My Spicy Thai Chile Paloma has a lot of unexpected twists, but it stays true to the classic Paloma recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe!
If you have read my bio, you know that a Paloma is one of my favorite cocktails. While a classic Paloma cocktail incorporates tequila and grapefruit, my Spicy Thai Chile Paloma recipe has a couple of unexpected twists. In addition to fresh grapefruit, I also add one ounce of my Homemade Grapefruit Simple Syrup in the cocktail. Click here, for the recipe. The combination of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and Homemade Grapefruit Simple Syrup provides the cocktail with a robust grapefruit flavor and a beautiful hue.
There are many ways to make a Paloma, however, this recipe is an amalgamation of my favorite elements used in the many Palomas that I have tasted over the years. Aside from grapefruit, I also include lime in this recipe. In certain parts of Mexico, lime is used in lieu of grapefruit to make Palomas. The addition of the Thai Chile in this recipe is inspired by North Carolina’s diverse culinary scene. It is meant to add a subtle heat to the cocktail. Now that I have shared my inspiration behind this Spicy Thai Chile Paloma, let’s get to the recipe!
Spicy Thai Chile Paloma Cocktail Recipe
Spicy Thai Chile Paloma
Ingredients
- 1 oz Homemade Grapefruit Simple Syrup
- 1 Thai Chile
- 2 oz Tequila Reposado
- ¼ cup Grapefruit juice juice of ½ a medium grapefruit
- 1 tbsp Lime juice juice of ½ a lime
- 1 cup Ice
- 2 oz Fresca Grapefruit Soda
- 1 - 2 tbsp Tajín
- 1 Lime slice garnish
- 1 Grapefruit wedge garnish
Instructions
- Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with a grapefruit wedge. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of Tajín to a cocktail rimmer and coat the cocktail glass with Tajín. Garnish the glass with a lime slice and a small grapefruit wedge. Set the glass aside.
- Pour one ounce of Homemade Grapefruit Simple Syrup into a small dish. Macerate one Thai Chile in the syrup using a spoon or fork. Let the macerated Thai Chile soak in the Simple Syrup for one minute. Strain the Grapefruit Simple Syrup into a cocktail shaker. This step is important. You must strain the Thai Chile and it seeds. Otherwise, it will result in an extremely spicy cocktail. Discard the Thai Chile and its seeds.
- Add the Tequila Reposado, Grapefruit Juice, Lime Juice and Ice to the cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds. Pour the mixture into the cocktail glass. Top the cocktail with 2 oz of Fresca Grapefruit Soda. Stir gently and enjoy!
Tools used for this Spicy Thai Chile Paloma cocktail recipe:
I hope that you enjoy this Spicy Thai Chile Paloma!
The fresh grapefruit juice and the Homemade Grapefruit Simple Syrup honors the beautiful winter fruit. Although there are many grapefruit varieties available, my favorite is the Rio Grande Valley’s Ruby Red Grapefruit. The Spicy Thai Chile in this recipe is meant to give the Paloma a subtle heat. As mentioned in the recipe, a mesh strainer must be used to strain the Thai Chile and its seeds. Not properly straining the Thai Chile will result in an extremely fiery cocktail.
Even though I used tequila reposado in this recipe, mezcal can be substituted in this cocktail. The mezcal will add a lovely smoky element to the cocktail. If you enjoy tequila and mezcal as much as I do, you will also enjoy my Tamarind Margarita. Click here for the step by step recipe.
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