Intro
We’re nearing the end of our time in California but before we left I had to share with you a bit of the citrus-inspired cocktails we’ve been sipping while here.
First there’s the perfected Whiskey Sour that my dad has been working on ever since they came to Palm Desert and became the proud owners of a booming lemon tree. The branches hang heavy with large fruit so, in order to ease their load, I pluck the biggest lemons and walk a few feet from the trunk into the kitchen. One of these lemons provides more than enough juice for one Sour. This classic cocktail goes down easy when mixed with smokey whiskey and a bit of simple syrup.
The next cocktail comes from the grapefruit tree resting comfortably in between the neighbor’s house and my parent’s. Being from Washington I’m used to seeing trees loaded with apples but for me citrus is only available in the grocery store. I will buy the little oranges with their leaves still attached just to feel more connected to its origin. Now I find myself contemplating leaving my clothes and stuffing my suitcase with all the citrus I’ve picked. The first to get tucked into the case would be the grapefruit. I had little hope for them as I reached to grab one from the tree and felt a tough skin with little give. But as I cut into the bright yellow exterior the inside glowed a soft pink, the juice ran freely and the sweetness overwhelmed. I take it as a sign that I’ve reached adulthood now that I now longer take my grapefruit with sugar covering its entire surface. Or maybe I just needed to have great grapefruit. My next thought was tequila and then the grapefruit margarita was born.
In two short days we’ll be back to the rain and cold and back to driving to the store for my citrus fix but I think I’ve consumed enough vitamin C (and tequila) to keep me satisfied for quite some time.
Whiskey Sour and Grapefruit Margarita
This is the recipe my dad came up with after trying many variations. He doesn’t use the best whiskey, the sugar in his simple syrup isn’t fully dissolved and he rarely measures and yet, it’s one of the best cocktails I’ve had. Nice work, dad.
1 part whiskey
1 part simple syrup
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
Combine this all in a martini glass with crushed ice. Garnish with sliced lemon or a twirl of the peel.
My dad thinks they are best served with a good cigar (or a cheap one, he adds).
Grapefruit Margarita
1 part grapefruit juice
1 part tequila
1/2 part Cointreau
Salt the rim of a margarita glass and add the ingredients. Stir and then add ice. Garnish with a thin slice of grapefruit.
Looks fabulous. I like how the whiskey sour is great with either a good cigar or a cheap one! 😉
Leave the clothes…bring the citrus!! xo
Great pictures! I can almost taste the lemons!
Love your story surrounding the citrus fruits!
Your dad’s comment about the cheap cigar made me laugh and laugh and laugh – are all dads everywhere just the same?! These cocktails look amazing and the images are gorgeous!
Hayley – He added that as he was reading through the post. I couldn’t not put it in. haha.
Stunning, stunning, stunning! The wood surface, the light in the first photo, ahhh. Love. Now, only if citrus trees grew in Colorado. 🙂
you had me at margarita. perfect tgif cocktails. thank you for brightening my cold and grey nyc day!
These look amazing. I’m going to have to try them both. I live in Arizona and have a beautiful overflowing lemon tree in the backyard and my mom has a grapfruit tree. I love your comparision to apple trees that you are used to in Washington as I am used to the citrus trees here and have yet to ever see a real apple tree! Thanks for sharing the yummy recipes!
These look amazing! I live in Arizona and have a beautiful overflowing lemon tree in my backyard and my mom has a grapefruit tree. I love your take on seeing apple trees loaded as I am used to seeing the citrus trees loaded where I live and have never seen a tree with apples on it! I’ll be trying out these recipes this weekend, thanks for sharing!
Jenette – I’ll trade you apples for citrus. 🙂
you can always buy new clothes – freshly picked citrus??? priceless!!
Debra – I’m so glad you agree.
Your blog is so beautiful and this drink looks divine!
Karen – Thanks!
My husband’s favorite story of me as a young girl: My grandparents lived in Bakersfield and had a lemon tree (and a pool, and a olive tree, an palm trees…coming from Chicago, it was heaven). When I was 4 or 5, we went out for a visit and as we packed back up, my mom picked up my little personal suitcase to find it was VERY heavy. She hasn’t remembered it being so heavy, so she opened it up to find the entire.thing.filled with lemons. My clothes had been shoved into a cabinet in the room I was staying in. To my little lemon-loving mind (I did, and still do, eat them raw) I had plenty of clothes at home and not NEARLY enough lemons.
Amy – I LOVE that story. So tempted to do the same.
Stunning photos! I love your use of light and darkness.
Wonderful! I am now growing two lemon varieties (as well as lime and kaffir lime) in pots on my verandah. Am looking forward to trying these!
this looks fabulous and so yummy
yay for citrus. I’ve got some meyer lemons on my kitchen table begging to be used. I think they’ll be perfect.
You don’t see many people pulling off a food photo with direct sunlight and shade – and you have done it perfectly! Fantastic post.
My folks recently moved to Napa, when they come back to visit us in Seattle they now bring bags and bags of citrus of all sorts from their yard to give us… oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes… I get to visit them over Easter, I will bring these delicious cocktail recipes with me! Thanks for the ever-wonderful blog 🙂
Beautiful, beautiful photos! I love citrus in the winter more than anything- it reminds me that bright and sunny days are never too far away. And as for citrus with tequila– match made in heaven. Loved this.
I’m not that good at making drinks but it has been on my list lately to make something new with blood oranges. This can be the inspiration to go ahead and do it! Love love winter citrus season.
I am counting down the days until we head to California for Easter and this has just made me even more desperate to get on that plane. Simply beautiful.
Kathryn – Can I come? I already miss the sun and citrus.
Oh, I love the idea of the grapefruit margarita and such beautiful photos!
One of the things we love about Palm Springs is the giant grapefruit tree in our friend’s yard. We came home with 3 34 gallon containers full of them yesterday – there will be lots of margaritas in our future! Hope y’all had a wonderful time!
Denise – I wish I could have brought some back with me. I’ll be pleading with my parents to fill their cars.
These look perfect. And your photography is amazing!
I am completely and totally ALL in on citrus, cocktails, and more citrus. I moved from Miami (to the Midwest..sadly, no grapefruit trees) 10 years ago after living there 10 years and still haven’t quite recovered from the shock. Best wishes on your transition. Cheers.
Your citrus photos are stunning!
Thank you.That whiskey sour is our new favorite cocktail. I love it as does my husband. We have to search for meyer lemons in Virginia at this time of year, but it is worth the search to make this delicious drink.Your father has the perfect recipe!
Terran – I will be sure to tell my dad. He will be thrilled. Thank you for commenting!
Oh! the grapefruit margaritas! Inspired! I was once gifted with a big bag of grapefruit with the most surprising flavor. I made a simple sorbet, and drizzled good tequila over it. Heaven!
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Mmmm looks delicious!
I adore grapefruit cocktails, so this is right up my alley! I have to ask you where you got that gorgeous mustard yellow plate?!
It was at my mom’s house so sadly I’m not sure where it is from.