20 Best Grapefruit Cocktails for the Summer

Bring some summer goodness to your next party with these tantalizing grapefruit cocktails! 

They’re bright, tasty, and look beyond stunning in pinky-orange.

Grapefruit Cocktails & Drink Recipes

Grapefruits might just be the perfect summer fruits. They’re energetic, light, and super refreshing.

And you know what else? They’re lovely in cocktails.

The bittersweet citrus flavor pairs well with sour and sweet drinks and even some savory ones.

So, whether you want that fruity flavor front and center or prefer it as a sweet accompaniment, these grapefruit cocktails are sure to please.

1. Grapefruit Vodka Cocktail

This bubbly cocktail is beautiful, citrusy sweet, and delicious!

Oh, and it’s effortless to make, to boot. You don’t need a cocktail shaker or even fancy glasses.

Just mix vodka with grapefruit juice and 7 Up, then add ice and the garnishes.

Of course, you can use whatever lemon-lime soda you prefer.

But I don’t recommend seltzer because you want to use soda for sweetness. (Fresca would add even more grapefruit goodness!)

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon-lime soda, ice, grapefruit wedge & rosemary (for garnish)

2. The Pink Pear (A Gin and Grapefruit Cocktail)

It’s sweet, sour, woodsy, and absolutely perfect. Well, I think so, anyway.

If you love fruity flavors, I know you’ll love The Pink Pear’s lovely blend of sweet and tart flavors.

Between the botanical gin, citrusy orange liqueur, crisp pear nectar, and grapefruit juice, it’s complex but perfectly balanced.

Ingredients: gin, orange liqueur, pink or ruby red grapefruit juice, pear nectar, simple syrup, salt, ice

3. Mint Grapefruit Mimosa

This bubbly and refreshing breakfast beverage is the drink of your brunch dreams.

One sip and those classic OJ mimosas will be a thing of the past. 

This fabulous and unique cocktail recipe has fresh grapefruit puree, honey, and mint simple syrup.

So it’s kind of like a mimosa mixed with a Paloma (I’ve actually tried it with tequila, and it was incredible!).

It’s so fresh and flavorful that when you add chilled Prosecco, you’ll be hooked.

Ingredients: honey, water, mint leaves, pink grapefruit juice, Prosecco, mint sprig (for garnish)

4. Spicy Paloma Cocktail

Speaking of the Paloma cocktail: if you like things a little sweet and a little spicy, then you’ll love this.

The OG Paloma calls for tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. So it’s bright, boozy, and delish.

But this version kicks it up a notch with brown sugar and jalapeño simple syrup. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

Ingredients: jalapeño simple syrup, lime juice, tequila, grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, grapefruit wedge & salt (for the rim), jalapeño slices (for garnish)

5. Cantaritos Cocktail

Send your taste buds to citrus heaven with this fun Cantaritos cocktail!

Like so many yummy things (and some drinks on this list), it hails from Mexico. It’s fresh, tart, and slightly sweet.

The Cantaritos features tequila, grapefruit, orange, and lime juices. And it’s topped with grapefruit soda for bubbles and sweetness. 

So, it’s like an even more citrusy version of the Paloma!

Ingredients: tequila or mezcal, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, grapefruit soda, crushed ice, lime wedge (for garnish)

6. Paloma Cocktail

Okay, I’ve teased you enough. Here’s the perfect Paloma to sip poolside with your friends this summer.

It’s very light, very refreshing, and bursting with citrus flavor. It’s also a breeze to make and looks incredible on your Insta!

Mix your favorite tequila with grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Then stir, sip, and savor!

Ingredients: tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water or grapefruit soda, lime juice, agave nectar, ice, grapefruit slice & salt (for garnish)

7. Greyhound Drink

Simple and easy to make, the Greyhound cocktail is lip-puckeringly good!

And your lips will pucker with every sip because it is T-A-R-T. But don’t worry, it’s super delicious! 

It only requires three ingredients and plenty of ice. So it’s easy to play bartender at your next get-together!

Add a cute straw and get ready to be delighted. And feel free to add club soda if you want it sparkling!

Ingredients: vodka or gin, grapefruit juice, lemon or lime wedge (for garnish)

8. Grapefruit Margarita

Are you sensing a theme here? Grapefruit and tequila is the summer cocktail pairing you never knew you needed!

So if you want a delicious drink for Taco Tuesday, look no further than this margarita. It’s fresh, citrusy, and oh-so-delish. 

Of course, it’s also pretty tart. So if you want it sweeter, try mixing in some peach, strawberry, or even blueberry puree.

Ingredients: grapefruit juice, lime juice, silver tequila, Triple Sec or Cointreau, club soda, ice, lime and grapefruit wedge & salt (for garnish)

9. Epic Salty Dog Cocktail

If you like the Paloma, you should try the Epic Salty Dog.

It’s very fresh, VERY tart, and a little salty. And like the Paloma, it’s made with grapefruit, lime, and bubbly water. 

But there are a few differences.

Namely, the Paloma uses simple syrup or soda, so it’s sweet, whereas the Epic Salty Dog is not. Also, this one calls for vodka, not tequila.

But it does include a salt rim, like a margarita. So, you get a little salty goodness with every sip.

Ingredients: grapefruit juice, grapefruit La Croix, vodka, lime juice, salt (for the rim)

10. Seabreeze Cocktail

Need a fruity cocktail recipe that’s more tart than sweet? I’ve got you, Boo!

This fruity drink is bittersweet, with just enough alcohol to get you buzzed. And the bubbles are a nice touch, too.

Featuring cranberry, grapefruit, and lime juices, it’s citrusy with a distinctly sharp finish.

Feel free to use lemon-lime soda instead of club soda for something sweeter. Or go ahead and add a glug of simple syrup.

Ingredients: cranberry juice, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, vodka or gin, club soda or sparkling water, fresh cranberries & grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

11. Hemingway Daiquiri

Try the Hemingway daiquiri if you love rum cocktails but often find them too sweet!

It’s a flawless blend of sweet and tart with a nice kick of rum.

Best served chilled, the key ingredient is the Maraschino liqueur. It’s fantastic!

Ingredients: white rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice, ice, maraschino liqueur, lime or grapefruit twist (for garnish)

12. Grapefruit Negroni with Rosemary

I know this looks and sounds like a bartender only drink, but the Negroni is actually a breeze to make at home.

And this pretty pink version has some robust flavors I think you’ll enjoy.

Like a Bloody Mary, it’s not sweet, but it isn’t savory either. Instead, it’s somewhere in between.

It’s herbal, citrusy, and bitter. But everything is balanced by a lightly sweetened grapefruit and rosemary syrup. 

Ingredients: red or pink grapefruit and rosemary simple syrup, Campari, gin, red Vermouth, grapefruit peel & rosemary sprig (for garnish)

13. Pink Grapefruit Martini

This pretty, sunset-colored drink is a total party pleaser. And like Sour Patch Kids candy, it’s sweet, sour, and super tasty. 

You’ll need plenty of ice and a cocktail shaker. And an excellent way to combat the sour flavor is with a sugar rim on your glass.

It explodes with citrusy goodness from fresh juices and orange liqueur. But it’s also pretty boozy, so sip with caution.

Ingredients: ice, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, vodka, Cointreau or Triple Sec, lime slice (for garnish)

14. Nevada Cocktail

The Nevada cocktail is a rummy twist on the Greyhound cocktail from above.

So it has the same delicious flavors, but instead of vodka or gin, it uses rum. 

And unlike the Greyhound, the Nevada contains sugar, so it’s much less tart. This one also features a dash of bitters to balance all of the flavors. Yum!

Ingredients: light rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sugar, bitters, lime or grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

15. Rosemary Brown Derby (Bourbon and Grapefruit Cocktail)

Good cocktails are all about balance, and the Brown Derby is very well-balanced.

But this rosemary version is even more so!

As the name suggests, the Rosemary Brown Derby adds some herbal notes to the drink. Plus, you’ll mix in some lemon juice to brighten it up.

Each sip features sweet honey (or maple syrup), tart citrus, and caramelly bourbon. What more could you ask for?

Ingredients: ice, bourbon, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, rosemary, soda water, grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

16. Grapefruit Mojito

Mojitos are super popular right now because they’re intensely flavorful and super refreshing.

This grapefruit version fits the bill perfectly and even has some extra zing. 

Two things make this mojito so special: you’ll brûlée fresh grapefruit before juicing it, and you’ll add red chili peppers for a little kick.

How incredible does that sound?

Ingredients: grapefruit wedges, lime wedges, rum or vodka, agave or honey, sugar, sparkling water, red chili pepper, mint leaves, lavender, ice cubes, lime and grapefruit slices (for garnish)

17. Grapefruit Shandy- A Bright Summer Beer Cocktail

A traditional British shandy mixes beer and lemonade (by that, the Brits mean lemon-lime soda) into a light, fresh summer drink.

It’s ideal for people who don’t love beer but don’t want hard liquor, either. 

And this grapefruit version is a fun twist that adds a nice tangy fruitiness.

Plus, as with many grapefruit cocktails, you’ll add a glug of tequila for good measure.

Ingredients: tequila, grapefruit juice, light beer, grapefruit slice (for garnish)

18. Navy Grog

You don’t have to go on a long sea voyage to enjoy this citrus drink. Instead, run to your nearest liquor store and purchase all of the rum.

Okay, maybe not all… but you do need three types- Jamaican, Demerara, and light rum.

That blend really is the key to this one, so be sure to get them all!

Ingredients: light rum, dark Jamaican rum, Demerara rum, honey simple syrup, lime juice, grapefruit juice, club soda, mint sprig & lime wedge (for garnish)

19. Blushing Lady Cocktail

This drink might be blushing, but it certainly isn’t shy. Instead, it’s delicious, boozy, sweet, and full of energy.

Every sip of the Blushing Lady Martini sends your taste buds on a fruity adventure. 

It has pomegranate, grapefruit, and lemon notes, making it perfect for get-togethers and ladies’ nights. 

Ingredients: vodka, pomegranate liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, lemon wedge & sugar (for the rim)

20. Grapefruit Sunrise Cocktail

This drink is aptly named for its beautiful sunrise shade of orange. It’s so smooth and super delicious. 

The Grapefruit Sunrise features whipped cream vodka, so there’s a lovely layer of creamy sweetness.

Still, it’s light, sweet, and kind of dangerous because it tastes like juice. So sip slowly with friends!

Ingredients: whipped cream vodka, ruby red grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, lemon juice, Grenadine, grapefruit wedge & rosemary sprig (for garnish)