Signal Your Intent to Turn It Up With a Blinker Cocktail

Blink twice if you're craving a sweet and tart summery rye cocktail.

Updated February 13, 2024
Blinker cocktail on marble counter

Hey — you there. You look like you could use a drink, yeah? Blink once for yes and twice for no. It looked like one blink to us, and boy, do we have the drink for you. It's the yummy blinker cocktail full of sweet-tart goodness we know you're going to love. 

How to Make a Blinker Cocktail

Turn on your blinker and signal your intent to the world that it's time to turn it up with this perfectly balanced combo of sweet, tart, and a little bit of bite. 

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces rye
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
  • ½ ounce raspberry simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Raspberry for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add rye, grapefruit juice, and raspberry simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into the chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with a raspberry.

Variations of the Blinker Cocktail

Easily customize your blinker cocktail for you or anyone lucky enough to enjoy one you've made.

  • Instead of raspberry simple syrup, play around by using grenadine or raspberry liqueur.
  • Punch up the flavors you find in the rye by making a sweetened homemade raspberry-infused whiskey or a citrussy grapefruit-infused whiskey.
  • Freshen up the cocktail by skipping the raspberry simple syrup and instead muddle 4-6 fresh raspberries with just a splash of simple syrup. Skip the sugar entirely and muddle with the rye and grapefruit juice.
  • Swap the pink grapefruit juice for a ruby red or white grapefruit.

Garnishes

Dress your cocktail up or let the drink do the talking with these garnish suggestions.

  • Use a grapefruit wheel, wedge, or slice.
  • Finish the drink with a grapefruit peel, or make it even more elegant by rolling up the grapefruit peel and piercing with a cocktail skewer.
  • Give it a fun look by using a dehydrated grapefruit wheel or another citrus wheel such as an orange, lemon, or lime.
  • Layer the garnishes by using a few together, such as a raspberry with a grapefruit wheel or piercing a grapefruit peel with a cocktail skewer, alternating the peel with fresh raspberries.

A Rye Cocktail for Summer

Too often, rye is thought of as a winter liquor when it actually makes for a fantastic summer spirit. The blinker cocktail answers the rye lover's qualm when the sun is shining, and they want something bold yet crisp. Now, isn't that easy summertime living?

Signal Your Intent to Turn It Up With a Blinker Cocktail