Grapefruit Shandy Recipe (a.k.a. Grapefruit Radler)

Gear up for the weekend with this amazing grapefruit shandy recipe.  Make the basil simple syrup for this beer cocktail in advance for easy entertaining.  {Drink Responsibly!}

Almost there.  Friday here we come!  It’s been a week guys.  You know?  Momma needs some weekend.  And sleep, and warm weather… and a drink.

Leave it to me to have plenty of options in the drink department. 🙂

I talk about my local produce co-op a lot, and this time, I received a few random grapefruits that I wasn’t sure how to use.  Although I love the flavor of grapefruit, it’s not often that I want to straight up eat one.  So, upon further consideration, I decided to turn use it in a beer cocktail.  (Y’all probably saw that one coming.)

I love a shandy.  Not familiar?  It’s simply beer mixed with non-alcoholic beverage.  Some call it a radler.  However, I’m pretty particular about the sugar to beer ratio.  And it has to have real fruit flavor.  No fake stuff.

Grapefruit Shandy Recipe with Basil Simple Syrup

This cocktail starts out with making a simple syrup.  I had some basil that I didn’t use up from pasta night, so I threw that into the pot along with the water and the sugar and it came out divine.  Cool to room temperature before using.

Now it’s time to juice some grapefruit.  One large grapefruit should make enough for two cocktails.  Or, you can use bottled grapefruit juice… I won’t tell anyone.

To mix the grapefruit shandy, fill a highball glass with ice, add one tablespoon of basil simple syrup, 1/3 cup of grapefruit juice, 6 ounces of beer and top off with seltzer water.

Garnish with a sprig of basil and a slice of grapefruit.

If you want to take things up a notch, substitute some or all of the grapefruit juice for Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka.

Grapefruit Shandy Recipe with Basil Simple Syrup

Yield: 2 cocktails

Gear up for the weekend with this amazing grapefruit shandy recipe.  Make the basil simple syrup for this beer cocktail in advance for easy entertaining.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 sprig of basil
• 1 Grapefruit or 1/2 cup bottled grapefruit juice
• 1 12 ounce Beer (something with some hops!)
• Seltzer water
• Optional: Grapefruit Slices, Basil for Garnishing, Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka

Instructions

Bring water, sugar and basil to boil in a small heavy-bottomed pot.  Reduce to a simmer and cook for five minutes.  Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using.  Can be made up to two days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Now, it's time to juice some grapefruit.  One large grapefruit should make enough for two cocktails.  Or, you can use bottled grapefruit juice... I won't tell anyone.

To mix the grapefruit shandy, fill a highball glass with ice, add one tablespoon of basil simple syrup, 1/4 cup of grapefruit juice, 6 ounces of beer and top off with seltzer water.

Garnish with a sprig of basil and a slice of grapefruit.

Notes

* Sub Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka for some of the grapefruit juice for an extra kick!  

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