Grapefruit Negroni

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Have an extra tart and wonderfully bitter sipping experience with the Grapefruit Negroni cocktail.

It was a wonderfully bright and sunny Los Angeles morning, a day like any other here in the City of Angels. My partner and I were called in on a case, somewhere up in the hilly and affluent community near Griffith Park. It was around 10:17 in the AM when our unmarked but still conspicuous sedan rolled down a private street, whereupon we were greeted by a hysterical housewife, still in her housecoat and crying her head off, begging for help. Good thing that’s what we’re supposed to do. And today we’ll try.

We ran out and tried to calm her down, getting her to tell us some semblance of what happened through choking, hitched sobs. “It… It hit him in the eye when he cut into it… He… He just wanted some breakfast…”, she screeched before falling into my partner’s arms, flailing with gangly limbs akimbo. I patted my buddy on the shoulder and gave him the what-what.

“Take her to the neighbors, have them give her a cup of strong joe, preferably Jamaican Blue Mountain. If they don’t have that, and they probably don’t, some Sanka will have to do. Double sugar, double cream. I’ll scour the neighborhood for the perp.”

They went off as I spun around to start my search. Based on the lady’s story, I surmised her husband sat down, as you do, ready to enjoy a plump grapefruit for his morning meal. It juiced him, right in the eye, then ran off and is more than likely hiding somewhere amongst this quiet, peaceful enclave. First, it was the kids going around with pink hair, piercings and listening to the likes of Anthrax. Now, the citrus is going sour, giving attitude instead of flavor. What’s the world coming to, I wonder.

I saw it hiding in a bunch of hydrangea bushes, muttering to itself about having an itchy rind. It had a knife, a giant butcher’s cleaver that was probably stolen from the victim’s kitchen. Never in all my decades as a plainclothes dick have I ever had to pull my heater on a suspect, but this faceless menace seemed to have blood and violence in his eyes—if it had them—so I did what I had to. Later, as my partner and I sipped on some very fresh Grapefruit Negronis back at the precinct, we toasted to keeping our fair city safe from the bizarre terror of pugilistic produce.

What is the best alcohol to use in a Grapefruit Negroni?

Campari is a must-have ingredient when making a successful Negroni, and tonight’s version is no different. The beautifully bitter, herbal and deep red liqueur melds perfectly with a top-shelf sweet vermouth like Carpano Antica Formula, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino or Dolin. And as far as the gin goes, a juniper and citrus-forward London Dry is always an excellent choice.

What glassware and garnish are used?

A rocks glass with a large cocktail cube or ice sphere is the way to imbibe any style of Negroni. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

What is the best grapefruit juice to use?

Freshly squeezed is a fine way to go, but there are also bottled and prepackaged options available at your local grocery store.

Other Negroni variations worth trying

With the extra tart bite found in the Grapefruit Negroni, you may start getting curious about other versions of the classic and potent tipple. Twist & Toast can help satiate and satisfy your thirst for knowledge. Below are a handful of different Negronis you can try out at home, either for a relaxing night in or a laughter-filled evening with friends.

• White Negroni – Amber-colored and lighter than the original, the White Negroni is just as popular.
• Negroni Sbagliato – Replace the gin with prosecco in this bubbly take on the classic beverage.
• Mezcal Negroni – A smoky and earthy affair, featuring a mesmerizing blending of spirits.
• Aperol Negroni – This take is a brighter and more citrus-infused experience.