As the end of July approaches, it is once again time to honor tequila on its National Day tomorrow. While not huge tequila drinkers, we do have a traditional margarita cocktail we love.

At this time last year, we became familiar with paloma cocktails. I featured a Ginger & Grapefruit Paloma cocktail at that time for National Tequila Day. For this year’s post, a pureed peach is combined with orange juice and a splash of lime juice for the paloma.

Blanco or silver tequila is used for the alcohol base. Blanco tequila can be aged for up to two months, but it is typically bottled immediately after distillation. The result is a clear spirit, exhibiting the flavors of agave, citrus, grass, and pepper. Silver tequila blends well into citrusy cocktails. And allows the peach flavor to shine in this paloma!

Peach & Orange Paloma

Peach & Orange Paloma (adapted from from Joy the Baker Over Easy by Joy Wilson via townandcountrymag.com)  Total Time Required: 15 minutes, Makes: 4 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 1 ripe peach, peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped
• 8 ounces silver tequila

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the orange zest, salt, and sugar. Using your fingers, work the zest into the salt and sugar until the mixture is fragrant.

Combine the salt, sugar, and orange zest for rimming the glasses.

Run an orange wedge around the rim of the glasses to wet the edges. Dip the four glasses in the salt mixture to rim them, then set the glasses aside.

Rim the glasses with the salt mixture.

In the cup of a wand blender, combine the lime juice, orange juice, and peach chunks. Blend until the mixture is smooth.

Blend the lime juice, orange juice, and peach chunks together.

Fill each of the prepared glasses with ice. Pour 2 ounces of tequila into each glass. Add 1/2 cup of the juice mixture to each glass.

Add the tequila & peach mixture to the ice filled glasses.

Stir the cocktails. Garnish each libation with orange slices or segments and serve.

Happy National Tequila Day!

¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!  ~Linda

Peach & Orange Paloma (adapted from from Joy the Baker Over Easy by Joy Wilson via townandcountrymag.com)  Total Time Required: 15 minutes, Makes: 4 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 1 ripe peach, peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped
• 8 ounces silver tequila

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the orange zest, salt, and sugar. Using your fingers, work the zest into the salt and sugar until the mixture is fragrant. Run an orange wedge around the rim of the glasses to wet the edges. Dip the four glasses in the salt mixture to rim them, then set the glasses aside.

In the cup of a wand blender, combine the lime juice, orange juice, and peach chunks. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Fill each of the prepared glasses with ice. Pour 2 ounces of tequila into each glass. Add 1/2 cup of the juice mixture to each glass. Stir the cocktails. Garnish each libation with orange slices or segments and serve.