The bright, zippy, and slightly spicy Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail is made with muddled jalapeno, fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice, tangy lime juice, tequila, and a splash of club soda.  This citrusy cocktail is the perfect addition to your Mexican fiesta, Sunday Funday, or gathering with friends!

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Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail

So, my husband and I have been on a cocktail kick for a while now.  Not just drinking them, but the art of making them, too. 

We’ve started experimenting with making our own versions of cocktails that we know and love, and also trying out some new ones.

The paloma, the sister to the margarita, is one of the drinks that we would order when we were going out, but have started making at home. 

In restaurants, there is too much of a disparity from one paloma to another for it to have a consistent taste. 

Sometimes they are tart and fresh, other times they’re sweet and sugary, lacking any real grapefruit flavor. 

Making them yourself with high-quality, fresh ingredients ensures that you will have exceptional results.

Ingredients needed for this recipe (scroll down to recipe card for complete recipe)

• Fresh grapefruits
• Fresh limes
• Fresh jalapeno
• Silver tequila
• Club soda
• Simple syrup (simple syrup directions below)

Since jalapeno margaritas are one of our favorite cocktails, we definitely had to experiment with a Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail.  Now I’m ruined because there’s no going back! 

The addition of mellow heat from the muddled jalapeno in combination with the tart grapefruit and sour lime juice is really a fabulous trio of flavors. 

The simple syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness, while the club soda gives it a wonderful effervescence.

How to serve Jalapeno Palomas:

Either a lime wedge or jalapeno slice make excellent garnishes for this cocktail.

If you like salt, feel free to rim the glass with salt.

For the perfect at-home happy hour spread, bring out some tortilla chips, guacamole, Roasted Tomatillo & Avocado Salsa, and maybe even some spicy, Pickled Mexican Hot Carrots (pictured below) to serve with your Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail!  Cheers!

How to make simple syrup

1. To make simple syrup, combine equal parts white sugar and water in a sauce pan. 
2. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved. 
3. Turn off the heat and let come to room temperature, then refrigerate in an air-tight bottle. 

I keep my simple syrup in the fridge for a week or two.  When it starts to get cloudy, it’s time to toss it.

My Hibiscus Simple Syrup adds a gorgeous color and sweet/tart flavor to cocktails.

Looking for more cocktail recipes?  Here are some favorites:

• Sparkling Blood Orange Cocktail
• Perfect Dark & Stormy (shown below)
• Pineapple Mango White Sangria

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NOTES: 

• If you need a muddler, you can get one HERE from Amazon.  They are great for muddling the jalapeno in this recipe and fresh mint for mojitos!
• I have only tested this recipe with fresh grapefruit.  I have not tested this recipe with store-bought grapefruit juice.
• Please only use real limes for this recipe.  The squeezable, plastic lime bottles are not the same.

Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail

Flavorful Eats

The bright, zippy, and slightly spicy Jalapeno Paloma Cocktail is made with muddled jalapeno, fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice, tangy lime juice, tequila, and a splash of club soda.  This citrusy cocktail is the perfect addition to your Mexican fiesta, Sunday Funday, or gathering with friends!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1

Equipment

• Muddler
• jigger

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 jalapeno slice thicker slices = spicier drink
• 2.5 oz. freshly-squeezed Ruby Red grapefruit juice
• 2 oz. silver tequila
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup directions in post
• 2 oz. club soda
• garnish ideas: jalapeno slice lime slice, salted glass rim

Instructions

 

• Either in your glass or a shaker, muddle the jalapeno slice. I like to smash it to smithereens, but I like a good amount of jalapeno flavor in my drink. (If you don't want pieces of jalapeno in your drink, make the cocktail in a shaker).
• Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup to your glass or shaker, if you're using one. Give everything a nice stir/shake.
• If using a shaker, pour over a fine-mesh strainer into your glass with ice and top with club soda, and stir once more. If making in your glass, add ice, add the club soda, and stir once more. Garnish with a jalapeno slice or lime slice if desired. Cheers!

Keyword Cocktail, Grapefruit, Jalapeno, Tequila

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