Almond Free Classic Cucumber Paloma

Total time30 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(27)

Bright, citrusy, and just a little unexpected, this cucumber paloma is the kind of drink that makes a regular Tuesday feel like a rooftop happy hour. The star move here is a homemade cucumber simple syrup — sliced cucumber steeped in warm sugar water until the syrup turns faintly green and wonderfully fragrant. That subtle vegetal sweetness plays beautifully against the sharp bite of fresh grapefruit juice and the tang of lime. A salted rim adds just enough savory contrast to pull everything together, while a splash of sparkling water keeps the whole thing light and effervescent. Every ingredient in this cocktail is naturally free from tree nuts, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or worry about what's lurking in a store-bought mixer. It's a clean, from-scratch build that tastes far more impressive than the effort involved. Serve it in a tall glass over ice with a few cucumber slices fanned on top, and it's instantly the most photogenic thing on the table.

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Ingredients

2 servings

For the cucumber simple syrup

½ cup water
½ cup granulated sugar
½ medium cucumber, thinly sliced

For the salted rim

1 tbsp kosher salt
1 lime wedge, for rimming

For the cocktail

3 oz blanco tequila
¾ cup fresh grapefruit juice (from about 1 large grapefruit)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
3 tbsp cucumber simple syrup (from above)
1 cup sparkling water
ice cubes

For serving

2–3 thin cucumber slices, for garnish (optional)
2 grapefruit wedges, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1
Make the cucumber simple syrup: combine the water, sugar, and sliced cucumber in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes, until the syrup is lightly fragrant and pale green.
2
Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small jar or bowl, pressing the cucumber slices gently to extract their liquid. Discard the solids. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before using.

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