The Desert Rose Sour is a tangy twist on a gin sour! This grapefruit gin cocktail is made with Waterloo Prickly Pear and Rose Gin, fresh grapefruit, simple syrup, lemon, and egg white. This luscious drink is perfect for anytime you want to wow your guests with a beautiful and tasty cocktail.

If you love gin cocktails, you’ll also want to try my Garden Gin Spritz and my Limoncello Gin Martini.

I partnered with Waterloo Gin to mix up the Desert Rose Sour recipe! Recipe and ideas are my own. 

A pink Desert Rose Sour cocktail topped with frothy foam, dried grapefruit slice, and pink flower petals, served in a scalloped coupe glass on a wooden tray. In the background are a bottle of Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose gin, lemons, and grapefruit slices.

I love creating variations of sours and what better way to experiment than with the brand new Waterloo Prickly Pear and Rose Gin! The bright and floral gin combined with the fresh grapefruit and lemon make the Desert Rose Sour the ultimate fruity yet refined cocktail. The gorgeous pink hue and the dried rose and dehydrated grapefruit garnish add that extra pizazz. 

The Prickly Pear and Rose Gin is the newest addition to the highly praised line of gins from Waterloo Gin. You can still expect the same smooth and botanical profile with the added sweetness of pear and floral notes of the rose. The gorgeous light pink hue delivers a stunning presentation to any drink made with this gin.

This cocktail has style and grace but is super easy to make and shakes up (literally) in just a few minutes. Whether you’re hosting a small luncheon, a bridal shower or even a themed garden party, this grapefruit gin cocktail will wow your guests, making them think you are a master mixologist.

Recipe Ingredients

See the recipe card for quantities.

  • Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin: A new gin from Waterloo you can purchase online or at many local stores.
  • Grapefruit juice: Fresh-squeezed is the way to go!
  • Simple syrup: You can make your own ahead of time. Just equal parts sugar and water, boil, remove from heat, and cool. Bottled also works!
  • Lemon juice: Use fresh squeezed lemon juice. 
  • Egg white: Any egg white will do, just make sure it is an actual egg and not egg whites in a carton. You can use aquafaba, liquid from the can of garbanzo beans, as a replacement.
  • Dried rose: Use for garnish if desired.
  • Dehydrated grapefruit: Use for garnish if desired. Try these.
A pink Desert Rose Sour cocktail topped with frothy foam, dried grapefruit slice, and pink flower petals, served in a scalloped coupe glass on a wooden tray. In the background are a bottle of Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose gin, lemons, and grapefruit slices.

Tools & Equipment

Check out my favorite glasses here!

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Prepare your ingredients – Juice grapefruit and lemon. Separate the egg yolk from the egg white.

Step 2: To a cocktail shaker – add Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, egg white and ice. Shake well until chilled.

Step 3: Remove ice and dry shake vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cocktail glass. 

Step 4: If desired, garnish with dried rose and dehydrated grapefruit.

Watch How to Make this Recipe

@thesocialsipper

If you try one new thing this week, it should be @Waterloo Gin NEW Rose Prickly Pear & Rose Gin   The delicate sweetness of prickly pear balanced with the sophisticated floral notes of rose petals brings together an unexpected combo in a beautiful way. Mix it up with fresh grapefruit and lemon juice, a dash of sweetness, and egg white to create this delicate, smooth Desert Rose Sour that’s perfect for any dinner party.  Desert Rose Sour (makes 1) ◻️ 2 oz Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin ◻️ 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice ◻️ 3/4 oz simple syrup  ◻️ 1/2 oz lemon juice ◻️ 1 egg white ◻️ Dried rose, for garnish ◻️ Dehydrated grapefruit, for garnish 1. To a cocktail shaker – add Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, egg white and ice. Shake until well chilled. 2. Remove ice and dry shake vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cocktail glass.  3. If desired, garnish with dried rose and dehydrated grapefruit. #HowDoYouWaterloo #WaterlooGin #GinMadeinTexas #gindrink

♬ original sound – The Social Sipper

Tips for Making a Desert Rose Sour

  • Don’t skip the dry shake (shake without ice). To emulsify and aerate the egg white for that luscious foam top, this is a must step!
  • Use a chilled glass. 
  • Mocktail version: Replace gin with coconut water or chamomile tea.

Gin Sour Variations

If you love a gin sour, you’ll definitely want to try out some of my other gin sours. Perfect for the holidays, my Cranberry Olio Gin Sour elevates the season. Floral and gorgeous, my Hibiscus Gin Sour is a show stopper. And my Garden Gin Sour is a bright and refreshing cocktail, perfect for a special occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a gin sour without egg white?

Yes! If you are vegan or just prefer to leave it out you can. Just don’t expect the frothy and foamy top and the consistency of the drink may be a bit thinner.

Should I use fresh grapefruit juice in a grapefruit gin cocktail?

Yes! Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice is sour and tangy, free from any added sugars or natural flavorings. 

Should I use fresh-squeezed lemon juice in a gin sour?

Yes! Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is preferable. The lemon flavor is more bright and fresh than bottled and the aroma is more prevalent. Bottled lemon juice flavor can often have a chemical-like flavor that you do not want in your drink or that beautiful foam you worked so hard for.

How do you batch a gin sour?

Option 1: Multiply the ingredients by your desired servings and combine all ingredients except egg white in a pitcher. Add egg white and shake with ice immediately before serving.

Option 2: Multiply the ingredients by your desired servings and combine all ingredients in a blender with a handful of ice. Pulse the blender to break down the ice and create foam. Add enough ice to chill the cocktail but not make it frosty. The ice should completely melt and dilute the cocktail.

More Grapefruit Cocktails to Try

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A pink Desert Rose Sour cocktail topped with frothy foam, dried grapefruit slice, and pink flower petals, served in a scalloped coupe glass on a wooden tray. In the background are a bottle of Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose gin, lemons, and grapefruit slices.
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Desert Rose Sour (Grapefruit Gin Cocktail)

Servings: 1
Prep: 5 minutes
The Desert Rose Sour is a tangy twist on a gin sour! This grapefruit gin cocktail is made with Waterloo Prickly Pear and Rose Gin, fresh grapefruit, simple syrup, lemon, and egg white. This luscious drink is perfect for anytime you want to wow your guests with a beautiful and tasty cocktail.
Print Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 2 oz Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin
  • 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 1/2 oz lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • Dried rose, for garnish
  • Dehydrated grapefruit, for garnish

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • To a cocktail shaker – add Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, egg white and ice. Shake until well chilled.
  • Remove ice and dry shake vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cocktail glass.
  • If desired, garnish with dried rose and dehydrated grapefruit.

Notes

  • Don’t skip the dry shake (shake without ice). To emulsify and aerate the egg white for that luscious foam top, this is a must step!
  • Use a chilled glass.
  • Mocktail version: Replace gin with coconut water or chamomile tea.
Did you Make this Recipe?Let me know what you think in the comments below, or tag @thesocialsipper on Instagram!