Behold Sparkling Grapefruit Ade, the most gorgeous and refreshing drink you will ever serve.
Sparkling Grapefruit Ade
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 9 large fresh grapefruit
- 2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled & sliced
- 6 sprigs fresh basil
- 2 liters club soda
- Vodka (optional)
The night before:
To make simple syrup, pour sugar and water in a saucepan. Stir together. Turn the heat onto high and bring to a boil for one minute. Set aside for the evening so it can cool until ready to put ade together on day two.
Slice half of one grapefruit to beautiful your ade if you like. Place slices in a baggie and refrigerate. If you’re not worried about presentation, just juice all nine grapefruits and don’t save any slices. Juice the rest of the grapefruits and place the juice in an airtight container and refrigerate as well for day two. If you’ll be serving out of a container that has a spigot like the one pictured above, be sure to pour grapefruit juice through a fine sieve so there’s no pulp that can get stuck in the spigot.
Day two:
Mull 2-3 leaves of basil into the grapefruit juice to bring out the basil flavor. Place simple syrup, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, remaining fresh basil, fresh ginger slices in a pitcher; and, stir in club soda and large amounts of ice right before you are ready to serve.
In case your guests might like a tipsy drink, I recommend providing vodka with this sign.
P.S. My new favorite appliance is the electric citrus juicer!