I think we can all agree that citrus juices are just delicious—fresh grapefruits, oranges, blood oranges, tangerines all make exquisite drinks on their own, while limeade and lemonade need just a touch of sweetener. These juices lend themselves to make great mixers, particularly when they’re made from fresh fruit rather than concentrate. And in the late winter, early spring, so many citrus fruits are in season. Grab a bundle of fruit of your choice, a squeezer, and give a shot (or two) at these fresh, juicy, cocktails.
Spicy Paloma
Courtesy of Irvington
Ingredients
2 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
0.75 oz. thai chile infused aperol
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
0.5 oz. simple syrup
Preparation: Shake and strain into highball. Float the soda on top. Garnish with grapefruit slice in glass.
Rescue Me
Courtesy of Jason Rodriguez, Garfunkel’s
Ingredients
2 oz. Fair Vodka
1 oz. fresh strawberry purée
0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.75 oz. Simple Syrup
0.25 oz. Giffard Creme De Pamplemousse
Preparation: Add all of the ingredients to a shaking tin. Shake with ice. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel
Fat Qcumber
Courtesy of Zarko Stankovik, Sushi Garage
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Effen Cucumber Vodka
0.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. St. Germain
0.5 oz. Yuzu Sake
0.25 oz. fresh lime juice
Splash of Simple Syrup
Preparation: Add all ingredients together, add ice and shake. Pour into martini glass over frozen cucumber ice cube.
Blood Orange Negroni
Courtesy of Chris McPherson, Flinders Lane
Ingredients
0.75 oz. Four Pillars Rare Gin
0.75 oz. Noilly Prat sweet vermouth
0.75 oz. Campari
0.75 fresh blood orange juice
Finished with orange twist
Preparation: Pour all ingredients over a large cube of ice and stir well. Garnish with orange peel.
Never Let Me Go
Courtesy of Matthew Biancanello, Eat Your Drink
Ingredients
2 oz. Cynar
0.5 creme de cassis
2 oz. fresh blood orange juice
Garnish: Grapefruit Peel
Preparation: Combine everything in a shaker with ice and shake and strain over ice into a rocks glass. Zest a grapefruit peel over the top and place it on the side. You can also get creative and add dehydrated blood orange slices and/or sunflower petals.
Blackberry Buck
Created by Thomas Spaeth, Bar Sardine
Ingredients
2 parts elit Vodka
barspoon of blackberry jam
3 fresh blackberries
8 fresh mint leaves
1 part fresh lemon juice
½ part Honey Syrup (1:1)
2 parts Ginger Beer
Preparation: Shake all ingredients except ginger beer hard, strain over ice into a double old fashioned glass. Top with ginger beer and stir once to incorporate. Garnish with fresh berry and lemon.
Snake Chaser
Courtesy of SVEDKA
Ingredients
2 parts SVEDKA Cucumber Lime
¾ part fresh lime juice
½ part agave nectar
¼ avocado (peeled)
1 pinch cilantro leaves
1 pinch Kosher salt
Preparation: Combine ingredients in a blender, adding ½ cup crushed ice last. Blend at high speed and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and cilantro.