A classic cocktail takes on a piney, herbal twist in my Rosemary Greyhound. Fresh grapefruit juice and vodka meet rosemary simple syrup for a bright, layered drink made for spring evenings.
On a cool evening when the garden still holds the faint scent of lavender and lilac, a grapefruit cocktail feels enticing.
The greyhound is a classic for a reason — clean, bracing, uncomplicated. Here, rosemary shifts it gently in a new direction. A simple syrup infused with the herb adds a subtle piney depth that softens the sharp edge of grapefruit without dulling its brightness.
Rosemary has a way of anchoring a drink to its setting. It carries the garden with it: familiar, aromatic, evocative.
This is the cocktail I like to offer as guests arrive for my Modern Spring Dinner Party Menu: something crisp in hand before the flatbread is sliced and the pasta is brought to the table. It sets the tone and allows the other dishes their spotlight in turn.
The syrup can be made in advance, and the drinks batched if you like. Though it’s just as lovely to shake them one by one as the light fades.
Why This Rosemary Greyhound Belongs On Your Table
The Rosemary Greyhound is an excellent choice to greet guests with as they arrive for your dinner party.
- The combination of grapefruit and rosemary is fresh and opens the palate for dinner
- An herbal note elevates this cocktail from classic to sophisticated
- This cocktail is clean and a bit sour–it’s not overly sweet.
- It’s easy to batch this one to make hosting simple.
Rosemary Greyhound
Ingredients
Method
- For the Rosemary Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, bring all ingredients to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Turn off the heat and let the rosemary steep for 15-20 minutes. Remove the rosemary from the syrup. Cool completely and can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- For the Rosemary Greyhound: Fill a glass with ice. Add in the vodka, grapefruit juice, and rosemary simple syrup. Give it a stir. Add the pinch of kosher salt (just a little to enhance the flavor of the grapefruit). Give it another stir. Garnish with rosemary sprig or grapefruit peel. Enjoy!
Hosting Notes
- Use fresh grapefruit juice–it will make all the difference here.
- This cocktail can be batched without ice and kept in the fridge until party time.
- Add a splash of soda water if you’d like to lighten this one up a bit.
- The rosemary syrup can definitely be made in advance. It keeps in the fridge in an airtight container up to two weeks.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or grapefruit slice. If you want to rim with salt, use a wedge of grapefruit around the edge of the glass before placing in the salt rim.
A Spring Evening
I serve these Rosemary Greyhounds alongside asparagus flatbread and silky green pasta for my Modern Spring Dinner Party Menu. They would also be a welcome addition to my Brunch Menu for the First Signs of Spring and my Bright Early Spring Dinner Party, which features a honeyed roasted grapefruit for dessert. If you’re a fan of grapefruit in your cocktail, be sure to try my Lavender Grapefruit Margaritas as well.
