Spicy, smoky, and a little salty…the jalapeño paloma is a party in a glass. The grapefruit juice balances out the heat from homemade jalapeño simple syrup, and the mezcal brings the wow factor!
Summer weather cannot get here soon enough for me. And with that, summer cocktails!
Sometimes it’s sangria, other times I’ll serve a light vodka cocktail mixed with an herb-infused simple syrup, but this week I’m pulling out the big guns with this jalapeño paloma.
A paloma is a Mexican cocktail that is traditionally made with tequila, grapefruit soda, and a squeeze of lime juice. It’s tart and refreshing and thirst-quenching on a hot summer day.
Since I love jalapeño anything, but especially in my cocktails, I made a jalapeño simple syrup that brings the heat with a little bit of sweetness. I also swapped out regular tequila in favor of mezcal.
If you haven’t tried mezcal before, stop whatever it is you’re doing and go out and buy a bottle. (Seriously, I’ll wait.)
Like tequila, mezcal is an agave-based liquor, but mezcal has an undeniable smoky flavor. Where the agave plant is uncooked in tequila, in mezcal it is roasted in a stone-lined pit over a period of days, then milled and left to ferment. The fermenting process takes several additional days before the mash is distilled and in the case of mezcal reposado or añejo, it is then aged in oak barrels for several months. The result is an assertive liquor that will make your regular tequila-based cocktail a showstopper.
Now to be clear, mezcal is not for the faint of heart. If you’re a tequila drinker I think you will appreciate its bold, earthy flavor. But if you haven’t jumped on the tequila bandwagon yet, you might want to tone it down by starting with half tequila and half mezcal.
This paloma will still taste great and maybe by your second (or third) you’ll go whole hog. Cheers!
Tips for success
- If you’re new to mezcal, take a sip first before you shake up your cocktail. If the smokiness is too assertive for you, try half mezcal/half tequila.
- The jalapeño simple syrup makes enough for 6 cocktails. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple it. Store the extra syrup strained and covered in the frig for several days.
- The heat in the syrup will increase as it steeps with the chopped jalapeño in it. Leave it longer to kick it up even more!
- Use a spicy salt on the rim to add even more flavor and heat.
More Warm Weather Sips
- Mexican Mule
- Ruby Slipper Cocktail
- Frozen Cucumber Lemonade Cocktail
- Peach Sangria Slushies
- Watermelon Champagne Popsicles
Spicy, smoky, and a little salty...the jalapeño paloma is a party in a glass. The grapefruit juice balances out the heat from homemade jalapeño simple syrup, and the mezcal brings the wow factor!
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 water
- 2 jalapeños, coarsely chopped
- 2 oz jalapeño simple syrup (recipe follows)
- 1 oz lime juice
- 4 oz mezcal
- 4 oz grapefruit juice
- 4 oz club soda
- Kosher salt
- Grapefruit wedge and jalapeño slices for garnish
- Ice/cocktail shaker
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Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, about 15 mins. Strain and reserve.
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Pour some salt onto a plate, then rub the edges of two tumblers with a grapefruit slice and dip into salt. Fill the glasses with ice.
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Combine all the ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and pour into two glasses. Garnish with grapefruit and jalapeño slices.
Recipe yields about 6 oz jalapeño simple syrup.
- If you're new to mezcal, take a sip first before you shake up your cocktail. If the smokiness is too assertive for you, try half mezcal/half tequila.
- The jalapeño simple syrup makes enough for 6 cocktails. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple it. Store the extra syrup strained and covered in the frig for several days.
- The heat in the syrup will increase as it steeps with the chopped jalapeño in it. Leave it longer to kick it up even more!
- Use a spicy salt on the rim to add even more flavor and heat.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2016 but was republished with tips and step by step photos in May 2019.
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OMGeee Cathy! This cocktail looks amazing! Spicy and refreshing! Cheers to a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!
Thanks so much Mary Ann! Cheers!!
Wow this looks absolutely amazing! Cannot wait to try! Enjoy the long holiday weekend – cheers, Candice
Thanks Candice! Hope you have a great weekend too – this cocktail will help!
such a perfect summer inspired cocktail! i love the photos!
Thanks so much Thalia! It’s hits the spot on a hot day.
The combo of sweet and spicy sounds so good! I’d love one of these on a hot day. For people who can’t have grapefruit, could I switch to a lime/orange juice combo? Would that work?
I’m sure a combination of orange juice and lime would taste good, making it more of a tequila sunrise than a paloma. Traditionally a paloma is tequila and grapefruit soda (or a substitution of grapefruit juice and club soda) and a tequila sunrise has orange juice and a splash of grenadine. Either way, win/win!