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    Emily Fabulous » Recipes » Cocktails

    Tequila Sour with Campari

    Published: Mar 3, 2020 · Modified: Aug 15, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    A sophisticated and delicious Tequila Sour with Campari Cocktail that will impress all of your guests! Tequila, Campari, and grapefruit juice topped with fresh ground cinnamon make a cocktail that puts the margarita on the back burner.

    tequila sour cocktail with campari and egg white

    This Tequila Sour Cocktail is NOT a Margarita

    This Tequila Sour Cocktail is my favorite cocktail right now! It is inspired by a photo I saw of a cocktail from a bar in SF called Trick Dog.

    There were only a few ingredients in the description so I took what I could from it and came up with an amazing tequila cocktail that will impress everyone! 

    Think Sophisticated Margarita! If you have followed me for a while, you have probably noticed I love egg white in my cocktails. It adds a creaminess and smoothness to the drink, not to mention the beautiful foam that you get as a result of shaking up that egg white.

    Why I Love This Cocktail

    As I mention, the combination of dank tequila, fresh grapefruit and lime juice, creamy egg white, and fresh cinnamon is a match made in heaven. Add in the tart and herbaceous Campari and this cocktail will hit all the senses.

    I also love that this cocktail proves you can do more with tequila than just a margarita. I love a good margarita, but I also love the creativity and uniqueness of this campari drink.

    tequila sour with cinnamon on top
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    How to Make a Tequila Sour

    Gather all of your ingredients together to ensure you have everything you need before shaking including your serving glass prepared with ice. Measure out all of the liquids into the shaker (no ice yet) and dry-shake for 8-10 seconds.

    This gets the egg white incorporated into everything and ensures you get a nice foam at the end. Now open the cocktail shaker and add ice.

    Shake again for another 10-15 seconds. Double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass. Freshly grate the cinnamon stick over the top of the foam and serve immediately.

    Expert Tips for this Cocktail Recipe

    Choose Quality Tequila: Opt for a good quality tequila. I recommend a blanco (unaged) tequila but you can also use a reposado (lightly aged). A higher quality tequila will bring more nuanced flavors to your cocktail.

    Fresh Citrus is Key: Always use freshly squeezed citrus juice when making cocktails. The flavor and brightness of freshly squeezed citrus juice can significantly elevate your cocktail compared to using bottled juices that usually have added citric acid.

    Dry Shake for Frothiness: To create a rich and frothy texture, "dry shake" prior to shaking the cocktail with ice. To dry shake, shake the ingredients without ice first, then add ice and shake again. This technique helps to incorporate air into the mixture and create a velvety foam.

    Proper Shaking: When shaking your cocktail, do it with confidence and energy. This not only chills the drink but also ensures proper mixing of the ingredients. When you think you have shaken the cocktail enough, give it a few more shakes for the perfect cocktail.

    a bottle of altos tequila

    Why Cinnamon Makes the Perfect Garnish

    The real winner in this cocktail is the freshly grated cinnamon on top of the foam. The aroma and taste of cinnamon add spiciness to this unique drink.

    That is to say, the aroma is a big deal with craft cocktails, so don't skimp on this step. If you don't have a cinnamon stick, you can use ground cinnamon but it won't be quite the same.

    Recipe FAQs

    What Tequila Should You Use?

    I recommend using silver/white tequila for this drink. Although silver tequila usually has a harsher taste, it's perfect for cocktails because it mixes with the rest of the ingredients to tone down the harshness.
    Good gold tequila is usually expensive and is best reserved for sipping, IMO. You can also find 100% agave silver tequila for a decent price. I used Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila which you can usually find for under $30

    Do I have to use egg white?

    You could make this cocktail without the egg white. Just add all of the ingredients except the egg white to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10-15 seconds.
    After that, serve over ice cubes instead of a large rock, and don't forget the cinnamon on top! Also, see my notes in the recipe about FDA comments on egg whites.

    What is an alternative to egg white in a cocktail?

    An alternative to egg white in a cocktail is aquafaba. Aquafaba is the liquid from garbanzo beans and works just like egg whites.
    Substitute 1 ounce of aquafaba for the egg white and make the cocktail as directed. Aquafaba adds a tiny bit of saltiness, in my opinion, but you won't notice it in the final cocktail.

    grapefruit tequila cocktail with freshly ground cinnamon on top
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!
    grapefruit tequila cocktail

    Grapefruit Tequila Cocktail

    A sophisticated Grapefruit Tequila Cocktail that will impress your guests! Campari and egg white topped with fresh cinnamon make this cocktail a winner!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 198kcal
    Author: Emily
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker
    • measuring jigger
    • mesh cocktail strainer
    • microplane/zester

    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces tequila blanco (I used Altos)
    • 1 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
    • ½ ounces fresh-squeezed lime juice
    • ½ ounces Campari
    • 1 egg white* (or aquafaba)
    • cinnamon stick

    Instructions

    • Prepare glass with a large rock (ice cube).
    • Add all ingredients to the cocktail shaker WITHOUT ice and dry shake for 8-10 seconds (this creates the foam on top).
    • Open the cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Put the lid on the shaker and shake for another 10-15 seconds.
    • Double strain into your prepared glass. Take your cinnamon stick and grate cinnamon over the top of your foam. Cheers!

    Notes

    Another alternative to egg whites in a cocktail is aquafaba. Aquafaba is the liquid from garbanzo beans and works just like egg whites.
    Substitute 1 ounce of aquafaba for the egg white and make the cocktail as directed. Aquafaba adds a tiny bit of saltiness, in my opinion, but you won't notice it in the final cocktail.
    *The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers it safe to use raw eggs if they are pasteurized. Bottom Line: Raw eggs may contain a type of pathogenic bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning. However, the risk of an egg being contaminated is quite low. Please proceed at your own risk and decide if you are ok with this. I have never had an issue.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.7g | Protein: 3.8g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2.5g | Calcium: 8mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @EmilyFabulous_Blog or tag #emilyfabulous!

    Did You Make This Recipe?

    If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram or Facebook! Tag me @emilyfabulous_blog or like my EmilyFabulous page!

    You can also follow me on Pinterest to be able to pin all of these delicious recipes for later. Thanks for checking out my site and if you want more cocktail recipes, sign up for my email list!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda says

      June 24, 2020 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      Oh wow...this is my first time trying egg white in tequila and I can imagine the frothy feeling and how refreshing it is. Can't wait to try this.

      Reply
    2. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

      June 23, 2020 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      This Grapefruit Tequila Cocktail is perfect for our family gathering. They will love this.

      Reply
    3. Leslie says

      June 23, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      I've not had a cocktail with grapefruit before but I'm so curious to try this because it looks so delicious!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 23, 2020 at 4:49 pm

        I hope you do, you will not be disappointed by the combination of tequila and grapefruit!

        Reply
    4. Marina says

      June 23, 2020 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      What a fantastic cocktail recipe and so easy to make! Love tequila and all the citrus flavours!

      Reply
    5. Chef Dennis says

      June 23, 2020 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      tasty! This is the kind of tequila I love! Your Grapefruit Tequila Cocktail looks really refreshing!

      Reply
    6. Amy says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      So many of my favourite things in the one recipe. Love Campari, grapefruit and tequila! yum!

      Reply
    7. Debra says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      We skipped the egg white....and it was DELISH. The cinnamon really adds just a hint of sweetness to balance out the grapefruit. Wonderful mixture. A keeper for sure.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 23, 2020 at 3:44 pm

        I'm so glad you were able to make this to your preference, that means it's a winner!

        Reply
    8. Sue says

      June 22, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      I love this - who knew grapefruit and tequila would make such a great cocktail!?! Made mine with Milagro, my favorite silver tequila 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 22, 2020 at 7:56 pm

        I'm so glad you liked it and used your favorite tequila!

        Reply

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