Tropical Paloma
Tiki drinks are great fun because you’re not supposed to overthink them. They’re exciting, pleasant, smile-inducing drinks that both look and taste good. How seriously can you take something that comes in a tiki mug? Or in a pineapple mug? Not very seriously, that’s how serious. If you don’t like rum, don’t let that spoil your tiki fun. While rum is almost synonymous with tiki drinks, we feel it’s time to keep expanding the definition, it’s time to add some tequila. Let’s keep this party rolling with the Tropical Paloma!
That’s right, we took tequila, gave it a tiki twist and came out with a Paloma from the islands. With our standard, we have our tequila and grapefruit juice, to take it to the islands, we invited some friends.
As usual, use a tequila you like in here. If you want a brighter edition, pick up a nice blanco. Around the house, we tend to use a reposado for most things — I like the easing of the edges that the resting time brings. However, with this Tropical Paloma, both will work well, it just depends on if you want a slightly brighter rendition (blanco) or a slightly richer one (resposado).
Next up, we can’t leave out the grapefruit juice — as there were some white grapefruits at the store, that’s what I got.
Wait, you don’t squeeze your own? You should do that. It’s not hard, promise.
At this point, we’re in hardcore Paloma territory, especially with the addition of lime juice. Here, however, is where we take a left turn and go tiki!
I wanted to bring in a few more fruit flavors, so we added an elderflower liqueur and curacao. Both of those flavors work to transport us from traditional to tropical.
That reminds me, if you’ve been struggling to find a solid straight (dry) orange curacao, you totally can use the blue stuff in all of these tiki cocktails we’ve been talking about recently. If you do use the blue, I’d cut back the amount by half and taste to see how you like it. Blue is sweeter and brings a little less of the rich orange flavor to the party. However, it’ll totally work.
Bonus is, if you need to test, you get to drink a few more!
Anyway, we think you’ll like the Tropical Paloma, adding a few more fruit flavors to the traditional, making sure you’re happy, kicking up the tiki and upping the ante on an island escape.
Now, onto the Tropical Paloma!
- 1½ oz. tequila
- 1 oz. grapefruit juice
- ¾ oz. lime juice
- ½ oz. curacao
- ½ oz. elderflower liqueur
- Mini parasol
- Grapefruit wedge
- Glass type: tiki mug
- Squeeze your juices.
- I feel like if I mention it here, you remember you should have fresh.
- Now add all juices plus boozes to your cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake.
- Strain into your tiki mug that you've filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish.
- All tiki drinks require garnishes.
- Admire the island fun.
- Might as well drink it too.