simple syrup
    • 3 dashes grapefruit bitters

    Instructions
     

    • Combine bourbon, brown sugar syrup, bitters, and grapefruit juice in a mixing glass half filled with ice cubes. 
      2 oz bourbon, 1.5 oz grapefruit juice, 1 oz brown sugar simple syrup, 3 dashes grapefruit bitters
    • Stir to chill and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice cubes or one big cube. 
    • Garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
    • Sip and enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 241kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.04gSodium: 18mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    Recipe Tips

    • Either pink grapefruit or white grapefruit is delicious in this cocktail, though as the names indicate, there is a color variation so your cocktail will look a little different from what's pictured here, depending on which one you use. 
    • Be sure to make your brown sugar syrup a few hours (or days) ahead of your cocktail hour so it has enough time to chill! You want to use cold syrup in your cocktails. 
    • Don’t have a mixing glass on hand? Stir up your cocktail in a cocktail shaker or wide-mouth mason jar.

    How should I garnish this cocktail?

    Grapefruit slices, a grapefruit twist, or a couple cocktail cherries would be easy, fun garnish for this bourbon grapefruit drink. 

    A hand placing a slice of grapefruit into a glass of bourbon cocktail.

    Happy Hour Snack Pairings

    A slow-sipping cocktail pairs well with hearty appetizers. Try some stove top barbecue meatballs, grilled chicken flatbread, caprese bruschetta with mozzarella, or bacon wrapped dates.

    A tray of bruschetta mozzarella.
    Bruschetta with Mozzarella
    BBQ Flatbread Pizza.
    BBQ Chicken Flatbread

    Looking for More Grapefruit Cocktails?

    Fresh grapefruit is a staple for my home bar, right alongside the lemons and limes. It pairs well with most any liquor. Try it in a traditional Paloma cocktail, a refreshing Triple Citrus Margarita, a Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail with gin, or save the peels and make some Grapefruit Infused Tequila.

    Glasses of Paloma cocktails garnished with large slices of grapefruit.
    Classic Paloma
    Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail
    Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail

    I love when you share my recipes!

    776 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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