Sour Mix

Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

1 grapefruit, scrubbed

4 limes, scrubbed

6 lemons, scrubbed, divided

1 c. sugar

Kosher salt

Directions:

1. Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from grapefruit, limes, and 3 lemons, avoiding white pith as much as possible. Combine zest, sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 c. water in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, about 4 min. Place saucepan in a large bowl of ice water and let cool, stirring syrup occasionally.

2. Squeeze zested and remaining lemons to yield 1 c. juice, limes to yield 1/2 c. juice, and grapefruit to yield 1/2 c. juice (reserve any remaining grapefruit juice for another use). Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl.

3. Strain citrus syrup through a sieve into bowl with juice, pressing on zest to extract as much liquid as possible; discard zest. Stir mixture well to combine. Use 1.75 oz. sour mix to 2 oz. booze (or seltzer for a mocktail).

Note:

Citrus can be juiced 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Sour mix can be made 3 days ahead; transfer to a 1 qt jar, cover and chill. Shake sour mix well before using.