Nantucket Ruby Grapefrui Vodka

Nantucket Ruby Grapefruit Vodka is a grapefruit-flavored vodka product listed in the ready-to-drink category. The label is the place to confirm the exact format, strength and base spirit, because those details aren't part of the product information here. Ruby grapefruit points to a flavor that sits between sweet and bitter. Expect juicy citrus with a faint tartness on the finish, not the sharp pith of white grapefruit and not the sugary character of a generic citrus soda mixer. Flavored vodkas in this style usually keep a neutral, clean spirit underneath, so the fruit does most of the talking and the alcohol stays in the background. Because it already carries its own citrus, it works best in drinks that would otherwise call for grapefruit juice. A Greyhound is the obvious fit: pour it over ice in a tall glass and top with a little soda or plain grapefruit juice to taste. A Salty Dog, which is the same drink with a salted rim, suits it even better, since the salt tames the bitterness and brings out the fruit. For a Moscow Mule, use a spicy ginger beer and a squeeze of lime. The ginger heat contrasts well with the grapefruit, and the result is drier than a mule made with plain vodka. In a Cosmopolitan, a measure of this can stand in for part of the citrus vodka and some of the cranberry. That gives a paler, more tart pink drink, and you may want to cut back the sweetener. It is not the best choice for a classic Martini, a Bloody Mary or an Espresso Martini. Grapefruit flavor clashes with tomato, and it fights with coffee. Keep it for fruit-led drinks. Serve it well chilled. If it's the ready-to-drink format, pour it over plenty of ice in a rocks or highball glass, and add a grapefruit wedge or a strip of peel. If you're mixing it into a short drink, shake it with ice and strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Grapefruit pairs easily with oysters and ceviche, as well as with grilled shrimp and salads with avocado or fennel.