two pink grapefruit Paloma cocktails, on a white background

My newest cocktail recipe for an herbaceous, faintly spicy, pink grapefruit Paloma is an instant classic! Refreshing, juicy, and with a hint of heat, this is a beautifully hued cocktail that has made it into my ‘any-time-of-year’ category! The easy-to-make thyme/grapefruit peel/chili-pepper simple syrup is the secret to making this Pink Grapefruit Paloma with Spicy Thyme Simple Syrup totally next-level amazing!

I’ve also had had a lot of questions recently about how I approach cocktail development, and I wanted to spend a little bit of time writing about the background and thought process behind the making of a new cocktail recipe – at least for me!

One of the most interesting aspects of being a recipe developer is how much of it revolves around an understanding of the base recipes you are drawing from. There are certain combinations of ingredients that just work together! Chocolate & orange, or tomatoes & fresh mozzarella – flavors that are meant to be. It’s even more particular in baking: usually there is a specific chemistry that is consistant across the board for each sweet you are working with. You can riff on flavor and spice, but the root of many recipes remains constant!

The options involved in mixology and cocktail creation are a bit of a different animal! You can play with an infinite number of flavor combinations between base alcohols, mixers, and garnishes. Sometimes they work off the bat, sometimes they surprise me, but I always end up having tons of fun in the kitchen! Don’t underestimate the importance of an understanding of classic cocktails before you start playing -it is so helpful. Having a bit of background as you begin your mad scientist experimentation at the bar is key!

So, what is a Paloma?

The Paloma is one of the earliest examples of a mixed drink as we know it today! In principle it is similar to its cousins, the Sidecar & Gin/Whiskey Sours, and to it’s sister drink, the Margarita (which is essentially a Paloma with the addition of an orange liqueur). Diving into the full history of the Paloma is a little murky, but we do know it was developed in the same timeframe as the cocktails above, somewhere in the mid 1800’s, and it caught on quickly from there! With a simple base of citrus juices, tequila, and a sweetener, you can create an array of different Paloma-esque cocktails that are not only delicious, but accessible to even the most inexperienced at-home mixologist.

This Pink Grapefruit Paloma is full of depth and juicy citrus. The bit of heat adds a great back note, while the thyme (don’t knock it until you try it!) amplifies the fresh notes of the grapefruit itself. Garnish this classic tequila cocktail with flowers, grapefruit peel, sprigs of thyme or a grapefruit slice – this category of cocktails is an evergreen classic for a reason!

two pink grapefruit Paloma cocktails on a wooden cutting board. Topped with floral garnishes

Pink Grapefruit & Thyme Paloma

makes 1 cocktail

2 ounces freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1.5 ounces grapefruit-thyme-chili simple syrup (see recipe below)

1.5 ounces anéjo tequila (here we used Herradura Ultra Anéjo)

1 ounce soda water

ice

garnish of fresh thyme, grapefruit slices, edible flowers, or grapefruit rind.

tequila bottle with two orange colored cocktails

In the cup of a cocktail shaker, combine the citrus juices, simple syrup, and tequila. Add a large handful of ice and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.

during a shot glass of grapefruit juice into a shaker

Fill an Old fashioned cocktail glass or tumbler with ice. Strain the drink into the glass and top with a splash of soda water. Mix lightly.

straining a mixed drink into a cocktail glass

pouring soda water onto of a pink grapefruit and thyme Paloma

Garnish with fruit, flowers, and herbs.

threading a strip of orange zest onto a cocktail skewer

Grapefruit, Thyme, & Chili Pepper Simple Syrup

makes about 1.5 cups

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 full rind of a pink grapefruit

6 sprigs of fresh thyme – fresh is a must here!

1 Fresno chili, cut into wheels. (You can also use a Jalapeño, which is comparably hot, or a habanero chili if you want things cranked up a few levels on the spice-meter!)

slicing red chili peppers on a wooden board

Add the ingredients to a medium pot and place on medium-high heat. Stirring occasionally, allow to come to a full boil.

adding fresh thyme to a pot of grapefruit rind, sugar, water, and chili to make a flavored simple syrup

Let boil for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.

Remove the rind, thyme sprigs, and pepper. Discard.

Let the syrup cool and then pour into a clean glass jar with a tightly fitting lid. Store in the chiller for up to 2 weeks.

a beautiful light pink grapefruit Paloma tequila cocktail with delicate floral garnish

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5 from 7 votes