Yesterday we got hit with another lovely blizzard here in Iowa and since I couldn’t make it to work, I made the most of it by crafting a new cocktail, the Rosemary Grapefruit Snowball Margarita! This incredibly fresh and crisp cocktail uses fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruits, lime, and a dash of rosemary simple syrup. If you feel weird about using herbs in your cocktails, don’t. The taste is so subtle and honestly the garnish just provides an aromatic pick me up every time you take a sip!
The other element I had fun with was the “snowball” part of this drink. My initial thought was to use an actual snowball, but I understand how that could creep some people out and of course the age old joke of “yellow snow” comes to mind… not appetizing for your drink! Instead I used a whiskey ice ball mold and just dusted some fresh snow on top. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that never sees snow, you can always use shaved ice on top to create a similar effect. No matter how you decide to chill this drink, it’s one that’s sure to be enjoyed year round!
(makes 2 margaritas)
Ingredients:
4oz grapefruit juice (about 1 Ruby Red Grapefruit)
1oz lime juice (1 lime)
3oz silver or blanco tequila
1oz rosemary simple syrup (recipe for this below)
Salt or Tajin seasoning for rim
Grapefruit slices for garnish
Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
2 whiskey ice ball “cubes”
Fresh snow (optional)
Rosemary Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
Combine syrup ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Once sugar dissolves (only takes a minute or two), remove from heat and allow rosemary sprigs to steep in the mixture until cool. Remove and discard rosemary stems and transfer syrup to a small canning jar. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you want a more intense rosemary flavor you can make this several days ahead and keep the rosemary stems in the syrup when storing. This will allow the flavor of the rosemary to infuse a bit longer.
For the margaritas, combine grapefruit and lime juices, tequila, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker (or if you’re real fancy like me, a big mason jar) and shake until mixed. Pour over the whiskey ball ice cubes into salt rimmed glasses, garnish, dust with fresh snow if you like, and serve!
Enjoy responsibly!
