Beef Free Herbal Grapefruit Paloma
This bright, citrus-forward cocktail is the kind of drink that makes a warm afternoon feel like a proper occasion. Fresh grapefruit juice and lime bring a tart, juicy backbone, while a homemade rosemary-thyme simple syrup adds a layer of herbal depth that no store-bought mix can replicate. The salted rim ties everything together with a savory edge that makes each sip more interesting than the last. Blanco tequila keeps the whole thing clean and lively without weighing it down. Since this is a cocktail built entirely from citrus, herbs, sparkling water, and spirits, there's nothing here to second-guess — just genuinely good ingredients doing exactly what they should. It comes together quickly once your syrup is made, and that syrup itself is worth keeping in the fridge for the week ahead.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the herbal simple syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
For the salted rim
- 2 tsp coarse kosher salt
- 1 grapefruit wedge, for rimming
For the cocktail
- 3 oz blanco tequila
- ¾ cup fresh grapefruit juice (from about 1 large grapefruit)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 1 oz herbal simple syrup (from above)
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 small sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme, for garnish (optional)
- 2 thin grapefruit slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar, water, rosemary sprigs, and thyme sprigs in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the herbs steep for 10 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant and faintly golden.
- 2
Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small jar or bowl, pressing the herbs lightly to extract their oils. Discard the spent herbs. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before using.
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