Dusk on the Prairie
A modern twist on a classic spritz. Fragrant basil adds a soft herbal note, making it refreshing, delicate, and effortlessly elegant.
Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces gin
1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
½ ounce simple syrup
½ ounce dry curaçao
2 ounces soda water
¼ ounce Angostura bitters (optional float)
Instructions
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add the gin, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and dry curaçao.
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until well chilled.
Strain into a highball glass filled with crushed ice.
Top with soda water.
If using, slowly pour the Angostura bitters over the top to create a floater.
Notes from the Bar
Ritual Tip: Sip in Layers
Take your first sip before stirring the drink — the contrast between the light citrus base and the bold bitters float creates a moment of sensory discovery. After that, give it a quick swirl and notice how the flavors open up.
The Bitters Float
The Angostura topper adds spice, color, and aromatic depth. It’s optional, but it turns the drink into something visually striking and more complex.
Grapefruit Matters
Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice makes a noticeable difference here. Bottled juice can skew bitter or muted, while fresh juice brings bright acidity.
Crushed Ice is Ideal
Crushed ice gives the drink its refreshing, long-sip feel, letting the flavors dilute gradually without going watery too fast. If you're interested in a nugget ice maker, here's the one we have.
Dry Curaçao Choice
Using a dry curaçao (rather than triple sec) keeps the cocktail crisp, not overly sweet, and adds subtle orange warmth.
Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.
Make It a Date Nite
This cocktail is part of something bigger for us. It's a ritual we return to week after week.
Each week, we create a Date Nite designed around one drink, one thoughtful menu, and the feeling of slowing down together. The kind of night where the table is set with intention, the music hums softly in the background, and the evening unfolds without rushing.
For this Date Nite, we’ve paired a cocktail with a cozy, make-ahead-friendly menu, so you can enjoy the process without spending the whole night in the kitchen. We also include little touches we love like timing notes, a head start option, and a playlist to set the mood. Feel to pair the meal with any of our cocktails.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. And turning an ordinary night at home into something that feels quietly special.
Each Date Nite includes a curated menu, cocktail pairing and a playlist, as well as another thoughtful extras like make-ahead tips, leftover ideas or table talk prompts to carry the night.
Kevin & Kate
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