Grapefruit Honey Sake Cocktail

Grapefruit Honey Sake Cocktail is a bright and refreshing drink that takes just a few minutes to make. It's perfect for a hot summer day and is a delicious way to enjoy sake!

Fall is just around the corner, but I am savoring every bit of summer with good cocktails like this Grapefruit Honey Sake Cocktail. The sweetness of the grapefruit and honey is light and refreshing and tastes like sunshine feels. I use Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori sake, which adds a creamy flavor without overpowering the citrus base. This specific sake is soft and floral with hints of white grape and flowers that add a beautiful and lush element to the drink.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Storage
• Top Tip
• Related Recipes
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Ingredients

• Sugar - Sugar is added to the rim for extra sweetness.
• Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice - Grapefruit juice is tart and slightly bitter and pairs deliciously with the sake.
• Sake - Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori sake is a soft and florally noted sake. It's light flavor means it won't overpower the other flavors in the drink.
• Honey - Honey balances the tartness and bitterness of the grapefruit base.
• Grapefruit - Used for garnish and extra grapefruit flavor.
• Ice Cubes - Large ice cubes are the best for sake cocktails on the rocks, as they slow the dilution rate.
• Thyme - Thyme provides an earthy and minty garnish.

Instructions

1. Sugar coat the rim - Pour the sugar onto a plate.  Take two glasses and wet the rim with a grapefruit wedge.  Turn each glass rim-side down onto the plate of sugar and turn the glass until the rim is evenly coated with sugar.
2. Mix grapefruit juice and honey - In a small pitcher, add the grapefruit juice and honey.  Stir until the honey is incorporated.  Add ice to the glasses and pour the grapefruit juice in each glass.
3. Add sake - Top the glasses with a half cup of sake each and stir.  
4. Garnish and enjoy - Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and sprig of thyme then serve.

Substitutions

• Lemonade - Use lemonade instead of grapefruit juice for a tarter drink. Adjust sugar accordingly since lemonade is usually sweetened.
• Orange juice - Use orange juice and slices instead of grapefruit juice and slices if you prefer the taste of orange to grapefruits.
• Cranberry juice - Use cranberry juice if you want a sweeter and slightly more sourly flavored cocktail.
• Junmai Sake - Replace Nigori sake with Junmai sake for a more intense and fuller bodied sake. Junmai means “pure rice” and the ingredients are Japanese rice, water, yeast and Koji with no additives.
• Simple Syrup - Add sugar syrup if you want to make this drink extra sweet.

Variations

• Less sweet - Omit the extra quarter cup of sugar for a purer and less sweet cocktail.
• Cocktail Shaker - While this recipe doesn't require a cocktail shaker, you can use this method to ensure that the ingredients are evenly mixed. In a shaker, add the sake, honey, and 4 large ice cubes. Shake for about 30 seconds.
• Ginger - Add grated ginger for a slightly peppery and sweet flavor.
• Mint leaves - Add fresh mint leaves for more fresh and earthy flavor.
• Lemon or lime juice - Add lime or lemon juice if you want to make this drink more tart.

Storage

Store this grapefruit cocktail in the refrigerator in an airtight glass bottle for up to 3 days. When you are ready to drink it again, garnish the glasses as mentioned above and enjoy.

This drink doesn't stand up well to freezing.

Top Tip

Chill your glasses ahead of time - Chill your glasses in the fridge before serving the cocktails. Chilled cocktail glasses will ensure the cocktail remains cool and the ice melts slower.

Related Recipes

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