With National Tequila Day coming up early next week, (it is celebrated yearly on July 24th) this is an appropriate time to share a bit of tequila history. A distilled spirit, tequila is made from cooked and fermented agave juice. Contemporary tequila was first produced in the beginning of the 17th century in Jalisco, (presently, the city of Tequila) Mexico. The precursor to tequila, pulque (a fermented frothy & milky agave drink) dates back to Mesoamerican times.
In planning for National Tequila Day, I reached out to my friend, Melissa, a tequila connoisseur. I was looking for a tequila cocktail that was not a margarita. She suggested a paloma, a refreshing cooler of grapefruit soda and tequila that is topped off with a splash of lime. Being a fan of grapefruit, we were all about trying some palomas. The version we favor gets a bit of a twist with the addition of some ginger simple syrup in the mix!
Ginger & Grapefruit Paloma
Ginger Simple Syrup (adapted from liquor.com) Total Time Required: 35 minutes + chilling time, Makes: about 1 cup
Simple Syrup Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup ginger, peeled and chopped
Ginger & Grapefruit Paloma (adapted from southernkitchen.com) Total Time Required: 5 minutes, Makes: 1 cocktail
Cocktail Ingredients:
- 2 grapefruit wedges
- 2 ounces of silver tequila
- 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce Ginger Simple Syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit flavored sparkling water
Directions:
Start with the Simple Syrup: Combine the sugar and water into a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Make the Ginger Simple Syrup
Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove it from the heat and add the ginger to the pot. Allow the mixture to steep, covered, for 30 minutes. Strain out the solids and discard them.
Add the ginger to the simple syrup and let it steep.
Chill the ginger simple syrup in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before using. Store tightly sealed and refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.
Now for the Cocktail: Run one of the grapefruit wedges around the rim of a Collins glass.
Place about 1 tablespoon of kosher salt onto a plate. Dip the rim of the glass in the salt. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
In a cocktail shaker halfway filled with ice cubes, combine the tequila, lime juice and ginger syrup. Shake until well-chilled, about 15 to 20 seconds.
Add the ingredients to the cocktail shaker.
Strain the cocktail mixture into the prepared glass. Top with the flavored sparkling water.
Top the cocktail with the flavored sparkling water.
Spritz the second grapefruit wedge into the drink and then place the wedge in the glass. Serve immediately.
Here’s to National Tequila Day!
Tequila is for more than just margaritas! ~Linda
Ginger Simple Syrup (adapted from liquor.com) Total Time Required: 35 minutes + chilling time, Makes: about 1 cup
Simple Syrup Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup ginger, peeled and chopped
Ginger & Grapefruit Paloma (adapted from southernkitchen.com) Total Time Required: 5 minutes, Makes: 1 cocktail
Cocktail Ingredients:
- 2 grapefruit wedges
- 2 ounces of silver tequila
- 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce Ginger Simple Syrup
- 2 ounces grapefruit flavored sparkling water
Directions:
Start with the Simple Syrup: Combine the sugar and water into a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove it from the heat and add the ginger to the pot. Allow the mixture to steep, covered, for 30 minutes. Strain out the solids and discard them.
Chill the ginger simple syrup in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before using. Store tightly sealed and refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.
Now for the Cocktail: Run one of the grapefruit wedges around the rim of a Collins glass.
Place about 1 tablespoon of kosher salt onto a plate. Dip the rim of the glass in the salt. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
In a cocktail shaker halfway filled with ice cubes, combine the tequila, lime juice and ginger syrup. Shake until well-chilled, about 15 to 20 seconds.
Strain the cocktail mixture into the prepared glass. Top with the flavored sparkling water.
Spritz the second grapefruit wedge into the drink and then place the wedge in the glass. Serve immediately.