My favorite go to spirit is vodka and while I usually keep it very simple with just some soda and lime, I do love to play around from time to time. This particular combination was inspired by my oldest daughter, Greta. We were doing one of our almost weekly chats at the end of the work day. I believe that evening it happened to be National Tequila today. I was like dang, I don’t have any tequila in the house, just my vodka. She herself had now become busy grabbing a stool and was making a search through the cabinet in the kitchen that house the liquor. She immediately chimed in with what had become the most recent poolside libation this summer with her and my friends in Tennessee.
“Mom, we have been doing vodka, grapefruit juice, and club soda.”
I was like I actually have some grapefruit juice on hand that I’d grabbed for a recipe I can’t recall. It turns out she never found any tequila that night either and we both ended up with this light refreshing drink perfectly suited for a hot summer night.
It turns out, I’ve discovered, that I am not the only one on my back balcony that enjoys this cocktail as it has attracted the hummingbirds. I was quite startled the first time the buzz and blur came right into my face as I lifted the glass for a sip. I am guessing it is the beautiful color of the drink that draws the bird as I can’t say it is super sweet. Though I’ve included some variations you can try as well below.
Grapefruit Vodka Soda or aka a Greyhound
1 glass
1.5 ounce favorite vodka, give or take. My current go to is Broken Shed.
6-8 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice. I am an OceanSpray fan.
1-2 ounces club soda.
Lime wedge, option garnish
Fill glass with ice. Pour in vodka, then grapefruit juice, then top with club soda. I use a highball glass. Usually a plastic one right now as this is something to take poolside. Stir. You could opt to shake in a mixer as well, but I keep it easy peasy when I am at home..
Variations
- You can substitute gin for the vodka
- Add salt to the rim and make it a Salty Dog (traditionally this would have gin instead of vodka)
- Want to take some bitterness out of the grapefruit consider adding sugar to the rim or adding a touch of maple syrup to the mix. For me it has to be real Vermont Maple Syrup.
- I made my own fun twist by using an ounce or two of Pad Thai Sauce in the mix.
Give my summer buzz a try. Let me know if the birds come by. Happy Sipping!
Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.
She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.
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