Arizona Sweet Tart Cocktail

Creating new cocktails is almost as much fun as drinking them; well, almost! When Esther and Jack were visiting she came up with the Arizona Sweet Tart. Tart from the grapefruit juice, grapefruit citrus soda water and squeeze of fresh lemon, and a little sweet from the limoncello. Very refreshing and very pretty drink. Love the color!

Our glasses were so full, sipping was necessary before lifting for the toast.

When she was creating the cocktail she used the ‘eyeball’ method, but I explained for the blog we need exact measurements to get the correct balance and proportion of ingredients, so we had to make a second Arizona Sweet Tart. The number of drinks these measurements will make depend on the size of your martini glass.

Our glasses were quite generous and filled right up to the top. Nothing annoys me more than getting a cocktail in a bar or restaurant that is half full.

The ingredients are simple. Sometimes if you get too creative with too many ingredients your cocktail will become muddied. This one is perfect. We used a good quality vodka-Ketel One. Their slogan: “Family made with Passion“. This Dutch distillery has been around since the 1600’s. I like it because the flavor is extremely smooth and delicious as a traditional vodka martini or mixed in concoctions such as the one Esther created.

Jack and Esther ready for the toast: “Here’s to Us. None better and damn few of us left!”

Bar cocktails generally use 3 oz. of liquor/2 shots per drink. It is not unusual to make a cocktail with as much as 4 oz. of liquor. It’s really a matter of taste. The Arizona Sweet Tart used 16 oz. of vodka. Fill a large shaker half full with ice. Use a 2 cup measuring cup and pour the vodka over the ice. Add 3 oz. of pink grapefruit juice; 1 1/2 oz. of limoncello; a squeeze of fresh lemon and shake generously.

I recently made a batch of limoncello with my friend Bonnie Ungerecht. It’s very easy to make and I like the fact that you can control the amount of sugar. Some limoncello’s are too sweet for me. If you want the recipe, go to “Search Cook with Cindy” at top left of my blog home page and plug in limoncello, or click on the link below.

https://cookwithcindy.com/2019/05/08/when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade/

It’s one of the recipes posted on the old blog so you won’t be able to JUMP and PRINT, but can copy and paste.

After a good shake, strain and pour into martini glasses to within 1/4 inch of the rim. Top the cocktail to the brim with Fresca Sparkling Grapefruit Citrus soda water. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

PROOST!

Print Pin

5 from 2 votes

Arizona Sweet Tart Cocktail

Bright and very refreshing; a little tart and just barely sweet. Perfect for a warm summers day.

Ingredients

• 16 oz. Vodka; good quality
• 3 oz. Pink grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 oz. Limoncello
• Fresh lemon juice from 1/4 lemon
• Splash Fresca grapefruit citrus soda water

Instructions

• Fill a large cocktail shaker half full with ice. Preferably a 32 oz. shaker.
• Add the vodka, pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice and limoncello.
• Cover the shaker tightly and shake vigorously.
• Strain into martini glasses to within 1/4 inch of the top of the glass.
• Top each glass right to the brim with the Fresca. Garnish with a lemon slice.