Swap out the tequila for mezcal, add a bit of jalapeño and you’ve got yourself a heated twist on a classic Paloma. This Spicy Mezcal Paloma is a tart and refreshing cocktail perfect for your next happy hour.
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About this Cocktail
Yes, yes I know. A Paloma is usually made with Tequila. But why not spice things up (quite literally) with this Spicy Mezcal Paloma.
Mezcal is an agave based tequila. Fun fact learned from Wikipedia the word mezcal itself comes from Nahuatl mexcalli, which means "oven-cooked agave", from metl and ixcalli. It has a smoky flavor that works really well in this drink.
This Spicy Mezcal Paloma really does have everything you’d want from a cocktail. Sweet and tart grapefruit, against the smoky mezcal, citrusy lime, and an optional salty rim served icy cold on the rocks.
And if you like a heated cocktail, you should also check out this Pineapple Jalapeño Moscow Mule, this Spicy Orange Jalapeño Margarita, or this Skinny Spicy Marg, too!
Recipe Ingredients
- Grapefruit - We will squeeze the juice out of these and then also use the peel as garnish, you can use store bought grapefruit juice, but it doesn’t even hold a candle to fresh grapefruit juice. Fresh squeezed is SIGNIFICANTLY better.
- Mezcal - All tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. Mezcal is made from a wide variety of agave types, while tequila is specifically blue agave.
- Triple Sec - A classic margarita ingredient adding a bit more sweetness and fruitiness. Goes great with mezcal just as it does tequila.
- Jalapeños - The kick in this Spicy Paloma comes from fresh jalapeño.
- Club Soda - La Croix Pamplemousse Grapefruit is perfect, but any variety will do.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make This Recipe
This cocktail comes together in a few simple steps.
- Using a juice reamer, squeeze the juice from 3 large grapefruits and set aside (You can use store bought grapefruit juice, but it doesn’t even hold a candle to fresh grapefruit juice. Fresh squeezed is SIGNIFICANTLY better).
- In a cocktail shaker, add diced jalapeños and the juice from one lime. Spend 2-3 minutes muddling the jalapeños into the lime juice.
- Then, strain the seeds from the juice.
- Add mezcal, triple sec, the juice from the second lime, and all of the grapefruit juice. Shake together.
- If you’d like, rim a glass with fresh lime and garnish with salt or sugar before pouring the cocktails.
- Pour Paloma mixture over ice into cups. Top with club soda and serve with a grapefruit peel.
- Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Technically speaking tequila is a type of Mezcal. Mezcal is an alcohol made from a wide variety of agave plants, whereas tequila is specifically from Blue Agave. With regards to flavor, Mezcal is much smokier. This is because it is made in fire pits, while tequila is made in ovens.
USE FRESH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE. It takes this cocktail from good to absolutely amazing. It feels gourmet because it is so fresh. Plus, it’s so much lighter than processed grapefruit juice.
Both of these cocktails use grapefruit juice, however while a Palmoa is traditionally made with tequila, a Greyhound is made with gin or vodka.
Salt and lime are used to cut the bite of tequila. Since we are making a Mezcal Paloma, I don’t think you need to salt the rim because Mezcal is much smoother than tequila. You most certainly can if you’d like, however. Or do a sugar rim!
First pulse 1-2 cups of ice in a blender until it becomes a shaved consistency. Then add all ingredients to your blender (limes juiced, jalapeños with stems and seeds removed) and blend until smooth.
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Recipe
Spicy Mezcal Paloma
Equipment
- shot glass / jigger
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- juice reamer
- Muddler
- Cocktail glasses
Ingredients
- 3 large grapefruits, juiced, roughly 4-6oz of juice per fruit
- 6 oz mezcal
- 3 oz triple sec
- 2 limes
- 2 jalapeños
- 12 oz club soda, Pamplemousse La Croix
Instructions
- Using a juice reamer, squeeze the juice from 3 large grapefruits and set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, add diced jalapeños and the juice from one lime. Spend 2-3 minutes muddling the jalapeños into the lime juice.
- Then, strain the seeds from the juice.
- Add mezcal, triple sec, the juice from the second lime, and all of the grapefruit juice. Shake together.
- If you’d like, rim a glass with fresh lime and garnish with salt or sugar before pouring the cocktails.
- Pour Paloma mixture over ice into cups. Top with club soda and serve with a grapefruit peel.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find RECIPE TITLE calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
NOTE: this is counting the alcohol as strictly carbs - remember, if you are counting your macros & alcohol, this is a good reference: Macrostax | How To Calculate Alcohol for Macro Counting
TO COUNT YOUR ALCOHOL AS A CARBOHYDRATE: Use the total number of calories in a drink divided by 4 (Example: 5 ounces of Red Zinfandel = 132 calories 132 calories/4 = 33g Carbs. TO COUNT YOUR ALCOHOL AS A FAT: Use the total number of calories in a drink divided by 9 (Example: 5 ounces of Red Zinfandel = 132 calories 132 calories/9 = 15g Fat) TO COUNT YOUR ALCOHOL AS BOTH A CARBOHYDRATE AND A FAT: Use the a portion of the total number of calories in a drink divided by 4 Use the remainder of the total number of calories in a drink divided by 9. Example: 5 ounces of Red Zinfandel = 132 calories 66 calories/4 = 16.5g Carbs 66 calories/9 = 7g Fat
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Courtney Paige says
I can't believe it took me so long to make a Paloma with FRESH grapefruit juice instead of store bought - it's AMAZING! Cheers!
Sydney Van Acker says
I thought I was a Spicy Marg girl. Then I tried this. I'm definitely a Spicy Paloma girl