Ingredients
- Grapefruit slice and coarse salt
- ¾ ounce grapefruit juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 2 ounces blanco tequila
- Ice
Instructions
- Run the grapefruit slice around the rim of a margarita glass. Spread the salt in a thin layer on a plate and dip the rim in the salt. Set aside the glass and reserve the grapefruit slice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and tequila.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Put fresh ice in the prepared glass and strain the margarita over the ice.
- Garnish with the reserved grapefruit slice.
Variations and Substitutions
This cocktail is a beautiful balance of sweet and tart. You can vary how sweet or tart it is by adjusting proportions of orange liqueur and grapefruit juice. Additionally, you can vary it other ways:
- Omit the lime juice and only use grapefruit juice.
- Replace the orange liqueur with agave nectar.
- Add a few jalapeño slices to the cocktail shaker for a spicy grapefruit margarita.
Garnishes
Salt rim and a grapefruit wedge are the classic garnish for this, but you can omit either. You can also sweeten it up by garnishing with a sugar rim, or you can use a classic lime wheel or wedge as your garnish. If it's a spicy grapefruit margarita, then garnish with a few jalapeño slices as well.
About the Grapefruit Margarita
If the flavor profile of a grapefruit margarita sounds familiar, it may be because it's similar to another extremely popular Mexican tequila drink, the paloma. The main difference between the paloma and the grapefruit margarita is the form the grapefruit flavor takes: in the margarita, it comes from grapefruit juice, while in the paloma it typically comes from grapefruit-flavored soda. Grapefruit has an affinity for lime and tequila that makes this a brightly refreshing cocktail that will wake up your taste buds.
A Tart and Refreshing Tipple
Grapefruit brings a little extra pop to a traditional margarita. With tart notes to balance the sweetness of the orange liqueur, it's the perfect refreshing summer sipper for people who enjoy their drinks on the sour side.
