Blood Orange Palomas (cocktail + mocktail)

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I'm giving my favorite Mexican cocktail a beautiful winter citrus spin with these blood orange palomas. Freshly squeezed blood oranges give a beautiful ruby red color and tangy flavor, while my easy homemade ginger simple syrup adds sweet and spicy flavor. Splash in tequila, grapefruit soda, and a squeeze of lime and you have the perfect cocktail to celebrate the holidays and NYE! Instructions for mocktails and big-batch pitchers for parties included.

Hey, hey, friend! Palomas are my go-to summer sipper—easy to whip up, bursting with citrus, and y'all know I can't resist a bit of fizz in my drinks. Since we're stepping into citrus season, I thought, why not twist this summer classic into a winter cocktail?

And, psst! Speaking of citrus, I've tossed up a stunning winter citrus salad that's just as fabulous and festive—perfect alongside any holiday spread. (Trust me, you'll want to check it out!)

So, as we get into the holiday spirit, decking those halls and hanging lights on the tree with our nearest and dearest, why not keep a pitcher of blood orange palomas ready to pour?

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Blood Orange Paloma Cocktail

This beautiful blood orange cocktail gives fancy, sophisticated vibes and I absolutely love it! As I'm going more into my thirties (okay I really just turned 30, but still) I'm really getting into 'easy, yet impressive' recipes. 

My refreshing blood orange paloma definitely fits into that box. It's a little like a margarita, but instead of cointreau we're using blood orange juice and instead of agave we have a warm and sweet ginger simple syrup. 

After getting a five-star review from Dana about the Tropical Sunrise Mocktail I made for her, I wanted to try to incorporate mocktails into any cocktail I post, if I can. It's only fair for everyone to get included in the fun, you know? So this refreshing paloma's also a mocktail, those instructions will be in the recipe card as well.

What is a Paloma?

A Paloma (which translates to dove) is a vibrant and popular Mexican drink typically made with tequila, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit-flavored soda (such as Squirt or Jarritos). It is often served over ice in a salt-rimmed glass and garnished with a lime wedge or grapefruit slice.

Ingredients

• Fresh Blood Oranges - these start appearing in the grocery stores around late October/early November. They have a deep red and berry colored flesh often splashed with classic orange coloring, and they taste both sweet and berrylike, and tangy like a classic orange.
• Tequila - use tequila blanco, I used Siete Leguas but Patron is always a crowd pleaser.
• Grapefruit Soda - I used a fever tree grapefruit soda. Swap for club soda or a grapefruit flavored sparkling water if you like.
• Lime Juice - use the fresh stuff, the bottled juice is so sour without the nuances of the lime oil.
• Fresh Ginger - ground ginger will not work in this recipe, we want that warmth and spice from the fresh ginger.
• Granulated Sugar and Water - this makes our simple syrup.

How to Make this Blood Orange Paloma Recipe

First, make the simple syrup. If you've never made one, it's as easy as its name. Simmer equal parts sugar and water with a smashed knob of ginger until the sugar is dissolved. I like to let it cool with the ginger in the simple syrup to keep infusing it with more flavor before straining.

Next, combine all the cocktail ingredients, sans grapefruit soda, in a cocktail shaker with ice for at least 30 seconds until it's really cold. Then strain into a cold glass with ice, and fill the glass with the soda.

Garnish with a slice of blood orange or two and serve! So easy, yet incredibly gorg.

Variations and Pro Tips

• Not blood orange season? Use a blood orange mixer or blood orange soda instead!
• No grapefruit soda? Try a soda water and grapefruit juice!
• Rim your glasses with flaky sea salt mixed with a little grated orange zest. So good!

Big Batch Paloma

12 oz (1 ½ cups) tequila
8 oz (1 cup) freshly squeezed blood orange juice
4 oz (½ cup) freshly squeezed lime juice
4 oz (½ cup) ginger simple syrup (see below for recipe)
24 oz (3 cups) grapefruit soda (such as Squirt or Jarritos), chilled
1 cup ginger simple syrup
Ice, for serving
Blood orange slices and lime wedges for garnish
In a 60-ounce pitcher, combine the tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice, and ginger simple syrup. Stir well to mix.
Add the chilled grapefruit soda and stir gently to combine.
Taste and adjust with more ginger simple syrup to make it sweeter or lime juice to make it more tangy, if desired.
When ready to serve, fill your glasses with ice and stir.
Pour the paloma mixture into each glass and garnish with blood orange slices and serve.

Make Ahead Tips

You can prep the orange juice days ahead of time, and make the cocktail or mocktail 2 days before serving without the soda. Add the soda before serving so your refreshing paloma is nice and fizzy!

The garnish slices can be sliced and stored in an airtight container in the fridge overnight as well.

Equipment

• Cocktail Shaker
• Gatsby Glasses - these are the glasses I used in this post.

More Drink Recipes You'll Love

Blood Orange Paloma Recipe (cocktail + mocktail)

By: Eden Westbrook

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Enjoy a refreshing twist on the classic paloma cocktail with this blood orange paloma recipe! Combining tequila, lime, and vibrant blood orange juice, this drink is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, ideal for holiday sipping. Big batch and mocktail instructions included!

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cooling Time for Syrup: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 7 minutes mins

Total Time: 27 minutes mins

2 cocktails

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Equipment

• cocktail shaker
• gatsby glasses optional, but they are the ones I used in this recipe

Ingredients 

Ginger Simple Syrup

• ▢ ¼ cup water
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ½ inch knob fresh ginger, peeled and smashed

Blood Orange Paloma

• ▢ 4 oz tequila blanco
• ▢ 3 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• ▢ 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• ▢ 1 oz ginger simple syrup
• ▢ 8 oz grapefruit soda, such as Squirt or Jarritos, chilled
• ▢ Ice, for serving
• ▢ blood orange slices or lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions 

Make the Ginger Simple Syrup

• Combine the water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  ¼ cup water, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ inch knob fresh ginger
• Remove from heat and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain the syrup with a fine mesh sieve to remove the ginger and let it cool before use. (Store any extra syrup in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)

Make the Blood Orange Paloma Cocktails

• Fill two glasses with ice.
  Ice
• In a cocktail shaker, add the tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice, and ginger simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 30 seconds.
  4 oz tequila blanco, 3 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice, 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 oz ginger simple syrup
• Strain the mixture evenly into the two prepared glasses.
• Top each glass with 4 oz of chilled grapefruit soda and stir gently.
  8 oz grapefruit soda
• Garnish with blood orange slices or lime wedges. Serve up cold!
  blood orange slices or lime wedges

Last step!Be sure to snap a pic and share on Instagram #sweetteaandthyme and tag me at @sweet_tea_thyme so we can all see!

Recipe Notes

Big Batch Instructions (for a 60 ounce pitcher)

• • 12 oz (1 ½ cups) tequila
  • 8 oz (1 cup) freshly squeezed blood orange juice
  • 4 oz (½ cup) freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 4 oz (½ cup) ginger simple syrup (see below for recipe)
  • 24 oz (3 cups) grapefruit soda (such as Squirt or Jarritos), chilled
  • Ice, for serving
  • Blood orange slices and lime wedges for garnish

For the ginger syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and smashed
• Make the Ginger Simple Syrup:
  1. Combine the water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Remove from heat and let it steep for 20 minutes.
  4. Strain the syrup to remove the ginger and let it cool completely before use.

1. • Assemble the Blood Orange Paloma:
     1. 1. In a 60-ounce pitcher, combine the tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice, and ginger simple syrup. Stir well to mix.
        2. Add the chilled grapefruit soda and stir gently to combine.
        3. Taste and adjust with more ginger simple syrup to make it sweeter or lime juice to make it more tangy, if desired.
        4. When ready to serve, fill your glasses with ice and stir.
        5. Pour the paloma mixture into each glass and garnish with blood orange slices and serve.

Mocktail Instructions

• 3 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz ginger simple syrup (see below for recipe)
• 8 oz grapefruit soda or sparkling water (such as Jarritos or club soda), chilled
• Ice, for shaking and serving
• Blood orange slices and lime wedges for garnish
• for the ginger syrup:
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

Make the Ginger Simple Syrup:

1. Combine the water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove from heat and let it steep for 20 minutes.
4. Strain the syrup to remove the ginger slices and let it cool completely before use. (Store any extra syrup in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)

Assemble the Blood Orange Paloma Mocktail:

1. Fill two glasses with ice.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add the blood orange juice, lime juice, and ginger simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15 seconds.
3. Strain the mixture evenly into the two prepared glasses.
4. Top each glass with 4 oz of chilled grapefruit soda or sparkling water and stir gently.
5. Garnish with blood orange slices or lime wedges.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 cocktail, Calories: 192kcal (10%), Carbohydrates: 16g (5%), Protein: 0.4g (1%), Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 33mg (1%), Potassium: 114mg (3%), Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 14g (16%), Vitamin A: 92IU (2%), Vitamin C: 26mg (32%), Calcium: 14mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)