Simple, refreshing, and full of citrus flavor, this Grapefruit Martini is the perfect way to take the doldrums out of any winter day! You don't need a special occasion to serve a fun cocktail. This Grapefruit Martini is great any night of the week!
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It used to be that martinis were only for special occasions, but not anymore. It's always a great time to shake up a fun cocktail, especially when it's this easy Grapefruit Martini.
This drink is beautiful, packed with fresh citrus flavor, and easy to make...so get your cocktail shaker ready!
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Why you'll love this martini
▶︎ It's easy to make one or a batch! I love martinis that lend themselves to be made as a single serving or easily multiplied to be served as a batch cocktail when you are hosting friends.
▶︎ It uses easy-to-find ingredients. No special stuff here; many of these ingredients are already in your well-stocked home bar.
▶︎ It's versatile! I love to make this drink with vodka but you can easily swap out the vodka and replace it with gin!
Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients for this Grapefruit Martini!
Ingredient Notes:
- Vodka - Not a vodka drinker? You can easily swap gin in its place.
- Cranberry juice cocktail - This sweetened cranberry juice is my go-to for most cocktails as it gives the best cranberry flavor
- Orange Liqueur - Cointreau is my favorite for this martini but you can easily use triple sec or Grand Marnier if you prefer.
- Simple Syrup is basically sugar water. You can certainly buy a bottle of it at the liquor store, but making simple syrup at home is super easy (and waaaaaay less expensive).
- Grapefruit Juice - Fresh is best but bottled will do in a pinch.
Instructions
Fill a shaker half full with ice and add the vodka, orange liqueur and grapefruit juice.
Next, add your cranberry juice and simple syrup.
Seal the shaker and shake for at least 30 seconds before straining contents into a glass. Martinis are best cold!
FAQs
The bottles and bottles of cranberry juice at the store can be intimidating. I prefer cranberry juice cocktail for this drink but let's break down the most common options:
➤ Cranberry Juice Cocktail is made with only cranberries and sugar. It has the sweet-tart taste we're most familiar with.
➤ Cranberry Juice (labeled 100% juice) is often not 100% cranberry juice but rather a blend of several fruit juices like apple, pear, grape and cranberry. The juice blend helps offset the natural tartness of the cranberries but it does change the flavor a bit, too.
➤ Unsweetened Cranberry Juice is just that - pure, tart cranberry juice. Prepare to pucker up.
They are all orange liqueurs but all have a different flavor profile, alcohol content, and price.
➤Triple Sec is a drier style of orange liqueur with a lower alcohol content than Cointreau or Grand Marnier. It's versatile and adds orange flavor and sweetness without the hefty price tag. You can pick up a bottle of triple sec for anywhere from $5.99- $15.99
➤Cointreau has a crisp smooth orange flavor and can be served on the rocks or mixed in cocktails. Its alcohol content is 80 proof and is about $25 a bottle
➤Grand Marnier is a mix of brandy, orange essence, and sugar. It's very smooth and drinkable but will change the flavor of a drink especially since it has brandy in it. We love to add it to our margaritas for special occasions. But be careful, it packs some punch at 80 proof and is around $30 a bottle.
Expert Tips for the Best Martinis
✘ Fresh juice is always best in cocktails. Save the bottled juice for another use.
✘ Use a higher quality of vodka for a martini than you would for a Cape Cod Drink since there isn't as much mixer in this cocktail.
✘ Shake your martini over ice for at least 30 seconds before serving. Cold martinis are the best martinis.
✘ Don't forget the garnish! An orange twist or grapefruit twist is the perfect garnish for this cocktail.
More Citrus Cocktails
Here are some more of our favorite citrus cocktails. Need more ideas? Check out all of our cocktail recipes!
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Recipe
Ruby Red Grapefruit Martini
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces gin or vodka
- ¾ ounce Orange Liqueur
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce ruby red grapefruit juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
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Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients to shaker.1 ½ ounces gin or vodka, ¾ ounce Orange Liqueur, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 1 ounce ruby red grapefruit juice, ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Shake and serve straight up in a martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Notes
VIDEO
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Paula says
Delicious!!
Kim says
Thanks for this wonderful cocktail! S