Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (2024)

Our Spicy Grapefruit Paloma is crisp and refreshing with a spicy twist, perfect for the winter-to-spring transition.

Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (1)

What is a Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail?

We love spicy everything...including co*cktails. At first you might think...what a strange combination. A cold beverage that's hot? Trust me, it sounds more complex than it really is. Spicy co*cktails are great to pair with sweet and savoury dishes all season long. When spices are combined with the natural sweetness of fruits the lovely sensation you have with every sip is tantalizing.

So where and why did we come up with a spicy grapefruit paloma recipe? Anya and I were out for dinner one evening and our server ended up serving us the wrong drinks. Originally I ordered a classic caesar with vodka. Anya ordered a gin and tonic.

The server returned 15 minutes later with two co*cktails. Before we could notice that we were served the wrong drinks, our server had already left. What was in front of us was no caesar or gin and tonic. It was a bright orange-pink co*cktail served in a short co*cktail glass. I was so intrigued by the overall look of the drink, I didn't even bother to mention the mistake to the server.

After trying this mysterious drink in front of us we picked up on flavours and notes through each and every sip. Robust spicy flavours mixed with a grapefruit like lemonade and topped off with a smooth ice cold tequila. It was absolutely divine! I tried my best to sit through dinner, but the truth is I wanted to come home right away and test a recipe. I wasn't looking to re-create the exact drink we indulged in over dinner, but an inspired version of the co*cktail.

This low calorie co*cktail is the perfect combination of sweet, sour and spicy. The ingredients are simple and crafting it is a breeze. You could serve this co*cktail at a variety of occasions such as:

A traditional paloma co*cktail consists of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. Our recipe is a spicy refreshed version of this classic combination. Here’s what’s in it:

Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (2)
Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (3)

Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe

  • 3 Ounces Tequila

  • 1/4 Cup Sparkling Water

  • 1 Tablespoon Chili Honey

  • Garnish: Spicy Rim Salt

  • Garnish: 2 Rolled in Spice Grapefruits

Ingredients

Tequila - I love using a silver tequila for palomas. In my opinion, the lighter the tequila for this recipe the better. Gold and aged tequila works well for this recipe as well, but the heat from the chili honey is enough. We used Patron Silver Tequila for this recipe.

Sparkling Water - I used Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit Water. I prefer using sparkling water or seltzer instead of soda for less calories. But you can also use sprite or flavored seltzers if you are looking for a little bit more sugar.

Honey - Do not skip this part! It's one of the most important ingredients in our Paloma. We used Hot Raw Honey Infused with Chilis from Drizzle! If you do not have this exact brand in your pantry, try mixing crushed chilis with honey. This works just as well! If you are using soda, try to balance the honey to soda ratio, otherwise the co*cktail will become too sweet.

Garnish: Spicy Seasoning - Rim your glass with a homemade blend of spices. This is totally up to you. We used a little chili powder and mixed it with Walter Craft Caesar Rim Salt. We are huge fans of Walter’s. Their caesar rim blend is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. The seasoning is made with flake salt, cane sugar, smoked paprika and other various spices and seasonings.

Garnish: Grapefruit - We rolled the ends of our grapefruit wedges in our homemade blend of spices for an extra spicy kick to our garnish.

Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (4)
Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (5)

co*cktail Instructions & Steps

Crafting this co*cktail only requires 7 quick and easy steps:

Step One

Combine tequila and honey, stir until dissolved. Chill in fridge.

Step Two

Add honey and tequila to co*cktail shaker. Add Ice and a dash of your homemade spice seasoning. Shake until chilled.

Step Three

Rub a piece of fresh grapefruit along the rim of the glass. Make sure entire rim is coated evenly in grapefruit juice. Rim glass with spiced seasoning.

Step Four

Roll 2 pieces of grapefruit in the remaining spiced seasoning. Set aside.

Step Five

Divide your chilled co*cktail mixture equally into two glasses over ice.

Step Six

Top each glass with a splash of sparkling grapefruit soda.

Step Seven

Garnish with spiced grapefruit wedges.

Let us know your thoughts on our spicy grapefruit paloma co*cktail.

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time: 0 Minutes

Serving: Serves 2

Spicy Grapefruit Paloma co*cktail Recipe | How to Make | ALXEATS Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of tequila is used for Paloma? ›

While most paloma recipes call for a blanco tequila—like the PATRÓN SILVER—our PATRÓN PALOMA uses PATRÓN REPOSADO. The fine balance of fresh agave & oak with notes of fruit, citrus and honey in the tequila blends perfectly with the bittersweet flavor of grapefruit juice to create a paloma like no other.

What does a La Paloma have in it? ›

We only use 100% Blue Agave tequila, real grapefruit, sparkling Mexican mineral water and a dash of salt. It's perfect for crawfish boils, day drinking and sweltering summer nights. Grapefruit forward, bright, and easy drinking, this premium tequila co*cktail is sure to be your new main squeeze.

What's the difference between a margarita and a Paloma? ›

The paloma and the margarita share a number of ingredients: tequila, lime, salt. But while the margarita is sweet and sour, the paloma is citrusy with a subtler sweetness and a more savory complexity.

What glass is a Paloma served in? ›

Because the Paloma is constructed right in the glass, you don't need any bar tools to make it. Just add your ingredients to a highball glass with ice, give a quick stir, and you're ready to enjoy a refreshing co*cktail.

What is the best grapefruit soda for a Paloma? ›

The first Paloma I had used Squirt, which is, according to some co*cktail historians, the original Paloma mixer. But if you'd rather, any grapefruit soda will work: Jarritos, Fresca, San Pellegrino's Pompelmo soda, or even Pamplemousse LaCroix, if you like things to be less sweet.

What is Mexico's #1 tequila? ›

Gran Centenario Tequila - The Guardian of Tradition and Mexico's #1 Tequila.

Why are grapefruit drinks called Paloma? ›

La Paloma means “the dove” in Spanish, and some think this is the key to the puzzle—the classic drink may have been named for a popular Mexican folk song composed in the 1860s. Others swear it's named “the dove” because of the whitish color of the drink.

What does Paloma mean in Mexican? ›

Paloma is a baby girl name of Spanish and Italian origin. Derived from the Latin word palumbus, Paloma means “dove,” as well as "pigeon," "wood pigeon," and "butterfly." Fans of Greek mythology will associate doves with the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

What is the best juice to mix with tequila? ›

"I always recommend grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which is very traditional," Umolu says. "Though in some blanco tequilas you'll definitely get earthiness, you'll also almost always have some citrus notes." Orange, lime, key lime, and other citrus varieties are a good go-to when it comes to tequila blanco.

Can you ask for a Paloma at a bar? ›

Paloma. If you've never had a Paloma, get yourself to a bar ASAP. "It's made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda," explains Goto. And if you can find a bar serving it up with fresh grapefruit juice, even better.

What is Jose Cuervo Paloma? ›

How to make it. Use a lime wheel to wet the rim of the glass, then roll in salt. Add ice, then pour in tequila and lime juice. Top up with grapefruit soda and enjoy!

What are the least fattening co*cktails? ›

9 Lowest Calorie Alcoholic Drinks
  • White wine. ...
  • Hard seltzer. ...
  • Tequila with lime. ...
  • Light beer. ...
  • Gin and diet tonic. ...
  • Dry martini. ...
  • Paloma. ...
  • Rum and Diet co*ke. Also known as a Cuba Libre, rum and co*ke is a drink made by pairing white rum with Coca-Cola.
Sep 9, 2021

What soda is made with grapefruit? ›

Squirt. One of the most iconic grapefruit sodas, Squirt was invented in Arizona in 1938, but it has become a popular option in Mexico, where it was first imported in 1955.

How do you order a Paloma at a bar? ›

Assuming they have grapefruit juice—and most bars actually do—you can order yourself a nice Paloma. Normally made with tequila and grapefruit soda, you can juke your Paloma by asking for tequila and grapefruit juice topped off with soda water. If you're a bourbon lover, don't despair.

What alcohol is used for Paloma? ›

The classic Mexican Paloma is much simpler: 2 ounces tequila, (recommended: reposado; and 1 to 3 ounces) 1 bottle Squirt grapefruit soda There's nothing complicated about the paloma. At its core, it's just tequila and Squirt [grapefruit soda]. That's it.

Is Casamigos good for palomas? ›

For a smoky alternative

Mezcal is a delightful agave-based spirit, of which tequila is a type. Casamigos Mezcal Joven has a smoky flavor that will add a whole new element to your paloma.

Is Reposado tequila good for Paloma? ›

Signature Serve

PATRÓN Reposado perfects this classic co*cktail alongside refreshing grapefruit juice and sparkling water.

What are the 3 types of tequila? ›

The three main types of tequila are tequila blanco (also known a silver tequila), tequila reposado and tequila añejo. You can also find some tequila joven (joven means young) and at the other end of the scale, small amounts of extra añejo (extra old) tequila exists.

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