We kicked off the unofficial start to summer (Memorial Day Weekend) with a happy hour at Radnor Hunt. In addition to spending time with friends, we also got to test out some new cocktails that had just been added to the menu. Ed enjoyed the ‘Mockingbird’ so we thought we’d give it a try at home.
Given the cocktail’s ingredients, I took a bit of artistic license in renaming it. A Greyhound cocktail is made with either vodka or gin and grapefruit juice. This cocktail builds on a Greyhound with the addition of Aperol, elderflower liqueur (such as St. Germain), sparkling water and muddled basil. The Italian in the title is a nod to the Aperol and basil.
If this sounds like it might be a bit too sweet for your liking, you may want to try Campari in place of Aperol. They are both in the Italian bitter apéritif (or aperitivo) family. It took me a long time to like Campari as it is much more bitter than Aperol. Now I prefer it to Aperol which sometimes can be a bit too sweet for me.
This cocktail is refreshing and ideally suited for the warmer weather. Here’s another variation on a Greyhound cocktail – a Bichon Frisé. It happens to be a family favorite.
Just in case you were wondering, Italian Greyhounds, as in a breed of dogs, actually do exist. I didn’t just make that up.
| Italian Greyhound | Print |
- 3 fresh basil leaves
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur (such as St. Germain)
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce Aperol
- 1-1//2 ounces freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice (~ ¼ grapefruit)
- 4 ounces seltzer water (or to taste)
- Garnish: sprig of fresh basil
- Place basil leaves and elderflower liqueur in the bottom of a wine glass (with stem or without). Muddle with a muddler or back of a spoon to mix ingredients.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add vodka, Aperol and grapefruit juice and stir.
- Top with 4 ounces of seltzer water (or to taste) and stir.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh basil.
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