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Cocktails
The Elevated Craft Team
This week we bring you a spring twist on the Paloma. This classic cocktail that dates back to the 1950s is traditionally made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. It is refreshing and easy to make, and it can be easily customized with additional complementary flavors. Adding strawberries and basil to the grapefruit mixture creates a flavorful springtime twist on this classic drink.
(Originally published 4/14/23)
3 oz. Blanco Tequila
½ oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
½ oz. Lime juice
¼ oz. Strawberry Basil Syrup (recipe below) or Agave Nectar
2 ½ oz. Ting Grapefruit Soda
2 dashes Lime & Sea Salt Bitters (optional)
1 Strawberry
2 Basil leaves
Grapefruit wedge or wheel for garnish
Add tequila, juices, syrup, strawberry, and basil leaves to the bottom of your Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker.
Muddle the berry and leaves.
Add ice. Shake to chill and dilute.
Strain into your Hybrid Cocktail Glass.
Top with grapefruit soda.
Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or wheel.
Integrating citrus, fruit, and herbs is a great way to enhance a cocktail while maintaining balance, particularly in traditional concoctions where you'd like to introduce a unique taste, like the Paloma or Margarita.
If lime & sea salt bitters are not on hand, consider using a saline solution or incorporating a salted rim to the cocktail as an alternative.
We used Ting Pink Grapefruit soda in this recipe but another great option is Q Mixers Sparkling Grapefruit. 5 ounces of Q Mixers Sparkling Grapefruit with 2 ounces of Tequila, makes an easy no-frills Paloma when you want something fast.