Review: Merlet Creme de Pamplemousse Rose

Pamplemousse is French for grapefruit (rose indicating this is pink grapefruit), which is one of the iconic flavors used in cocktailing. The catch is that grapefruit is commonly used fresh — much like lemon and lime. It seems there’s a reason why very few lemon or lime flavored liqueurs can be found on the market — Ferrand Yuzu Curacao the notable exception.

Merlet Creme de Pamplemousse Rose Review

Merlet‘s Creme de Pamplemousse, at the very least, provides a shortcut for use when fresh grapefruit aren’t available. The nose is sweet and both citrusy and floral, and while there’s a plump grapefruit aroma when it’s first poured into the glass, this dissipates into a more generalized fruitiness once it gets some air.

The palate is more forceful and obvious: A mix of sweet and bitter elements that do indeed taste a lot like ruby red grapefruit — at least if it was dosed with plenty of sugar and a splash of vodka. It’s not quite a Greyhound cocktail — this is sweeter, and less bitter — but it’s surprisingly juicy and bright, increasingly grapefruity, the more you sip at it. The finish remains a bit sweet, slightly cloying, but it works quite well, even as it clings to the palate on the fade-out.

Merlet’s paloma spin sounds promising, after the rating.

36 proof.

B+ / $28

Paloma Twist
1.5 oz tequila
0.75 oz Merlet Crème de Pamplemousse
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
soda water

Shake first three ingredients in a shaker with ice. Pour over fresh ice and top with soda water.

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