Sake Grapefruit Cocktail (gluten-free, refreshing!)

Sake grapefruit cocktail served in a glass

5 from 2 votes

Sake Grapefruit Cocktail (gluten-free, refreshing!)

Sake Grapefruit Cocktail with a touch of gin and ginger is an elegant sake cocktail recipe that’s super refreshing and gluten-free!

Course Beverage

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword Grapefruit cocktail, nigori sake cocktail, sake cocktail, sake grapefruit cocktail, sake recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings serving

Calories 159kcal

Author ChihYu

Equipment

Shaker with a strainer

Ingredients

3 oz Junmai sake Nigori or Daiginjo or Ginjo Sake
2.5 oz gin pure, distilled. We use Breckenridge gin.
3 oz grapefruit juice Tropicana preferred
⅛ tsp grated fresh ginger root
Tiny pinch ground nutmeg optional
4-5 medium size Ice cubes plus extra for serving
Splash grapefruit sparkling water chilled
2 sprigs fresh rosemary garnish, optional
2 slices fresh grapefruit garnish, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a shaker, add the sake, gin, grapefruit juice, ginger, a tiny dash of ground nutmeg powder, if using, and 4-5 medium size ice cubes. Shake 30-40 seconds.
Pour the cocktail through a strainer filter into two cocktail glasses.
Add a splash of grapefruit sparkling water. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and grapefruit slice, if using.

Notes

You can use chilled or non-chilled sake as long as you have ice cubes ready.

My husband prefers to enjoy the beverage with an ice cube in the glass and I prefer not. It’s up to you. :)

Sake flavor profile and which one to use:

Junmai Nigori Sake (cloudy sake). I prefer this type of sake. I use either Kamoizumi brand “Summer snow” or Hakutsuru brand “Sayuri”
Junmai daiginjo sake or ginjo sake (clear sake).

Nigori sake tastes more milky, smooth, and a little sweeter.

Daiginjo and Ginjo sake taste very clean, more dry, and less sweet than Nigori.

Why use tropicana grapefruit juice:

Tropicana grapefruit juice tastes naturally sweeter than fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. If you use fresh squeezed, you’ll need a touch of simple syrup to balance the drink.

Nutrition