The weather is warming and Cinco de Mayo is coming, and that means it’s time for one of my all-time favorite drinks of summer – the Jalapeño Paloma.
This spicy, citrusy tequila cocktail is so refreshing and perfect for the warm weather. And the slight effervescence makes it a party in a glass!
We’re mixing up this spicy paloma cocktail using fresh ingredients like grapefruit and lime juice, honey and – of course – our favorite tequila!
With this easy recipe, having happy hour at home just got even better!
Ingredients for this Jalapeño Paloma
Here’s what you’ll need to shake up this delicious drink:
- Tequila
- Grapefruit juice
- Jalapeño peppers
- Club soda
- Fresh lime juice
- Honey
I think jalapeño peppers are the perfect addition to the traditional paloma recipe. They’re just enough to pack a little heat without overpowering the tart grapefruit juice and puckery lime, and it all just harmonizes perfectly together.
Bonus – jalapeños have a thermogenic (i.e. fat-burning) effect – health drink, anyone?
Another departure from the classic paloma cocktail is we’re using fresh grapefruit juice instead of grapefruit soda.
So, less sugar. See? I told you it was healthy!
How to make this Spicy Grapefruit Paloma
This spicy paloma recipe comes together in a cocktail shaker.
First, muddle the jalapeños with the honey. Using a wooden spoon, really mash them to release the heat.
Then pour in the grapefruit juice, lime juice and tequila and give it a good shake.
Now, strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice, and you’re good to go.
How to Serve a Jalapeño Paloma
What type of glass should you use for a paloma?
Serve this refreshing tequila cocktail in a rocks glass, a highball glass or whatever other drinking vessel you like.
Because of its relationship to the margarita, you might want to serve it up in a marg glass. Anything goes!
Should you salt the rim of a paloma cocktail glass?
I love to salt the rim of my paloma glass with lime salt. This is just a simple mixture of lime zest and flaky sea salt.
If you want to balance the tartness of this cocktail with some sweetness, try mixing the lime zest with sugar instead.
What type of garnish should you add to a paloma cocktail?
Garnish your paloma with lots of fresh slices of jalapeños, grapefruit and lime wedges.
What is the difference between a paloma and a margarita?
The paloma takes a back seat to the margarita on most Mexican menus, but it’s the paloma that is actually the national cocktail of Mexico.
Like a margarita, it is a tequila-based cocktail with lime juice, but instead of Triple Sec (an orange liqueur) it traditionally has grapefruit-flavored soda.
So it’s basically a less sweet, more bubbly margarita.
What is the best tequila for a Paloma?
The general consensus on the best tequila for a paloma is a tequila blanco or mezcal.
These types of tequila tend to be more delicate and refreshing in flavor, so that the citrus flavors in this cocktail can really shine through.
A reposado tequila would be too complex for this cocktail.
How can you make this paloma more or less spicy?
It’s easy to control the heat level in this paloma recipe.
The recipe calls for 2 slices of jalapeño pepper per drink, which will give you a moderate level of heat.
Feel free to reduce or increase the number of jalapeño slices to suit your own preference for heat.
How to make a whole pitcher of palomas!
The paloma is the perfect drink to make a pitcher of! That’s because the measurements are super easy.
Just use equal parts grapefruit juice, tequila and club soda. Adjust the amounts of jalapeños, lime juice and honey according to the recipe card below.
Avoid putting ice directly into the pitcher. (Nobody likes watered down cocktails.) Fill individual highball glasses with fresh ice before pouring in the cocktails.
Garnish each glass with a lime wedge and a couple thin rounds of jalapeño.
When you make this spicy jalapeño paloma recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Cheers!
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For more summer drink recipes, try these:
For great food pairings for the paloma, try these:
Jalapeño Paloma Recipe (Spicy Grapefruit Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 1 shot (1.5 oz) tequila
- 1 shot (1.5 oz) grapefruit juice freshly squeezed or Simply Grapefruit
- 1 shot (1.5 oz) club soda
- 1 tsp. honey or agave nectar
- juice of 1/2 lime
- 2 slices jalapeño pepper
Lime Salt
- zest of 1 lime
- 1 tsp. flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Make the lime salt: combine lime zest and salt on a small plate. Set aside.
- Place a half inch of cold water in a shallow dish. Dip the rim of your cocktail glass into the water. Then, dip the rim of the glass into the lime salt.
- Muddle the jalapeños and honey with a wooden spoon in a cocktail shaker. Pour in the tequila, grapefruit juice and lime juice.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes. Shake the cocktail well, then pour over ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a jalapeño slice.
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