Vanilla Grapefruit Gin Sour

This Vanilla Grapefruit Gin Sour takes the classic recipe and elevates it with a new layer of complexity. The traditional gin sour is famous for its harmonious blends of simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin, all shaken with egg white. When drinking this cocktail, you will likely find that you get hit with an initial taste of vanilla that slowly dissipates into light citrus notes.

If you enjoy this gin drink then you will also love this delicious Watermelon Mint Gin Cocktail.

How does this drink taste compared to a traditional gin sour?

Together, the citrus fruits and vanilla syrup create a multidimensional flavor profile that is both intriguing and satisfying. The smooth, comforting essence of vanilla simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness and warmth to the mix. Meanwhile, the grapefruit and lime contribute citrusy notes with additional subtle sweetness. The slightly bitter flavor of the lime also plays an important role in ensuring that this added sweetness doesn’t go too far and cause this cocktail to lose its refreshing qualities. Ultimately, the goal remains to preserve the unmistakable identity and sensation of a sour, a balance diligently upheld in every sip.

What is a gin sour?

The gin sour is a classic sour cocktail with a luxurious finish. Classically, it is made with a perfect balance of tart lemon, floral gin, and syrup. The gin sour is a close cousin to the Gin Fizz. In fact, the only real difference is that a gin fizz also uses soda water.

Why do you add an egg white?

Egg whites have been added to cocktails for many decades. Why? They add a frothy texture and luxurious richness to each sip. To achieve the best frothy egg white, you want to do a dry shake.

• Shaking without ice: let’s the protein in the egg white form foam better without getting diluted by the ice.
• Shaking again with ice: cools the drink and strengthens the foam.

Ingredients

Traditionally, a gin sour is a perfect balance of simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin shaken with egg white. For this Vanilla Grapefruit Gin Sour, the classic ingredients are tweaked slightly.

Pink Grapefruit Juice: Fresh squeezed grapefruit is slightly sweeter than lemon and adds a mild sweetness.

Lime Juice: Lime juice is slightly more bitter than lemon juice. The added bitterness gets balanced with the sweetness of the pink grapefruit and vanilla simple syrup.

Vanilla Simple Syrup: Vanilla is actually a tropical spice. In fact (at the time of writing this post), vanilla is the second most expensive spice next to saffron. Vanilla pairs well with the vibrant and tangy flavors of the grapefruit. When sipping this cocktail, you will find that you can taste the vanilla first and the grapefruit notes come in later.

Egg White: The foam made by the egg white adds a frothy richness to the drink. I like my cocktail foamy, but if you find that there is a bit too much foam, you can strain the drink as you pour it into your cup.

Gin: I used Empress gin for this recipe to get the lavender hue. With that in mind, You can use any gin for this recipe but the coloring of the cocktail will vary depending on the gin that you use.