This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission.
Designated cocktail mixers (and mezcal lovers), this one’s for you! My seductively smoky mezcal paloma is a long drink with a shortcut recipe. This simple version is fizzy, grapefruit-forward, and has that unmistakable flamey mezcal flavour. Hosts, don’t get bar-trapped making and shaking drinks all night, the party needs you!
Can’t cheat on a margarita? Stay true with my blood orange or passion fruit margarita recipes.
I love summer gatherings and I love summer cocktails! What I don’t love is the mix, shake, drink, repeat that so many of them require! As the evenings have been getting longer, I’ve been on the lookout for long cocktails to enjoy with them.
And I might have found one: the paloma. With 2 parts spirit to 4 parts juice and soda, it’s long enough to last and with my shortcut recipe, I’m not tied to the bar either.
So, what is this shortcut? Grapefruit soda! Labour-intensive recipes will call for grapefruit juice + soda + simple syrup, but pre-mixed tin is a cheeky and speedy 3-in-1 solution. Which means more time spent enjoying myself. And my own drink.
Smoky paloma
You think ‘smoky cocktails’ and instantly go to peaty whiskies, maple-infused bourbon or hot toddies by the fireside. All good, but all winter. A smoky paloma though, is a heady beam of pure summertime.
Whereas a classic paloma is tequila, lime and grapefruit, a smoky paloma swaps the tequila for punchy mezcal. Mezcal is also made from the Mexican agave plant, but rather than being steamed blue agave, any and every pina can be used and are oven-roasted which delivers a thick, charcoal and wood flavour.
You might not think it would work, smoke and grapefruit, but somehow it does! The mildly bitter, citrus soda is sparkling and refreshing, while the intense mezcal gives an earthen, leathery contrast. Not sure? There’s only one way to find out.
Important recipe tips and notes
- Serve cold. Use big cubes so they don’t melt too fast and dilute the mix.
- To make this smoky paloma less potent, use less mezcal or more soda.
- Swirl gently to mix. An aggressive stir will knock the fizz out of the drink.
- Grenadine is a sweet pomegranate syrup. It brings blush and flavour; add to your taste.
- Leave the grenadine out if your grapefruit soda is pink already.
Serving suggestions
In my opinion, a cocktail must look as good as it tastes. And it’s all about the furnishings…
- A paloma deserves a long, elegant glass.
- Ice cubes should be sleek blocks, not frosty shards.
- Whether you salt the rim or not is drinker’s choice. If it’s for me, I’m salting the rim with a spicy This is an affiliate link.Tajín chilli salt seasoning– the heat kick is one thing but the colour clash is fire.
- The grapefruit slice should be a double dollar-thick semi-circle and perched like a parrot.
Now, sunglasses on, pose with your beautiful creation, snap, and share!
More cocktails to try
Smoky Mezcal Paloma
Ingredients
- 50ml / 2 oz mezcal
- 1/4 lime
- grapefruit soda, (I used San Pellegrino) – fill the glass
- 1/2 – 1 tbsp grenadine, (optional) leave out if using a pink grapefruit soda
- This is an affiliate link.Tajin Clasico seasoning with lime, to salt the rim
- grapefruit slice, for garnish
Instructions
- Rub the rim with a slice of lime or grapefruit, then roll the rim in the Tajin seasoning until evenly coated.
- Fill the glass with ice and pour in the mezcal. Squeeze the juice from the slice of lime and add the wedge to the glass. You may want to push the lime wedge towards the bottom of the glass.
- Add grenadine and top with grapefruit soda. Stir lightly with combine and add the grapefruit slice as a garnish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
