Name: Bichon Frise
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: ¼ cup Vanilla Rim Sugar (optional) (see headnote); grapefruit wedge (optional, if using sugar); 1½ ounces vodka; 1 ounce red grapefruit juice, plus strip of grapefruit peel for garnishing; ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur; ¼ ounce lemon juice

Why This Recipe Works

For our elderflower cocktail, we paired it with neutral vodka to let the elderflower flavors shine through, and with complementary grapefruit juice to add pleasing bitterness. But grapefruit juice can be too much of a blunt instrument on its own; a touch of lemon juice brightened up the drink and ultimately enhanced and intensified the grapefruit flavor. Why name this elegant drink after a dog (albeit a cute, white, fluffy one)? The combination of vodka and grapefruit juice is a greyhound; add elderflower and a squeeze of lemon and it becomes our Bichon Frise; add a vanilla sugar–rimmed glass and it becomes exquisite.

Before You Begin

We prefer our Vanilla Rim Sugar for this drink, but plain granulated sugar will also work. We prefer freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice; unsweetened bottled grapefruit juice can also be used. For Vanilla Rim Sugar recipe, see this article.

Instructions

Spread sugar, if using, into even layer on small saucer. Moisten about ½ inch of chilled cocktail glass rim by running grapefruit wedge around outer edge; dry any excess juice with paper towel. Roll moistened rim in sugar to coat. Remove any excess sugar that falls into glass; set aside.

Add vodka, grapefruit juice, liqueur, and lemon juice to cocktail shaker, then fill with ice. Shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain cocktail into prepared glass. Pinch grapefruit peel over drink and, if rim is unsugared, rub outer edge of glass with peel. Garnish with grapefruit peel and serve.