Sparkling Grapefruit & Gin Cocktail

It seems like everyone has their go-to cocktail. The one that they can order anywhere, without a menu or a second thought. Mine is the gin and tonic. I love the crisp, refreshing, almost bitter flavor and the bubbles of the tonic water.

I first started drinking gin and tonics years ago while on my honeymoon. My husband and I were at a small resort south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Though I had spent plenty of time in Mexico prior to that trip, I had never been to the Riviera Maya in early June. Let’s just say, it’s a whole different world in the summer! It was HOT. Sweltering, stifling, tropical heat from sun up to well past sun down. To help beat the heat, we frequently would grab a good cocktail and head straight to the pool, only our heads and drinks staying above the water’s surface!

Years later, it’s still my go to cocktail of choice but recently, I’ve started to have some fun playing with gin in other cocktail forms. A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the French 75, a champagne and gin combination. While I wouldn’t recommend it as a summer time, poolside classic, the combination of bubbles and the herby bitterness of gin is absolutely fantastic. With that in mind, we came up with twist on the French 75: Sparkling Grapefruit & Gin Cocktail. 

We developed this drink recipe while on a girl’s cooking weekend back in January. It starts with a good gin (I like Hendricks but Tanqueray also works here) and simple syrup. You can absolutely buy simple syrup*, but it’s so easy to make that I pretty much always have some on hand. If you need to whip some up, all you do is take a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water and simmer it on the stove until the sugar is just dissolved. It will keep in a sealed jar in the fridge for a month! Toss the gin and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker – or another jar if that’s what you’ve got – and shake it up with a little grapefruit juice. (*affiliate link)

Once it’s nice and chilled, you can pour it into champagne flutes, or over ice in a stemless wine glass. Top it with the prosecco and serve immediately! This recipe makes one drink. And be warned – it’s a strong one!

By the way, I’m obsessed with these stemless wine glasses from Target. I bought two sets last year for a party and they have become my absolute go to glasses for both entertaining and every day use. They are dishwasher safe, super stylish, and only about $20 for a set of twelve! (*affiliate link)

What is your go-to cocktail for summer? We’d love to give it a try! Send us your recipes, suggestions, or favorite drink snaps on Insta, Facebook, or in the comments. Thanks for reading!

[SOME OF THE LINKS IN THIS POST ARE AFFILIATE LINKS AND WE WILL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU MAKE A PURCHASE AFTER CLICKING ON OUR LINK. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR WORK HERE AT WITH TWO SPOONS!]