PMS Special

With a name like PMS Special, this drink clearly isn’t taking itself too seriously, and it doesn’t need to. It is vodka and grapefruit juice, shaken with ice and strained over fresh ice, which makes it a close cousin of the Greyhound and a Salty Dog without the salt.

Grapefruit does all the work here. Its sharp, slightly bitter tang cuts the vodka cleanly and keeps the drink from tasting sweet, so it is more refreshing than a lot of two-ingredient mixes. The older recipe didn’t say how much juice to use, so we have gone with three ounces, enough to balance the vodka while still fitting in the glass.

Glass: Cocktail glass | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes

Bartenders tip: Fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice makes a big difference, and ruby red grapefruit gives a softer, sweeter drink with a pretty blush color. If you like it less tart, add a quarter ounce of simple syrup. Grapefruit can interact with a number of prescription medications, so check with a pharmacist if that applies to you.