sparkling citrus paloma
I drank a single margarita last night and a pounding headache resulted later the following day. People, don’t get old. Simple pleasures turn into pain far more often than is right or fair.
As a matter of fact, the culprit was the Spiced Apple Cider Rosemary Margarita, one of my new FMG darlings. I shook a pair up for J and I after attending Wednesday’s playoff-clincher game at Tropicana Field, and that instance coupled with a well-executed race pace workout in the morning seemed to justify an adult bev before sleep. Wrong. Apparently a single drink so close to bedtime rounds up cruel consequences. I’ve never had an apocalyptic tolerance to alcohol but Jesus, one drink is a bit excessive for my body to rebel against.
Stop me if I’ve said all this before. Another problem with getting old is my narrative memory collapses.
I’m sure I’m making a great case for a weekend drink, but if you regularly mix when you’re feeling like a chill day or night, my old shitbag tendencies probably aren’t a detriment for your own sipping pleasure. Consider this Sparkling Citrus Paloma your right hand man. Three types of citrus juice, tequila, and an earthy rosemary ginger simple syrup shaken and topped with a splash of ginger beer. Light, tangy, and fresh.
Orange You Glad I Said Tequila?
I love creating simple syrups for cocktails, and this rosemary-ginger infusion can also be used to make the aforementioned cider margarita if you have any leftover and want a switchup from this paloma at a gathering or on a night where two bevs sounds better and one.
To make, simply dissolve a knob of ginger – grated or chopped roughly – and a few sprigs of rosemary in some sugar and water. I phrased that like a moron: the sugar dissolves, the ginger and rosemary won’t magically vanish, but they will release their flavors into the liquid. Let the ingredients steep an extra 10 minutes, then strain out the solids through a fine mesh sieve.
For the real good shit that is the cocktail, add an ounce of syrup into a shaker with orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and a splash of orange bitters. Shake with ice, then pour into a glass. Top with ginger beer, a grapefruit wheel, and a rosemary sprig.
Ta-da! Now that’s some mixology magic, folks.
Tried this recipe out? Leave a comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Some more fizzy cocktails for you to try!
Smoky Peach Thyme Bourbon Twist
Watermelon Cucumber Prosecco Spritz
Blushing Ginger Grapefruit Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ginger, peeled or roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh rosemary
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 oz orange juice
- 1 1/2 oz grapefruit juice
- 11/2 oz tequila
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- dash orange bitters
- ginger beer, to top
Instructions
- Heat the ginger, rosemary, sugar, and water in a small sauce pan until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pot from the heat and steep 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a jar or glass. Discard the solids.
- To a cocktail shaker, add 1 oz syrup, orange juice, grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, and orange bitters. Add a handful of ice and shake until cold. Pour into a glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a grapefruit wheel and rosemary sprig.
