Spice Free Classic Cucumber Paloma
Bright, citrusy, and endlessly refreshing, this cucumber paloma is the kind of drink that makes any occasion feel like a celebration. The star of the show is a homemade cucumber simple syrup — just water, sugar, and fresh cucumber slices steeped together until the liquid turns pale green and lightly fragrant. That gentle infusion adds a cool, garden-fresh note that plays beautifully against the tartness of fresh grapefruit and lime juice. Everything here is clean and straightforward: blanco tequila, real citrus, sparkling water, and a salted rim made with nothing but kosher salt and a lime wedge. For anyone navigating spice sensitivities, this recipe is a natural fit — there's no chili salt, no tajín, no infused spirits, just pure, uncomplicated flavor from start to finish. Shaking it over ice and topping with sparkling water poured gently down the side keeps every sip perfectly fizzy. Garnish with a few cucumber slices and a grapefruit wedge, and you've got a cocktail that looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →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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