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All Day I Dream About Food

All the best low carb keto recipes for a healthy lifestyle

Rosemary Grapefruit Martini

I don’t post cocktails on this blog very often. I think there has been one true cocktail recipe on here, and that would be my Lemon Ginger Martini. Beyond that, I posted Cranberry Ginger Mulled Wine, which didn’t have much alcohol content left in it after mulling, although it does make a lovely warm winter drink. And perhaps you could count my Almond Milk Eggnog recipe, if you are the sort to add rum or whiskey to your eggnog. So this really counts as the second true cocktail recipe on ADIDAF. If you didn’t know me, or you were to judge purely on the frequency of my cocktail-posting behaviour, you might think I am not overly fond of cocktails. But oh, you would be wrong! I have a long-standing affection for the cocktail hour, there is something slightly magical about it after a long, hard day. And although my drink of choice is usually either a simple glass of red wine or a dry gin martini, sometimes I get it in my head to switch things up a bit.

This particular combination was inspired by a cocktail I saw on I’ll Have What She’s Having. Lynn’s blog has long been one of my favourites, and she and I have always been supportive of each others’ work. Her recipes are always sound, her writing is wonderful and her photography is very good. And she’s a lovely person, what I know of her, so I almost always make a point of checking out her latest post. Her Fresh Start Cocktail, a nod to the New Year, immediately caught my attention because I love both rosemary and grapefruit juice. And I don’t think I ever would have thought to put rosemary in a drink on my own. I started scheming to convert it into a martini almost the moment I saw it.

I made my version with Swerve, an erythritol based sweetener that is made to be as sweet as sugar. I like Swerve for a number of reasons, but one of its best qualities over other brands of erythritol, in my opinion, is that there is no funny cooling sensation. I made up the rosemary syrup first, and once again, I noted this advantage when I tasted the syrup. And the syrup was plenty sweet, even though I had reduced the amount of sweetener compared to Lynn’s version. Even if I was using sugar, I wouldn’t make this any sweeter. Now, if you are low carb and you are using erythritol to make this drink, do keep in mind that as the syrup cools, it will begin to crystallize and harden. Sugar stays in suspension but I have not found an erythritol product that will do so. So you will need to reheat the syrup a bit to liquify it when adding it to your cocktail shaker. But as it’s shaken over ice, it doesn’t effect the temperature of the end result.

Hope you enjoy. Bottoms up!

Rosemary Grapefruit Martini

Rosemary Syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup erythritol (I used Swerve)
OR
1/4 cup sugar
4 to 5 long sprigs of fresh rosemary

Martini:
1/4 cup grapefruit juice
4 ounces gin (or vodka)
3 tbsp rosemary syrup

2 sprigs rosemary for garnish

For the rosemary syrup, combine water, erythritol or sugar and rosemary sprigs in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool. (If using erythritol, you will find it begins to crystallize as it cools. You will need to rewarm a bit to liquify when making the cocktail, but as you shake it with ice, this won’t make much of a difference).

For the martini, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add grapefruit juice, gin or vodka and rosemary syrup. Shake well. Pour into two chilled martini glasses and garnish with rosemary sprigs.

Serves 2.

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Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Can you believe I don't like rosemary 🙁 … but I HEART grapefruit… perhaps I could make this with basil … or even sage? Thanks for sharing and Happy Friday! HUGS!

    Reply

  5. What an interesting flavor combination! I'd be curious to try it, even though I'm shying away from the grapefruit a bit – I'm not good with bitter/sour foods.

    Reply

  6. What a way to start the weekend!!! Cocktails are one area where I do fairly well with low sugar… I'm not a sweet drink fan.
    Love the flavors you have going on in this on!! Pinning!!!

    Reply

  13. I've been working all day. I'd really need one right now although it's past midnight and in 4 hours I have to get up.

    Reply

  14. Gosh Carolyn I was hanging my head when reading your first paragraph. If readers think you imbibe too much they must think I'm a downright lush for all my cocktail posting (I have a pantry full of infusions waiting for a party; I concoct, mix, taste and move on mainly…..do I sound like I feel guilty?!). This cocktail sounds really refreshing and vibrant. I just posted a Grapefruit Margarita as well inspired by a big box of Florida citrus shipped by a relative. I think this more bold flavors are what is needed in the winter months to perk up our palates. Really nice.

    Reply

  15. So beautiful, my friend…love the rosemary garnish! And such a refreshing cocktail as well…cheers to you this Saturday! Clink, clink….

    Reply

  22. I don't drink much, but now that we have a nicer dining room i would like to entertain more! Would love to try this…now I just need friends? 😉

    Reply

  25. Sounds fantastic! I love using rosemary in slightly unusual and unexpected ways like this.

    Reply

    • I have used Swerve in cocktails and it doesn’t crystallize but some of it does settle to the bottom of the drink.

      Reply

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