The cocktail of summer 2015

I may be calling this one too early because here in Southern California we still have a few months of summer to go, but this drink was a surprise hit this year. Campari can be an acquired taste but I like a bitter cocktail, especially when it's hot outside.

Campari and grapefruit are natural companions, and this is really just a fancy variation on a Paloma. Works well as a pitcher cocktail, although I'd argue it's better shaken. I just do the modified pitcher version. Mix up a big batch ahead of time, pour and shake a few drinks at a time.



The Siesta {recipe from here, makes one cocktail}

2 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz Campari
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1/2 oz simple syrup*

Combine all ingredients and shake with ice.

* Bonus points - make grapefruit simple syrup. 1 cup sugar + 1 cup water + the peel of a grapefruit (I just use a peeler and make sure I'm only getting the colored part of the grapefruit, since the white pith can be very bitter). Bring to a gentle boil and then let the syrup cool. Strain out the grapefruit before using. Store leftovers in the fridge or halve (or quarter) the recipe.

My favorite (very affordable) silver tequila for mixed drinks is still the Zapopan from Trader Joe's. It's 100% agave and I highly recommend it.

I often keep some of the unsweetened fresh grapefruit juice from Trader Joe's in our fridge for cocktails (it's the one you find in their refrigerated section). If you're using any other brand of grapefruit juice, you might want to test it out with less simple syrup first, in case it's sweeter.

No, this post wasn't sponsored by Trader Joe's, even though it sort of came out sounding that way.


And just because I'm constantly scribbling cocktail equations on old grocery receipts ...

To make two cocktails:

4 oz silver tequila
1 oz Campari
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz simple syrup


For a dinner party (i.e. 8 - 10 guests and some might have seconds): 

4 cups silver tequila
1 cup Campari
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 cup simple syrup