Grapefruit Pepper Cooler

Whats more relaxing than a tall cool glass of thirst-quenching drink? Nothing! So I am sharing this utterly easy drink that I am have been sipping on all summer long. Apart from that, I am so happy with how the pictures for this recipe came out. I am trying to work on my food photography a bit these days. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup grapefruit juice 
• 1 grapefruit, sliced for garnish
• 2 rosemary sprigs, for garnish 
• splash of seltzer
• 2 limes, juiced 

For the Pepper Syrup 

• 1 cup sugar 
• 2 cups water 
• 2 tbsp whole peppercorns, use 1 tbsp if you want the syrup less peppery 

DIRECTIONS

1. To make syrup – heat water in a pot and add sugar and peppercorns to it, boil till reduced by half. Cool down and set aside
2. To make drink – add ice, 1/2 cup grapefruit juice, 1 tbsp pepper syrup and 1 tbsp lime juice to a shaker and shake vigorously for 2 mins. (add alcohol at this point if you want to make it into a cocktail). 
3. Add to a glass with ice, top off with seltzer and garnish with grapefruit slice and rosemary sprig.