[I]’m going to play in the sun. Obnoxious considering I don’t live in an extra-chilly, snow-covered Winterland. There’s no real room to complain about a New Orleans January. Still though… I’m going to go get some real-life tropical sun because I’m absolutely positive that the answer to what troubles me in is the ocean, in the sun, and inside a small coupe glass along with lime and rum.
You should totally join me in the sun… or at least in spirit and in cocktail.
You’ll need lots of lime, all of the pink grapefruits, Patron Tequila and Pyrat Rum. You won’t need the sunscreen. I’m going to hog all of that. Can you even buy sunscreen in January. Stupid question. Cheers to us, sunshine or snow.
Let’s start with grapefruit. I’ve blown through my giant bag of grocery store citrus and I think it’s just about time to start scavenging New Orleans backyards for grapefruit trees. Hide your fruits if you don’t want them scooped.
I used Silver Patron Tequila for these margaritas. Before all of the citrus though… cucumber! I love how easily cucumber infuses into cocktails. It’s an amiable ingredient.
Orange liqueur for the perfect round sweetness that these tart cocktail require.
Super fresh grapefruit juice. Sweet, tart, and perfect.
Grapefruits are my favorite part of winter. See: Brown Butter Grapefruit White Chocolate Cookies
Just in case you’re keeping track: cucumber slices, Silver Patron Tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh grapefruit juice.
Sea salt around the rim, the smokey flaked sort because I’m fancy. Crushed ice, again because I’m fancy.
Bright, tart, and Winter-y with hints of glorious sun to come.
Here’s how!
Grapefruit Margaritas with a hint of cucumber
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds
- 1 cup Silver Patron Tequila
- 1 cup pink grapefruit juice
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- ¾ cup Patrón Citrónge or orange liqueur
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- coarse or kosher sea salt
- pink grapefruit wedges, for garnish
- 1 lime, sliced into rounds for garnish
- ice
Instructions
- In a small pitcher combine sliced cucumber from half the cucumber, tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup. Stir and chill until ready to serve.
- Before serving, rub lime across the rim of four tall glasses. Dip the rim of each glass in salt. Fill each glass with crushed or small cubes of ice. Add lime rounds, remaining cucumber slices, and a wedge of grapefruit.
- Fill each glass with chilled margarita and enjoy immediately.
Let’s count all of the fresh lime daiquiris I’ve enjoyed since moving to New Orleans.
Actually… let’s not.
When they’re served in fancy little coupe glasses at Cane and Table… they go down far too easy.
With just fresh lime, simple syrup, and good rum, a daiquiri is one of those classic cocktails that feels extra special when you realize you can make them at home. Dreams!
A good daiquiri is mostly tart with a hint of sweetness. I’m upping the sweetness by rimming the glass with vanilla bean infused sugar.
Vanilla adds a really lovely fragrance that is a perfect compliment to the dark Pyrat Rum.
Into a cocktail shaker: ice cubes, lots of fresh lime juice, simply syrup, good good rum, and a good good lid.
Shake with enthusiasm… until your arms hurt.
Vanilla sugar-rimmed glasses, small and cute. Pour.
Enjoy chilled, sip by sip. Repeat.
Print
Vanilla-Sugar Lime Daiquiri
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds removed
- ice
- 4 ounces Pyrat Rum
- 3 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 to 2 ounce(s) simple syrup
- round lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, rub together sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Rub together until the vanilla beans are dispersed and the sugar is fragrant. Set aside.
- Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously… until your arms hurt. Really shake it well.
- Rub lime juice on the rim of two small coupe glasses. Dip the rim of each glass in the vanilla sugar. Divide the shaken cocktail between the two vanilla sugar glasses and enjoy immediately.
43 Responses
The grapefruit margaritas were amazing. I used agave for time’s sake instead of making simple syrup. And then, plans changed and the completed mixture ended up in the fridge in a bottle for a week. With all the grapefruit pulp unstrained and some cucumber slices.
It was still fantastic (Maybe better? The cucumber infusion!)
Can I have one of both now please? ;)
https://justsem.wordpress.com/
Vanilla sugar topping was to DIE for!
Those vanilla sugar daiquiris were amazing this week!!!
Joy – these margaritas are DELICIOUS!! We made them tonight and I told my husband that these are the sort of margaritas I’d hope to find at a good restaurant – full of fresh, seasonal flavor AND highlighting one of the BEST, unsung heroes – grapefruit!! Thanks for hitting the spot!! We are big fans of you and your margs!!! (And many more tasty recipes!!)
Sitting in front of a fire in New England, we were just contemplating cocktail hour and looking for something citrus-y to go with leftover chili with all the toppings. Grapefruit margarita? Yes please! Thank you for the recipe!
I had to go up the street and pick several not quite ripe grapefruits so they wouldn’t freeze, and I have 4 left. Guess what they’re fate is…… :-)
Love this idea!
Such a cool post! Love this post!
Love from http://www.trangscorner.com – a lifestyle, cooking, fashion blog
beautiful beautiful! I’m all about winter citrus margaritas … but I really love the addition of cucumber! really crisp. perfection!
Ummm, JOY, did BRAYDEN LAGRONE fill your coupe’ at Cane and Table??!! Out here in the FREEZING Pacific NW, we recognize kindred SPIRITS! I knew Cane and Table when it still had it’s (previously) Russian decor before Nick was ready to nail the sign up and was still developing the concept… and then at Mardi Gras… and then at Christmas… THANK YOU for sharing this bit of NOLA sunshine with this bitter, wintry, frost bitten, moldering NOLA girl! Cheers!
I think these just might be the thing for my Golden Globes party on Sunday, fancy crushed ice and all. Thanks for the win!
My in-laws have a lemon tree in their backyard in New Orleans and are always happy to share! Especially when cocktails are involved!
Your grandparents tree is loaded with the best tasting grapefruits right now. Wish you were here!!
So sorry if I missed it somewhere in the post, but how many margs does the first recipe make? Not that I have any problem with guzzling a cup of tequila, but I feel like I may not remember the rest of the drink…
My 22nd birthday is in February and I’ve been thinking that I would like to have a signature drink for my birthday party….these margaritas will be perfect! I love anything grapefruit (but especially those little gummy sour grapefruit slice candies you can find at some candy stores – doesn’t anyone else know what I’m talking about?).
Looooving the color in these shots. Vanilla sugar is my jam. Def have to try this out!
These look so good!
Love from http://www.trangscorner.com
Such Fun! Making it feel like Summer… in a way!
These look delicious! I was blessed with your new cookbook for Christmas and everything I have made so far has been a hit! Love, love, loving the Dirty Chai Latte and Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cookies with Smoked Sea Salt.
These sounds fantastic, Joy :)
It’s 16 degrees right now in New Jersey and my hands and feet are freezing, but I’ll have one of each thank you kindly.
I’m so excited to try this recipe. So delicious! So inspirational!
Happy new year!
http://www.trangscorner.com
Yep, I totally agree..sun and cocktails are the remedy to this weather!
Cucumber is one of my favorite flavors in drinks, especially ginger and cucumber. But now I’m obsessing over this cucumber and grapefruit combo you have going on! I don’t even drink and I want this in my life.
OMG! Yes. Yes all day long! Xoxo
Making what you rim the glass with fancy–grand idea! I’m inspired to put the smoked salt I have into service!
This looks so good! I am loving your grapefruit recipes lately – keep em coming! (That is, if you can scavenge up enough grapefruits from people’s backyards.)
xx Kathryn
https://www.throughthethicket.ca
These look sooo good!
PRIMARK HAUL + GIVEAWAY
It’s supposed to be 80 out here on the West Coats, so heck yeah for margaritas! Thank you!
Ironic and at the same time perfect that such a bright summer-y drink is so seasonally appropriate for the depths of winter…
These look incredible – love me some Pyrat rum!
Love the idea of grapefruit based cocktail, my all time fav!
https://highheelsbrownhair.blogspot.co.uk/
Gorgeous, Joy! I’m going to drink one (or three) with my eyes closed and pretend I’m somewhere warm!
The wind is blowing, the snow is falling (not gently) we are having a blizzard and guess what I am still in my PJ’s and the Vanilla Sugar Lime Daiquiri sounds good right about now. What else to do on a day like today. Thanks Paulette
Oh it’s all lovely, these tropical looking photos. We were in your beautiful city for Christmastime and fell even more deeply in love with it, the Quarter especially. On today’s news I see your temps are almost as cold as we’re experiencing here in Oklahoma, wind chills in the single digits? Are you ok?? Thanks for always giving us a gorgeous spot to rest our eyes and inspire our kitchens. xoxo
These look so fresh and flavorful!
I need 5 of those daiquiris, immediately.
And then preferably a beachside cabana I can pass out in.
Is it too much to ask for you to bring this to my delivery room? You see, I’m due May 4th…JUST in time for a margarita for Cinco de Mayo! (And since you were wondering–this kid will definitely have a fiesta-themed birthday party for the first 18 years of her life!). So, see you May 5th? Pretty please? :)
xo
Oh man, these both look divine!! Way to win on this Wednesday Joy!
Wow these look amazing! With so many salad recipes out there it’s nice to see something fun like this! Your pictures are goregous
Oh goodness, the vanilla sugar lime daiquiri is where its at!!! I’ll swop for one of the BIG glasses! :P
These margs look unreal! Love the grapefruit in there!
My heart sings for that grapefruit margarita.