i used to think it was so boring that grown ups always talked endlessly about the weather. that is, until i became a grown up myself haha. i find myself going on and on every day to whichever victim is lucky enough to be within ear shot of me about the weather! excited about fall and how oh my gosh fall is here but it’s still so hot, can’t wait for crispy, cozy, under warm blankets kind of weather.
but funnily enough, i think these feelings and my need to always talk about it has been magnified by the fact that i am now constantly grocery shopping for fresh, in-season produce and baking more than ever before! my dread of the hot summer kitchen has probably been a huge factor in why i’ve just wanted to be rid of the season already! another being that i just love everything about fall– from the cooler weather (i am a winter baby after all) to the beautiful silence brought on by the lack of mosquitos (and other bugs), and the impending excitement of the holiday season to come!! let’s not even get started on talking about chr****** !!!
but speaking of in-season produce, don’t we all just love those fruits and veggies that stay around abundantly in the grocery stores YEAR ROUND?! don’t get me wrong, i am constantly craving fresh juicy mangoes in the winter and deep red pomegranates in the summer. but i just love those dependable fruits that got my back no matter what month it is! today, we’re talking about one of my most loved photos on my instagram feed– my twist on the paloma: brown sugar and sage palomas! i can find beautiful grapefruit pretty much year round but did you know that fresh grapefruit season actually starts in October?! maybe you did, but i had no idea! this means it’s the perfect time for me to share this recipe! YAY!
one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is putting my own twist on classics! and cocktails are the perfect things to manipulate!
i don’t actually drink much alcohol myself, but i loveee mixing a gorgeous and yummy drink up for me and my friends! usually, a mocktail for me! and the reason i love this specific recipe so much is that it tastes WONDERFUL whether you add a splash of tequila, a dose of gin, or enjoy it sans alcohol!
rich, deep, sharp, sweet, and the complex notes of sage. here we go!
makes 2 cocktails (or mocktails); double the recipe for more servings!
INGREDIENTS:
kosher salt (or any other coarse salt) to rim glass
2 1/2 cups ice (i like using crushed)
juice from 2 whole red grapefruit
juice from 2 lemons
1.5-2 oz silver tequila or gin (if adding alcohol)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
grapefruit soda (i find that Spindrift is easiest to find)
fresh sage
dehydrated citrus for garnish, optional
DIRECTIONS:
pour about 2 tablespoons of kosher salt on a small plate. rub a wedge of lemon all the way around the rim of your cocktail glasses and coat the rim with the salt by turning the glass upside down, into the salt. set aside.
in a cocktail shaker, add 1/2 cup of ice, grapefruit and lemon juice, tequila or gin (if adding alcohol), and brown sugar. cover and shake well. if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can mix well with a spoon!
fill up the cocktail glasses with ice and pour an equal amount of the mixture into each glass. top them off with a splash of grapefruit soda and garnish with sage and dehydrated citrus!
enjoy one of my absolute favorite drinks ever!