The Mint Fedora | A Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail with Mint Syrup

Kristen

6 years ago

With just a little homemade mint syrup and warm tropical bitters, this bourbon grapefruit cocktail is a playful variation on the classic Brown Derby.

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The Mint Fedora – A Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail

It should be no surprise – I make a lot of random cocktails on a whim. I use whatever ingredients I have on hand at the time, usually from some other recipe test or product review. One thing I try to keep around is a bottle of low-sugar juice – usually pomegranate, cranberry, or grapefruit – for a mixer. These have a nice flavor that pairs well with all your base liquors, but lower calories than some of the higher sugar juices out there. The low sugar also leaves me the opportunity to adjust the sweetness to my mood.

This bourbon grapefruit cocktail – which I’ve jokingly named the Mint Fedora with the help of a friend – is one of the results of these experimentations. Loosely based on a classic cocktail called the Brown Derby, this version swaps in homemade mint simple syrup for the traditional honey, and some tropical bitters to highlight the citrus and add a warm spicy note. A fresh mint leaf garnish brings a lovely aromatic component to the drinking experience (and looks beautiful in the glass).

The Mint Fedora – A Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail

With just a little mint syrup, this bourbon grapefruit cocktail is a playful variation on the classic Brown Derby.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword bourbon, citrus, cocktail, grapefruit, mint, whiskey

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings cocktail

Calories 159kcal

Ingredients

3 oz grapefruit juice
1 oz bourbon
1 oz homemade mint simple syrup (see recipe note)
2 dashes Elemakule Tiki Bitters (or 1 dash each orange & cinnamon bitters)
Mint leaves and grapefruit slices, to garnish

Homemade Mint Simple Syrup

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 large bunch fresh mint

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, along with one or two large ice cubes. Stir until the glass is slightly chilled. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass and garnish with mint and grapefruit slices. Serve.

Notes

Homemade Mint Simple Syrup: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Turning the heat to low, add the mint leaves and cover the sauce pan, letting the mixture simmer gently for about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, uncover, and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Strain the mint leaves out and funnel the syrup into a heat-safe jar or bottle. Store in the fridge and use withing six months.

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