Seventh Heaven Cocktail
I love history. I love the stories that make up who we are and where we (or our favorite cocktails) came from. It’s always fun to unearth how some unknown bartender in a dive bar in East Poopachuck, Vermont created a drink we’re still imbibing 100 years later. It’s a delight to lounge in my backyard and thumb through a vintage cocktail book or discover some concoction I’ve never heard of on a fellow blogger’s blog. That’s how I discovered today’s drink in fact: the Seventh Heaven. It was all thanks to fellow blogger, Cup of Zest.
The Seventh Heaven is a delicious summer cocktail from the Prohibition (there’s that history thing I was talking about) that’s all gin with a little extra something special: maraschino and… wait for it… grapefruit juice. I know it seems like a weird combo, but sometimes the strangest combinations make the best drinks and this is definitely one of them.
I suppose you’re wondering why exactly it’s a summer cocktail? Because it’s base spirit is gin. See, summertime means three things to me when it comes to alcohol: vodka, rum or gin. Rum is perfect for those tiki cocktails that are slowly sipped on tropical beaches, while vodka or gin are better for fancy summer soireés. Personally, I’ll drink all three, not at the same time of course because I want to be able to remember my own name. But I will drink all three and you don’t even have to twist my arm. While I prefer gin and vodka drinks, I won’t ever turn down a rum cocktail. But I digress because today isn’t about rum or vodka. Today is about gin.
Because this recipe includes both grapefruit juice and maraschino, I chose to use Sipsmith‘s London Dry gin over a more floral option. See, the maraschino is very sweet and depending on the kind of grapefruit you use, that could also be sweet or sour. So, you don’t want the botanicals from the gin to overshadow the other ingredients. It’s better for each one to shine in its own right thereby enhancing the whole experience. That’s why a gin with fewer and/or drier botanicals is better. You’ll still get the great flavor of the gin, but the sweet cherry flavor along with the grapefruit make for one delightful drink.
Just like choosing the right gin for this drink, you also want to choose the right grapefruit. With so many varieties out there, it’s easy to change the entire cocktail just by changing the citrus. Personally, I love the Ruby Reds. Not only do they have a beautiful pink hue which adds a nice blush to the drink, they’re pretty sweet. Sure, they have a tart after taste, but your lips won’t be stuck in a sour pucker for hours after one sip either. That sweet/tart citrus flavor tones down the super sweet maraschino while brightening up the dry gin, making for one snazzy little cocktail. A cocktail so snazzy in fact, it’ll have you (and your guests) coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a sprig of mint or a grapefruit wedge and serve.
