boozy grapefruit & citrus sangria

Sangria. You can’t go wrong. It’s hot out and you want a sexy drink to match your bikini. Everyone wants a drink that is low maintenance, boozy and dazzling, especially when sharing it with friends. Sangria.

So here’s the deal. It’s an easy and fantastic drink that is slightly tangy from the citrus and grapefruit, with bits of apple, peach and berries that add sweet tings of flavor. Wine and vodka? A must. Make this guzzler the night before to intensify the flavors.  Listen, use whatever freaking fruit you have in the house {fresh or frozen}. Don’t have vodka? Use rum for gosh sake. Ready?

But first, let’s talk.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve moved to Savannah, from a small town in Pennsylvania. While living there for 5 years, we made many great friends. That was one of the hard parts of the move, missing friends and family that is. So it’s been a year since I have seen my girlfriends from Pennsylvania. One year. That’s a long time. Well, guess what? They came to visit this week for 4 days!

We have been planning this trip for months. Days before they arrived I planned out all the local bars, restaurants and clubs that I JUST HAD to take them to. But when they arrived on Friday, I planned a poolside luncheon of local BBQ pulled pork and coleslaw from Wiley’s Championship Barbeque. We piled the meat and coleslaw onto corn tortillas, adding spicy BBQ sauce, peach-mango salsa and cilantro. I served these with tortilla chips, pickles and, OF COURSE, this Sangria. We all sat around the pool, the sun beating down on us, dipping our feet in the water, eating pulled pork tacos and sipping on Sangria. It was the perfect afternoon.

As for later that night, I don’t remember much. It was THAT fun. All in all, we made fabulous memories, danced all night, ate too much food, laughed until we cried and I lost my voice from talking so loud at the bars.

 

ingredients

• 1 {750 milliliter} bottle rosé wine {I used sweet red}
• 3/4 cup vodka {or more to taste}
• 6 tablespoons {thawed} frozen lemonade mix
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 grapefruit, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 cup peaches, sliced {fresh or frozen}
• 1/2 – 1 cup raspberries {frozen or fresh}
• 1/2 – 1 cup blueberries {frozen or fresh}
• 1/2 apple, cubed
• 2 cups club soda, chilled

add any fruit that you have lying around the house

preparation

1. Put lemonade mix, sugar, grapefruit, lemon, lime and peaches in a pitcher.
2. Muddle this mixture with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved {see photo below}.
3. Add the wine, vodka, blueberries, raspberries and apple bits. Stir.
4. Chill for 8 hours {or over night}.
5. Add chilled club soda just before serving.
6. Enjoy!

picture steps {just because}