Oats Free Herbal Grapefruit Paloma
Bright, citrusy, and just a little unexpected, this herbal paloma is the kind of cocktail that makes a regular evening feel like a proper occasion. A homemade rosemary-thyme simple syrup is the real star here — steeped just long enough to pull out those fragrant, earthy oils before getting strained into something silky and golden. It layers beautifully against fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, a hit of lime, and blanco tequila, all finished with chilled sparkling water for a lift that keeps things refreshing rather than heavy. The salted rim adds that perfect savory contrast to the citrus, and the whole thing comes together with nothing more than a saucepan, a shaker, and a little patience. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from grain-based additives or thickeners, so there's genuinely nothing to second-guess — just clean, vibrant flavors from start to finish. Serve it over ice with a sprig of fresh herbs and a grapefruit slice, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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