Name: Ernest + Rita
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 35 ml Blanco tequila; 15 ml Elderflower liqueur; 35 ml Pink grapefruit juice; 25 ml Lime juice; 10 ml Sugar syrup (2:1)

Ernest + Rita
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Glass:

Photographed in an Italesse Presidente Wormwood

Ingredients:
1 ¹⁄₆ fl oz	Patrón Silver blanco tequila
¹⁄₂ fl oz	Elderflower liqueur
1 ¹⁄₆ fl oz	Pink grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
⁵⁄₆ fl oz	Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
¹⁄₃ fl oz	Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water, 65.0°Brix)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare pink grapefruit zest for garnish.

How to make:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

Express pink grapefruit zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Combining elements of a classic Margarita and a Hemingway Daiquiri, hence the Ernest + Rita name, honouring Ernest Hemingway and the Marga"Rita". This is a relatively low-alcohol, floral, grapefruit-laced and aperitivo-style Margarita.

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History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2014 by Jamie Lewis at Bath & Bottle in Douglas, Isle of Man.

Nutrition:

One serving of Ernest + Rita contains 164 calories

Alcohol content:

1 standard drinks
10.42% alc./vol. (20.83° proof)
13.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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David Orme

15th August at 16:41

As usual a superb sour, believe that this maybe the best sour cocktail using grapefruit I have ever made. Followed the recipe exactly, but am inclined to up the tequila amount next time I make it.
Would be interested to know how the name came about any ideas Simon

Simon Difford

16th August at 08:58

Hi David. I've added an explanation above.

Cassandra Adams

3rd August at 19:12

We went with a 20 + 15 ml tequila/mezcal split, and it was a winner. This will go into regular rotation for sure.

Will Stevens

3rd May at 19:50

We mixed in a little mezcal, 1:2 with the tequila which was delicious!

Frederic D.

22nd April at 22:05

This is indeed quite delicious. The floral notes from the elderflower work beautifully with the grapefruit and the tequila (I used Ocho Blanco today). I cut down the lime a tad and the lower tartness really let the other ingredients shine. Adding it to the growing list of delicious grapefruit cocktails I have found here!

Ed Scheel

28th February at 00:51

Quite delicious! Went a little light on the simple (15 ml for two). Delightful!

G. M. Genovese

1st January at 23:13

Still one of my favorite recipes on the site. Not thinking, I just made this subbing the tequila with Rhum J.M VSOP. I ought to be locked away or cast off to another planet for how society's rapid devastation will be attributed to this slip.

Simon Sedgley

23rd November 2025 at 13:20

It's a lovely gentle sour. But of course we couldn't resist cranking up the party by adding 10ml Mezcal. And a very scant pinch of salt doesn't go astray. We serve it straight up in a Rocks Glass.

Florian Ruf

23rd May 2025 at 12:41

Did it a second time after a longer period and loved it again! It is now saved under favourites. This time I followed the advices used a bit more tequila and some drops of saline solution.

G. M. Genovese

22nd October 2024 at 02:47

Intense! The specific measures are there for a reason, as I suspected. This recipe would be great on the rocks, but 'up' (as I'd done) it's a tad too sweet. I did add a drop of saline in the half-size shake I made, which might account for some of its grand dynamics. (16 Jun 2023, 5:33p) ... made again with these adjustments, still amazing: 40 ml gin, 20 ml lime, 7.5 ml syrup (21 Oct 2024, 10:45p)

G. M. Genovese

11th January 2025 at 15:36

Cutting the tequila 6:1 with a small does of mezcal is just right. Still borderline of too sweet, but what a recipe!

1 reply

Calvin Grant

19th October 2024 at 02:24

Excellent balance of flavors, lime grapefruit and elderflower and rather sour. Having made a double, got half way through and added 15ml tequila and some ice and I like this boozier version better. Will make it this way again.

Andre Derailleur

21st April 2025 at 08:36

Agree that a little extra tequila makes this.

1 reply

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