The Florida Grapefruit Crush is one of my all-time favorite grapefruit cocktails. It's simple, tasty, and full of delicious, tart, and naturally sweet grapefruit flavor!
WHAT IS A Florida GRAPEFRUIT CRUSH?
A Florida Grapefruit Crush is a citrusy cocktail that's made with fresh squeezed Florida Grapefruit.
Fresh Florida Grapefruit is crushed (aka juiced!) and mixed with vodka and triple sec. It's then shaken with ice and poured into a glass over fresh ice. It's topped with lemon lime soda for an effervescent mouthfeel.
The original orange-based version, aptly named the Orange Crush, originated in Ocean City, Maryland at Harborside Bar & Grill in 1995.
Florida GRAPEFRUIT CRUSH INGREDIENTS
- Fresh Florida Grapefruit - Fresh, Florida Grapefruit is the star of this recipe! For this recipe, I chose to focus on Ruby Red Florida Grapefruit because of the sweet flavor and gorgeous color. Regular pink or yellow Florida Grapefruit will also work just fine!
- Triple Sec - Triple Sec is an orange flavored liquor that originated in France. You could also use Grand Marnier, Dry Curacao, or even the grapefruit version which is known as Giffard Pamplemousse Liqueur.
- Vodka - Vodka is the original alcohol used in this cocktail, but it would also be delicious with another clear alcohol like tequila or gin.
- Lemon Lime Soda - You can use any lemon lime soda you'd like. Or you could try a grapefruit soda.
WHY FLORIDA GRAPEFRUIT?
Here in the Sunshine State, Florida Grapefruit is in season from November through May.
So, if you're looking for the sweetest, best fruit possible, buy them from January until May while they are in the peak of the season. The cool weather in December helps the Florida Grapefruit ripen until it yields a juicy, sweet fruit that is totally irresistible.
And fun fact - did you know that most Florida Grapefruit is grown along the Indian River region of the state -- from Daytona to West Palm Beach? Which is right in my neck of the woods! Love that!
Additionally, Florida Grapefruit is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients (naturally occurring plant compounds), some of which may act as antioxidants and have associated health benefits.
Just ½ of a medium grapefruit is considered an excellent source of vitamin C, which is pretty great, too!
Not to mention that each grapefruit has fiber, potassium, thiamin, and vitamin B6.
All of these things combined make Florida Grapefruit a tasty option and an excellent, healthy part of your diet!
How to make a Florida Grapefruit Crush
Making a Florida Grapefruit Crush is very easy!
The first thing you'll want to do is choose some very juicy fresh Florida Grapefruit.
Cut the grapefruit in half and juice it - you'll need about 4 oz of juice, which is about one whole grapefruit.
Next, you'll add ice to a shaker and pour the fresh Florida Grapefruit juice on top, then add a shot of vodka and an ounce of Triple Sec.
Seal up your shaker and shake it vigorously until chilled.
Add your ice cubes (get my special rosemary grapefruit ice recipe below!) to a tall cup and then strain the shaker over the ice.
Top with lemon lime soda and a wedge of Florida Grapefruit before serving.
How to make a Florida Grapefruit Crush Mocktail
Making a mocktail version of a Florida Grapefruit Crush is quite simple!
You'll follow the recipe as is but remove the vodka and triple sec. In its place, I recommend using 1 oz of fresh lime juice and 1 oz of simple syrup.
You can top with lemon lime soda or choose to use grapefruit flavored sparkling water for a lighter twist.
How to Make Special Florida Grapefruit Ice for this Cocktail
Although regular ice will work just fine, I like creating these festive ice cubes which make it a little more exciting for the holidays.
For winter, I add rosemary. For summer, I add basil.
All you need is some silicone ice cube molds, a few sprigs of the herb you're using, and a few Florida Grapefruit segments.
Place the Florida Grapefruit segments and herbs in the ice cube molds and then top with water.
Place in the freezer for 4-6 hours or until frozen solid.
WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH
Since the Florida Grapefruit Crush is a sweet yet tart cocktail, I recommend pairing it with fresh, vibrant dishes that also contain Florida Grapefruit to compliment the flavor profile.
I recommend this Florida Grapefruit and Avocado Toast with Goat Cheese, or even this Kale & Grapefruit Salad with Sumac Dressing.
SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR LATER
Do you prefer to save this Florida Grapefruit Crush Cocktail recipe for another time? I got you!
You can pin any image on this page or use the pretty ones I made below specifically for your specialty cocktail Pinterest boards.
And if you don't already, feel free to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok for tasty inspiration shared daily!
And if Pinterest isn't really your thing, you can always scroll down to the bottom of this post and print the recipe card.
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Recipe:
Recipe
Florida Grapefruit Crush Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 oz 1 large Florida Grapefruit, juiced
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz triple sec
- lemon lime soda
Instructions
- Cut your Florida Grapefruit in half and squeeze the juice out. It should yield about 4 oz. If not enough, squeeze more fresh juice until 4 oz is reached.
- Add ice to a shaker and add the fresh Florida Grapefruit juice, the vodka and the triple sec.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until completely chilled.
- Add fresh ice to a tall cup and the chilled vodka mixture.
- Top with lemon lime soda and a wedge of fresh Florida Grapefruit before serving.
