The days are getting longer, the sun is coming out to play, and Paloma cocktails are exactly what we need. Palomas are so refreshing and full of sweet bright citrus. As I’m preparing a list of spring and summer cocktails I thought it would fun to play around with the classic Paloma recipe by making a grapefruit honey simple syrup to add a little sweetness and balance the tartness. The syrup is heavenly and adds a nice smooth complexity to the cocktail that I think you will enjoy. Making simple syrups for cocktails is one of my favorite ways to add sweetness while maintaining the integrity of the star flavors, which in this case is the grapefruit.
The ingredients used in this cocktail are:
Tequila Blanco. Any brand will work. I’ve used Casamigos and Jose Cuervo Silver
Fresh grapefruit juice. 3 large grapefruits will give you enough for the simple syrup and the cocktail
Fresh lime juice
Honey
Sugar
Sparkling water
How to make a Paloma
Start with the Honey Grapefruit syrup
- Slice the grapefruits in half then juice (or squeeze the juice) into a small pot. Pour in the sugar and simmer on medium heat until everything begins to boil.
- Reduce the heat and stir in the honey and let it simmer until the mixture starts to thicken. It should take 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool while it continues to thicken. You can store the syrup in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks and use it in cocktails, mocktails, and tea.
The cocktail
Add the ice, tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit syrup to a cocktail shaker and shaker until chilled – about 20 seconds. Pour the cocktail over ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and enjoy.
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Paloma
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktails
Ingredients
Simple syrup
- 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice (you will need 1/2 oz for the cocktail)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
Cocktail
- Ice
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- Sparkling water
Instructions
Honey Grapefruit syrup
- Slice the grapefruits in half then juice (or squeeze the juice) into a small pot. Pour in the sugar and simmer on medium heat until everything begins to boil.
- Reduce the heat and stir in the honey and let it simmer until the mixture starts to thicken. It should take 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool while it continues to thicken. Store the syrup in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
The cocktail
Add the ice, tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit syrup to a cocktail shaker and shaker until chilled – about 20 seconds. Pour the cocktail over ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and enjoy.
Keywords: Paloma, how to make a paloma, paloma coktail