serves 4
THIS DRINK IS RIPE for the riffing—feel free to nix the vodka if you prefer a virgin version. You could also swap the seltzer for something with a little more party in it—like a cheap and cheerful cava! You might not think of fruit and herbs going together, but thyme (and mint, too) lend a delicate aromatic boost to help make this drink sophisticated and refreshing.
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
10 fresh thyme sprigs
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
1 cup grapefruit juice, strained (about 3 grapefruit)
8 ounces (1 cup) vodka
20 ounces (2¼ cups) seltzer
Fresh grapefruit slices for garnish
1. To make a thyme simple syrup, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring gently, until the sugar is dissolved. Gently bruise 6 thyme sprigs by banging them with the back edge of a knife or the heel of your palm and add them to the simple syrup. Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside for at least 2 hours. Strain the liquid just before using to remove thyme; reserve the syrup and discard the thyme.
2. Combine the lemon juice and grapefruit juice in a pitcher and add simple syrup to taste (about 1 tablespoon per serving); stir to combine. Store remaining simple syrup in a sterilized glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
3. To each glass, add ice, 2 ounces of vodka, and a quarter of the grapefruit mixture. Top with seltzer. Garnish with a few fresh grapefruit slices and one of the remaining thyme sprigs.