Grapefruit Sour Cocktail Recipe with Bootlegger Gin

Today we’re making Grapefruit Gin Sours.

I’m definitely on a sour cocktail kick after shaking up Raspberry Sour cocktails the other day. Instead of using raspberry infused vodka, we’ll be using a small batch gin from upstate New York.

The Rise of Small Batch

The boom of the craft beer scene dotted the USA with microbreweries allowing patrons to taste the incredible difference of flavor small-batch produced goods could offer. Along with people becoming more educated on their health, the trend led to an explosion in popularity of all kinds of small-batch, high quality items.

The more unknown a high-quality item is, the cooler the person who has it is.

So, the desire for drinking an unknown brewery’s excellent beer spilled over into many parts of the food and drink industry. Like distilleries.  

Today we’re making gin sour cocktails with an excellent small batch gin from upstate New York.

Look beyond the classic whiskey sour and a world of cocktail possibilities opens up with gin and vodka sours. Less popular, but equally – if not more – pleasing.

Bootlegger Gin from Prohibition Distillery is the base for my gin sour.

A visit to distillery’s tasting room as an accidental pit stop while driving through the Catskills on our way back to NYC from Rochester, NY was a welcomed surprise.

A huge lover of speakeasy bars, the words Prohibition Distillery caught my eye and I needed to explore. We knew we were in good hands when our tasting began with a lesson on how to properly taste liquor – with an eye dropper of water to “open” the liquor’s flavors. We learned about the distillery and the town we were in, Roscoe, NY – dubbed the home of America’s fly-fishing.

This is what I love most about supporting people who are truly excited about their craft.

Prohibition Distillery spent 5 years crafting the perfect gin recipe by flavoring the corn-based spirit with five botanicals and “the finest Catskill mountain water.”

Bootlegger Gin Flavors

• Juniper Berries
• Orris Root
• Coriander
• Lemon Verbena
• Orange Peels

I wanted to craft a cocktail with flavors that would compliment the delicate botanicals and decided on fresh grapefruit.

Yield: 2 cocktails

Grapefruit Gin Sour Cocktail

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A frothy cocktail using high quality, small-batch gin complimented by fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 oz Bootlegger Gin (preferred) but works with any gin
• 1.5 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 egg white (or 1.5 oz of aquafaba* to make it vegan)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without
   ice) for 45 seconds.
2. Add ice to shaker and shake 30 seconds more.
3. Strain into chilled coupe glasses.
   

Notes

*aquafaba = water from the can of chickpeas

**If making the vegan version, skip the dry shake. Add all
ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake for 45 seconds total. Strain into chilled coupe glasses.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 328Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 6gSugar: 15gProtein: 9g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

If you prefer to drink the gin straight to taste all the beautiful flavors of Bootlegger Gin on its own, I suggest shaking 2 oz of the gin in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an olive or lemon twist.

For more cocktails, check out my other recipes.