PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Grapefruit is one of the great cocktail flavors, but it’s usually used fresh, and very few liqueurs capture it well. Merlet, the Cognac-region family distillery, makes its Crème de Pamplemousse Rose in a way that goes beyond sweetened juice. As its French distributor explains, “to bring out the full aromatic richness of pink grapefruit,” Merlet “combines three types of extracts,” each developed separately: “a maceration of zests, a distillate of whole pink grapefruits, and finally pink grapefruit juice.” The three extracts are dosed and blended, and then the sugar is added. The result is bottled at 18% ABV (36 proof).
The official notes describe a nose that is “powerful, dominated by summery notes of pink grapefruit and intense citrus oils,” and a palate that is “fresh, fruity and tangy thanks to grapefruit juice, with a pleasant bitterness on the finish from the zest.” Another description finds “fragrant aromas of fresh pink grapefruit, citrus blossom, and orange zest, accented by delicate floral notes,” with “juicy grapefruit” on the palate, “layers of sweet citrus, lemon peel, and a touch of honey, while a gentle bittersweet finish adds depth.”
It has earned recognition: Tastings.com awarded it 94 Points and a Gold Medal and named it the 2025 Best Fruit Liqueur, finding “singed grapefruit and papaya,” “waxy honeycomb,” “a round, vibrant, moderately sweet medium body,” and “a smooth, layered, long finish” with “accents of caramelized citrus and stone fruits, homemade apple sauce, orange blossom honey,” calling it “a rich and vibrant citrus and stone fruit liqueur that will add complexity and elevating dimensions to cocktails.” Drinkhacker scored it 8.5/10 and was candid about its character: “a mix of sweet and bitter elements that do indeed taste a lot like ruby red grapefruit,” “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,” with a finish that “remains a bit sweet, slightly cloying, but it works quite well.”
That makes it a practical, flavorful shortcut for any drink that calls for grapefruit: a Paloma, a grapefruit spritz with prosecco or sparkling rosé, a Greyhound, a grapefruit margarita, or simply over ice or with tonic as an aperitif. It’s a good bottle for a well-rounded home bar and a natural companion to a tequila, gin, or vodka bottle.
Merlet Crème de Pamplemousse Rose is produced by Merlet, the family distillery in the Cognac region of Poitou-Charentes, France. It combines three pink grapefruit extracts, a maceration of zest, a distillate of whole pink grapefruits, and pink grapefruit juice, blended and sweetened with sugar. Bottled at 18% ABV / 36 proof, 700ml.
Tastings.com — 94 Points, Gold Medal, 2025 Best Fruit Liqueur (tasted August 2025):
“Interesting aromas and flavors of singed grapefruit and papaya, ham and sun-dried tomato panini, waxy honeycomb, and teriyaki buttered rice with a round, vibrant, moderately sweet medium body and a smooth, layered, long finish that exhibits accents of caramelized citrus and stone fruits, homemade apple sauce, orange blossom honey, and pickled watermelon. A rich and vibrant citrus and stone fruit liqueur that will add complexity and elevating dimensions to cocktails.”
Drinkhacker — 8.5/10 (March 2026):
“The nose is sweet and both citrusy and floral... 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.”
Merlet (distributor tasting notes):
“Nose: Powerful, dominated by summery notes of pink grapefruit and intense citrus oils. Palate: Fresh, fruity and tangy thanks to grapefruit juice, with a pleasant bitterness on the finish from the zest.”
Nose
Pink grapefruit and intense citrus oils, with citrus blossom, orange zest, and delicate floral notes.
Palate
Fresh, juicy, and tangy, with ripe pink grapefruit, sweet citrus, lemon peel, and a touch of honey.
Finish
Long and clean, with lingering grapefruit zest and a gentle bittersweet edge.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Pink Grapefruit Liqueur (Crème de Pamplemousse Rose) |
| ABV / Proof | 18% ABV / 36 Proof |
| Method | Zest maceration + whole-fruit distillate + juice, blended and sweetened |
| Producer | Merlet — Cognac region, Poitou-Charentes, France |
| Critics | Tastings.com 94 (Gold Medal, 2025 Best Fruit Liqueur) · Drinkhacker 8.5/10 |
| Style / Identity | A juicy, bittersweet French pink grapefruit liqueur, sweeter than a Greyhound |
| Aromas & Flavors | Pink grapefruit, citrus oils, orange blossom, honey, citrus zest |
| Bottle Size | 700ml |
Paloma — tequila, lime, and soda, with a splash of grapefruit liqueur for depth.
Grapefruit spritz — liqueur topped with prosecco or sparkling rosé over ice.
Greyhound — vodka or gin, fresh grapefruit juice, and a bar spoon of liqueur.
Over ice or with tonic — a simple, refreshing aperitif.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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