For the next two weeks, I am going to be in Florida for a work trip. I am excited to escape the cold that has been blanketing our area. While I packed, I decided to make up a drink that tastes like sunshine and warmer places. If you can’t escape the cold, at least you can pretend to while sipping on one of these. It is a little on the sweet side, but you can always put it in a bigger glass and cut it with more sparkling water.

Ruby Sunshine

makes two

Ingredients:

• 3 oz ruby red vodka // absolut makes a fabulous one
• 1 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1 1/2 oz ruby red grapefruit syrup // I found one by torani
• 3 oz orange juice
• sparkling water

Directions:

1. Pour the first 4 ingredients into a cocktail shaker along with some ice. Shake vigorously.
2. Pour into two ice filled glasses. Top with sparkling water.
3. Enjoy and think of warmer weather.