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Ruby Red and Rosemary Honey Cocktail

Beautiful winter cocktail made with vodka (or gin), grapefruit juice, rosemary and honey.

Updated by Kathryne Taylor on July 10, 2024

18 Reviews

75CommentsJump to recipe

Quick! Name this cocktail. I’m at a loss for what to call it. It’s not quite a sparkler, fizz or smash. It’s also not a daiquiri, which is made with rum, or a bee’s knees, although it’s close (this little pink number is made with vodka instead of gin). It doesn’t qualify as a martini, either, and let’s definitely not throw -tini on the end, which we all know is code for syrupy sweet, girly drinks.

Maybe I should pause to tell you what this drink is, precisely. It is composed of freshly squeezed Ruby Red grapefruit juice, vodka, a splash of lemon, a sprig of rosemary and just enough honey simple syrup to make it irresistible. It is: fresh, pretty and pink, but not so sweet that a dude would refuse it. A gussied-up version of my rosemary gin fizz. Light and refreshing but packs a punch, which makes it perfect for the holiday season.

I thought about making up my own name for the drink, but I’m not feeling quite so bold this morning. Maybe it will come to me if I drink another cup of coffee. How about… Rose-Colored Glasses? Or, Pink Drink? Kidding. The Grapefruit Honey? Grapefruit is an awkward word, come to think of it. Grape. Fruit. It doesn’t taste like grapes, nor is it the color of grapes. Why?

Naming recipes is hard. I never know which name will go over well, or which will best sum up the essence of the recipe. The best recipe names incite stampedes to the kitchen; the worst fall flat and get skipped over in the recipe books. Ruby red and rosemary honey just occurred to me and sounds lovely to my ears, but if you have suggestions for this cocktail’s name, let’s hear them!

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Ruby Red and Rosemary Honey Cocktail

• Author: Kathryne Taylor
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 1

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 18 reviews

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A beautiful and light winter cocktail made with fresh grapefruit juice, vodka, lemon, rosemary and honey.

Ingredients

Honey simple syrup

• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup water

Ingredients per drink

• 2 ounces fresh ruby red grapefruit juice (1 grapefruit yields 6 to 8 ounces of juice)
• 1 ½ ounces vodka or gin
• ½ small lemon, juiced
• ¼ to ½ ounce honey simple syrup
• 2-inch sprig of rosemary
• Tiny dash of sea salt (trust me)

Garnish, per drink

• 2 to 3-inch sprig of rosemary

Instructions

1. First, juice the grapefruits and make the honey simple syrup. Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. Use a whisk to blend the honey into the water and remove from heat (there is no need to bring the mixture to a simmer, this process should only take a couple of minutes).
2. Fill a small cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the grapefruit juice, vodka, lemon juice and honey simple syrup. Top with a sprig of rosemary and a dash of salt. Put on the lid and shake until the mixture is thoroughly chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a small sprig of rosemary. Serve immediately.

Notes

• Gin would also be lovely in this cocktail.
• Leftover honey simple syrup should keep well, refrigerated and covered, for several weeks.
• You can use store-bought grapefruit juice if you’d like, but freshly squeezed juice tastes better.

Nutrition

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

• Category: Cocktail

P.s. Here a few more holiday cocktails you might like: cranberry margarita, apple cider hot toddy, blood orange French 75, pear nectar with reposado tequila and the rosemary gin fizz.