This Grapefruit Crush is bright, refreshing, and perfect for summertime. Though Crushes come in many flavors, grapefruit is dang near perfect.
Looking for more Crush cocktails? Because I have 'em! Try my Orange Creamsicle Crush and Watermelon Crush recipes!
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🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
It's supremely refreshing. This drink was basically made for warm weather sipping.
It's easy to make. Can you shake up a few ingredients in a cocktail shaker? Yes, you can.
It tastes great. Sweet, tart, fizzy... this drink has it all.
💭 What is a Crush Cocktail?
You will find Crushes on the menus of bars and restaurants all over the city of Baltimore (and elsewhere in the DMV area). And for good reason, too. They're super refreshing, and perfect for helping to deal with the hot, humid Baltimorean summers. The traditional flavor is orange, but grapefruit is also popular, and you'll see a myriad of other variations (key lime or creamsicle, anyone?).
According to Punch, a Crush cocktail gets its name from "the swift yanking of an industrial press juicer that flattens fresh orange halves, sending frothy OJ plummeting into a pint glass filled with ice, vodka and triple sec."
At its most basic, a Crush is made up of vodka (sometimes plain, sometimes flavored), triple sec (sometimes), fresh fruit juice, lemon lime soda, and crushed ice. Crushes come in a wide variety of flavors, too! Just like grapefruit.
💭 What is a Grapefruit Crush?
A Grapefruit Crush uses (you guessed it) fresh grapefruit juice alongside vodka, triple sec, and lemon lime soda.
I'd really be remiss if I didn't bring up Aziz Ansari's bit about how 50 Cent didn't know what a grapefruit was. Enjoy.
📝 Ingredients
- Grapefruit juice: Freshly squeezed, please!
- Orange liqueur: I usually use triple sec.
- Vodka: You can use plain or grapefruit flavored vodka.
- Lemon lime soda: I use Sprite, but reach for your favorite.
👩🏻🍳 How to make a Grapefruit Crush
Start out by adding your juice, triple sec, and vodka to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until everything is very cold.
Strain your drink into a tall glass with (preferably crushed) ice. Top everything off with lemon lime soda and garnish with some fresh grapefruit!
🔗 More Crush cocktails
Looking for more Crush cocktails? Click any of the photos below to go straight to the recipes!
❓ FAQs
It's a cocktail made up of vodka, triple sec (sometimes), fresh fruit juice, lemon lime soda, and crushed ice. It originates in the DMV area (where Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia meet).
I highly recommend it. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice will give you the best flavor.
How much time do you have? Orange is the OG flavor, but there are just about as many flavors as you can dream up.
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✨ Recipe
Grapefruit Crush
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice fresh-squeezed
- 0.5 ounce triple sec
- 1.5 ounces vodka grapefruit or plain
- 4 ounces lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Add the grapefruit juice, triple sec, and vodka to a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds, or until very cold. Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice.
- Top with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit.
Notes
- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is preferable here
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Kim
Omg, there's a pizza place called Neo with a billion different Crushes on their menu. Plus they have amazing pizza! If you ever come back to visit, give me a holler and I'll take you because pizza = Crushes = the greatest.
ANerdCooks
Sounds like a plan to me! =)
Emily Reese
You don't add whipped cream vodka to yours?!
ANerdCooks
Only if I'm making a creamsicle crush 😉