Brown Sugar Grapefruit Cocktail

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The tartness of grapefruit and the smokiness of bourbon come together with brown sugar to create this citrus Brown Sugar Grapefruit cocktail.

This cocktail is my spin on a Brown Derby. A classic Brown Derby cocktail is bourbon with grapefruit juice and honey syrup. But it just doesn’t quite work for me. It does, however, prove that bourbon and grapefruit are a surprisingly tasty combination.

When it comes to bourbon, I love brown sugar over honey or white sugar for adding sweetness. The addition of grapefruit bitters plays up the fresh juice in this cocktail.

Makes 1 Brown Sugar Grapefruit cocktail.

2 oz bourbon
1.5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz brown sugar simple syrup
3 dashes grapefruit bitters (I use Scrappys)

Combine everything in a mixing glass with ice.

Stir to chill and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Sip and enjoy!

Tips on Brown Sugar Grapefruit Cocktail

How do you make brown sugar simple syrup?

Head over to my DIY Cocktail Syrups page for measurements and instructions to make the syrups I use in my cocktails. Make your syrup a few hours ahead of cocktail hour so it has enough time to chill!

How long does brown sugar syrup last?

In the refrigerator, brown sugar syrup will last up to 4 weeks. Pay attention to the clarity of the syrup. Once it's cooled, it should be clear enough to see through. As soon as it starts looking cloudy, pour it out and make new syrup for your cocktails.

Can I use bottled grapefruit juice?

There's only 4 ingredients for this cocktail, so fresh juice is important here. Buy whole grapefruits and juice them! One large, red grapefruit should produce enough juice for at least 3 cocktails.

Why type of grapefruit should I use?

Whatever is easiest for you to find! Either red 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 depending on which one you use.

How should I garnish this cocktail?

A wedge of grapefruit or a couple Luxardo maraschino cherries would be easy, fun garnish for this drink.

What can I use instead of grapefruit bitters?

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.

Happy Hour Snack Pairing

The smokiness in this bourbon cocktail pairs deliciously with Bacon Wrapped Dates.

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