The Blinker

Originally a recipe in Patrick Gavin Duffy's The Official Mixer's Manual in 1934, this cocktail saw a resurgence when Ted Haigh included a variation of it in his book Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails in 2004. The specs from both of those sources are below.

The original spec in 1934:

1 Jigger Rye Whiskey
1 1/2 Jiggers Grapefruit Juice
1/2 Jigger Grenadine

The 2004 version:

2 oz rye 1 oz grapefruit juice 1 tsp raspberry syrup Lemon twist garnish

Since the 30s, and even the 00s, much has changed, so you'll find a large variation of recipes for the Blinker. The big question is grenadine vs raspberry, but also the amount of grapefruit juice.

We've opted for a variation of the original recipe here, but if you choose to go with raspberry, you might use a little less grapefruit, and slightly less raspberry syrup. Some recipes (e.g. PDT) also opt for raspberry jam instead.

Lastly, if you look at the original spec, there is actually more grapefruit juice than liquor; this might indicate you could enjoy as a highball as well. PUNCH magazine recommends the following recipe, although they still serve it up in a coupe:

2 ounces rye 3 ounces grapefruit juice 1 ounce grenadine