Pre-dinner Drinks

New release! Wolf Lane’s Grapefruit Aperitif!

New release! Wolf Lane’s Grapefruit Aperitif!

It’s here and it’s like nothing you've ever tasted before! We’re thrilled to release our very own Grapefruit Aperitif, the first of its kind in Far North Queensland! You know us, we love crafting our own take on familiar spirits and liqueurs, twisting them with native Australian ingredients.

For the fans of Aperol, Campari and bitter aperitifs, Wolf Lane’s Grapefruit Aperitif offers an alternative to try something different and local! A taste of our homeland!
 

Wolf Lane Distillery’s first aperitif!

After the success of our Davidson Plum Gin, we began our journey to craft the perfect aperitif and went to source the king of bitterness; the grapefruit! We’ve selected the Ruby grapefruit that grows on the Tablelands in Queensland. We pride ourselves on choosing local ingredients and botanicals and supporting local farmers.

After several trials, we came up with this delightfully juicy and bittersweet drink that combines herbal, fruity, floral and lightly spiced notes. You will find intense notes of grapefruit, herbs and vibrant citrus. Discover a new level of complexity with its delicate bitter, and velvety aftertaste.

How do we make it? We source our fresh fruits and botanicals from the tablelands and FNQ surroundings, including pepper, lemon myrtle, lemon aspen, lillipilli…

We steep the grapefruits’ peels and botanicals in the still overnight and vapour-infuse the fruits. On the side, grapefruits and lillipillis are macerated together to extract their oil and rich flavors. This is where we remove a bit of that strong bitterness. We then press the macerated fruits to extract their juice to add back into the main blend. At last, a small amount of sugar is added to obtain a well-balanced liqueur.

Our Grapefruit aperitif is a fresher and more delicate version of the well-known aperitifs. Like each of our spirits and liqueurs, we made it unique! Featuring botanicals and fruits from the wet tropics we call paradise, it is a proud ambassador of our beautiful and generous Nature.

Delicious recipes with Grapefruit Aperitif

The Ruby grapefruits give it a clear and vibrant red-orange color, which makes this drink look so summery and tropical! We recommend serving it chilled with a great tonic such as Long Rays, soda water, or in a tropical spritz. Otherwise, why not shake things up with one of our signature aperitif cocktails? Enjoy the perfect drink for a night out - tantalizingly delicious and sure to make it an evening you'll never forget!

Grapefruit Margarita

The ultimate Summer Margarita!

Ingredients:

  • 45mL Tequila
  • 30mL Grapefruit Aperitif
  • 30mL Lemon juice
  • 15mL Sugar syrup
  • Garnish with a slice of grapefruit peel

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until cold and strain into a cocktail glass.


 

Sunset Sour

The perfect cocktail for winding down after a long hot day.

Ingredients:

  • 60mL Grapefruit Aperitif
  • 30mL Lemon juice
  • 15mL Sugar syrup
  • 15mL Aquafaba (chickpea water)
  • Garnish with a slice of orange peel

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until cold and strain into a cocktail glass.

 
 
 

Summer Negroni

The perfect way to end a beautiful Summer day.

Ingredients:

  • 30mL Tropical Gin
  • 30mL Grapefruit Aperitif
  • 30mL Sweet Vermouth
  • Garnish with a slice of orange peel

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Stir until cold and mixed, add a strainer and pour over ice into a cocktail glass.

 
 
 

Pink Lady

A twist on a classic White Lady!

Ingredients:

  • 45mL Tropical Gin
  • 30mL Grapefruit Aperitif
  • 30mL Lemon juice
  • 15mL Sugar syrup
  • 15mL Aquafaba (chickpea water)
  • Garnish with your prettiest edible flowers

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until cold and strain into a cocktail glass.

 
 

What is an aperitif drink?

An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage generally served before a meal. It is the French name of ‘’aperitivo’’ in Italian, which means appetizer. It is the Italian version of gin o’clock. Italians are accustomed to sitting down together before a meal while drinking and sharing a salty snack such as nuts, chips, antipasto… The function is to prepare the stomach, mouth, and mood for dinner. These drinks are meant to be tart, dry or fizzy as it naturally stimulates the palate and the production of saliva as well as it awakens the sense of taste. Ready for dinner?

Whether you're toasting a new venture, celebrating with your family and friends, or simply enjoying the sunshine outdoors, aperitifs are sure to make any occasion better! From Spritzes and Negronis, to Prosecco or other bubblies, each drink is typically served in either wine glasses, champagne flutes or tumblers for an extra measure of sophistication. Most often, you will have them served at a reception or before dinner. They evoke feelings of warmth and cheer on sun-drenched afternoons as you gather friends for some pre-meal festivities!

 

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