20 Refreshing Grapefruit Vodka Cocktails

Starting off, we have a deliciously citrusy riff on a vodka tonic! It's super refreshing, making it great for warm weather, but the grapefruit also gives it a festive flair that makes it equally well suited for the holidays. In the recipe, you simply add some fresh grapefruit juice to a standard vodka tonic for a zesty twist on the beloved classic.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, tonic water, rosemary sprig (for garnish)

Here's an equally simple, tasty cocktail that only requires three ingredients and anyone can make! It uses the juice of half of a grapefruit juice, so it's packed with bright, zesty flavor and tastes super fresh. Top it off with 7UP for fizziness and garnish with a sprig of rosemary for some delightful aromatics!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, 7UP, rosemary sprig (for garnish), grapefruit wedge (for garnish), cherry (for garnish)

The Greyhound is perhaps the most ubiquitous grapefruit vodka cocktail, and for good reason! This classic drink is incredibly easy to whip up, beyond refreshing, and always pleases a crowd, making it perfect for warm weather parties that call for a big batch drink!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, seltzer water, lime or grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

The Salty Dog is another tried-and-true summertime classic! It's essentially a variation on the Greyhound, with the only difference being the salted rim. It might seem like a very small deviation, but the salty rim really changes the flavor of the drink by balancing out the tart grapefruit and adding a nice savory element to the cocktail.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, grapefruit sparkling water, salt (for the rim), mint sprig (for garnish)

This grapefruit vodka martini is a wonderful happy hour cocktail for any time of year! It's citrusy, spirit-forward, and the perfect balance between sour and sweet. While it's a pretty big departure from the classic martini, you'll love it if you like tart, fruity drinks served "up".

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, dry vermouth, simple syrup

This cocktail has similar ingredients to the above martini, but tastes entirely different! It leaves out simple syrup and adds in orange liqueur for a more citrusy, spirit-forward cocktail. You can expect it to be tart, balanced, and wonderfully aromatic!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, dry vermouth

If you love a good Moscow Mule, you need to give this variation on the classic a try! The classic Moscow Mule is made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. This recipe swaps out the lime juice for grapefruit juice and adds a sprig of rosemary for an equally refreshing drink with a gorgeous pink hue!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, ginger beer, rosemary sprig (for garnish)

The Cosmopolitan has making its comeback in the cocktail scene over the past few years, and I couldn't be happier about it! In this recipe, you replace the lime and cranberry juice with grapefruit juice, resulting in a more citrus-forward and bitter variation on the classic cocktail. Just like the original, it's light-hearted while still being sophisticated and flavorful!

Ingredients: vodka, Cointreau, grapefruit juice

If you need an easy cocktail for brunch, this grapefruit screwdriver is a tart, fun twist on the tangy classic. This recipe zhuzhes up the Screwdriver, which is made with just orange juice and vodka, by swapping orange juice for grapefruit juice and adding in grapefruit liqueur for an extra boozy kick and fruity flavor! Top it off with a bit of club soda and sprig of mint for a more elevated take on the classic cocktail.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, grapefruit liqueur, club soda, mint sprig (for garnish), grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

This pink grapefruit sangria is a fantastic warm weather pitcher cocktail that looks absolutely beautiful in a glass! The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and blood orange juice pair with rosé and mint leaves like a dream, while the vodka gives it an extra boozy kick that will keep the party going all day long.

Ingredients: vodka, rosé, grapefruit juice, blood orange juice, agave syrup, mint leaves

The Confident Man is a very loose riff on a Paloma, which is made with tequila and grapefruit juice. This clever variation combines the flavor of floral, sweet St Germain elderflower liqueur with bitter, citrusy Aperol and grapefruit juice for a unique and refreshing apéritif. Never forget: a confident man isn't afraid to wear or drink pink!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, St Germain elderflower liqueur, Aperol

Here's a vibrant, pretty-in-pink cocktail that's perfect for lady's night! I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the name (especially coming after a drink called The Confident Man...), but I can't deny that the cocktail itself is incredibly delicious. It stars sweet, fruity pomegranate liqueur and tart pink grapefruit juice, which gives you an intensely flavorful and bright cocktail.

Ingredients: vodka, pomegranate liqueur, grapefruit juice, sugar (for the rim), lemon wedge (for garnish)

The Sea Breeze is a simple but delicious three ingredient cocktail that hits the spot all year round! It leverages the wonderful pairing of cranberry and grapefruit juice, so you can expect it to be fruity, tart, and dangerously drinkable.

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

The Great Gatsby is another light, refreshing three ingredient cocktail that combines vodka and grapefruit juice with Lillet Blanc, which is a semi-sweet French apéritif wine infused with fruits and botanicals. Its citrusy, herbal flavor pairs wonderfully with the tart, bitter grapefruit juice for an easy-drinking, elegant summertime sipper!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, Lillet Blanc

I love a good sour any time of year, and this one is as easy as it is delicious! A classic sour template is 2 parts spirit, 1 part acid, and 1 part sweet. This recipe uses (you guessed it!) vodka as the main spirit, along with grapefruit juice for acidity and maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, grapefruit wedge (for garnish)

Here's a different take on a grapefruit vodka sour that combines honey pomegranate syrup with fresh grapefruit and lemon juice for a sweet, tart, and super flavorful cocktail. The honey pomegranate syrup is really the star of the drink, adding extra fruitiness and a touch of sweetness to round out the acidity of the two citrus juices.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, honey pomegranate syrup

This Grapefruit Crush is the perfect light drink to cool you down on a hot day! It's made with three different types of fresh citrus juices and triple sec, which are all balanced out by a homemade thyme simple syrup. It's aptly named, because it's beyond crushable and you can't have just one!

Ingredients: vodka, triple sec, grapefruit juice, lime juice, lemon juice, thyme simple syrup

Whenever I see grapefruit and rosemary together in a drink, I get so excited! It's a truly perfect flavor pairing that's suited for any time of year. This tasty creation combines grapefruit juice and rosemary simple syrup with elderflower liqueur and lemon juice for a bright, floral, and citrusy cocktail.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, rosemary simple syrup

If you love a good tequila sunrise, you need to give this twist on the classic a try! Like in the classic cocktail, grenadine gives it a beautiful layered visual effect. Instead of tequila and orange juice though, vodka and grapefruit juice are the backbone of this drink, making it extra tart with a subtle bitter bite.

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, lemon juice, grenadine

This easy, zingy four ingredient cocktail tastes just like summertime in a glass! It marries sweet and fruity strawberry simple syrup with tangy grapefruit juice, and is topped off with club soda for a bubbly texture. It's light, fizzy, and delightfully crisp!

Ingredients: vodka, grapefruit juice, strawberry simple syrup, club soda, strawberries (for garnish)