888 Grapefruit Vodka

888 Grapefruit Vodka is a flavored vodka, so the citrus is the point rather than a garnish on a neutral spirit. The details we have don't give the grain or base, the proof or the production method. What the name tells you is that grapefruit leads, and flavored vodkas in this style usually pair a clean, fairly neutral spirit with a tart-bitter citrus note. Expect fresh peel aroma and a slightly dry, pithy finish more than candy sweetness, though the sweetness level varies by bottle. A taste before you build a drink around it is the safest way to judge it. Grapefruit is the best reason to reach for this over plain vodka. It makes a Greyhound (vodka and grapefruit juice over ice) richer in grapefruit flavor, and a Salty Dog with a salted rim even more so. It also suits a Moscow Mule, where the ginger beer and lime sit well against the bitter citrus. In a Cosmopolitan it can replace some of the citrus liqueur or the lime. A splash of soda and a wedge of lime makes a simple highball that needs nothing else. A Martini works too, as a vodka-forward pour with a grapefruit twist instead of lemon. A Bloody Mary and an Espresso Martini are the weaker fits. Grapefruit's acidity tends to clash with tomato and coffee, so use plain vodka for those. For sipping or a short mix, keep the bottle in the freezer or chill it thoroughly. Cold mutes the alcohol and keeps the peel character bright. Serve it neat in a small chilled glass, or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass with a twist of grapefruit peel. Stirred cocktails belong in a chilled martini glass. Soda, tonic and sparkling wine are easy partners that leave the grapefruit clearly in front.