This simple and smoky take on the tasty cocktail will make mezcal your new best friend.
Sebastián Iradier was a Spanish-Basque composer who lived in the 19th century. Around 1860, he visited Cuba and was inspired to write a song entitled “La Paloma”, or “The Dove”. Over the last 160 years, the song has become a folk staple amongst a diverse number of cultures, especially in Mexico. There are more than one thousand versions of “La Paloma”, making it one of the most recorded songs in history, along with “Yesterday” by The Beatles. However, Iradier would die in relative obscurity and poverty in 1865, never knowing that his song would still be one of the most popular ever created to this day.
Many believe this song inspired the popular cocktail of the same name, the Paloma. Simple and refreshing, classic versions of the drink are made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit-flavored soda. But much like Iradier’s enduring composition, this cocktail has been open to just as many interpretations. One recent variation of the drink is the Mezcal Paloma.
What is the best mezcal to use to make a Mezcal Paloma?
The varieties of mezcal that are available are all unique and add different complexities and flavors to your drink. Some of them, just like a fine Scotch or rum, are robust and dense enough to drink straight. These mezcals can overpower the other ingredients in your cocktail, so I opted for what bartenders refer to as a “cocktail mezcal”. One particular bottle that is popular amongst bartenders is Banhez Joven, which is complex enough to add the right smokiness to your drink, but not so heavy that it overpowers it.
Ingredients
- Salt for rim, optional
- 2 ounces mezcal
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces grapefruit soda to top
- Grapefruit slice for garnish, optional
Instructions
- If you choose to salt the rim of your glass, first wet the rim with a lime wedge and then dip it in salt. Fill the glass with ice.
- Pour 2 ounces of mezcal into the glass.
- Add the 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Top with grapefruit soda and gently stir to mix. If you’d like, garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
Nutrition
What kind of glassware and garnish are used?
A double rocks or collins glass will hold the perfect amount of ice for your Mezcal Paloma without spilling over as you fill it. They’ll also leave room for that nice, plump wedge of grapefruit you’ll put on top for that extra burst of tart citrus.
Will mezcal make me hallucinate?
There’s a myth that mezcal is somehow made from mescaline (it isn’t), or that the infamous worm in the bottle will also get you high if you eat it (also not true). There are zero psychedelic properties in your Mezcal Paloma. Depending on who you are, that’s either a relief or a disappointment.
Similar cocktails to the Mezcal Paloma
As both mezcal and Palomas grow in popularity, so does Twist and Toast’s roster of drink recipes that will quench your moods. Here are just a few of the cocktails you can try at home if you loved the Mezcal Paloma:
- Smoky Paloma – Combine tequila and mezcal together for a rich, robust mixture that is sure to please.
- Serrano Paloma – A cocktail with a spicy kick that tastes hot, fun, and refreshing.
- Mezcal Margarita – Make it a mezcal night by adding these to your evening’s menu.
- Oaxaca Old Fashioned – A new mezcal-infused twist on the Old Fashioned cocktail.
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