Summer Strawberry Paloma Cocktail Recipe

We love sipping on a reliable and classic cocktail favorite, however, seasonal ingredients never fail to inspire our palates. Whether it's a hot spiced drink or a chilled beverage that incorporates fresh fruit, drinking with the seasons is a creative way to imbibe. Tasting Table recipe developer Jessica Morone brings us this summer strawberry Paloma cocktail that undoubtedly channels the warmer months. "This is a great drink for a summer get-together of any kind," Morone shares.

With sweet ripe strawberries, fresh lime juice, grapefruit soda, and tequila, sipping on this drink allows you to savor the best of all tastes. The winning combination is simultaneously bold and zingy, offering a delightful experience no matter the context. Morone comments, "Palomas in general are such a refreshing fruity summer drink," and notes that "Adding strawberry to this makes it even more fruity and refreshing." She also points out, "Strawberries and tequila are a match made in heaven, they just go so well together." Enjoy strawberry Palomas at a summer barbecue, serve them as an aperitif for a light dinner, or sip on a chilled glass by the pool. 

For this cocktail, you'll need to slice fresh strawberries to start. Water and granulated sugar are used to make a simple syrup. Next, pick up your favorite tequila, squeeze fresh lime juice, and grab a few cans of grapefruit soda. 

Morone offers ingredient measurements to make four cocktails but says, "You can definitely scale this recipe up to make a pitcher of Palomas and keep it in the fridge." However, she advises, "I just wouldn't add the ice until right before you are ready to serve it, otherwise it will end up watered down."

Set a large saucepan on the stovetop and add the sliced strawberries, then pour in the water and sugar. Heat the contents on a medium-high burner until the water starts to boil. At this point, decrease the heat to a simmer and keep cooking the syrup until the color deepens to a dark red hue.

Morone notes that homemade strawberry simple syrup enhances the cocktail. "It's an extra step, but making it is totally worth it because it gives you a great strawberry flavor." She adds, "You can also make it up to two weeks in advance and store it in your fridge until you are ready to use it."

You'll want to sip on a dazzlingly clear Paloma, so pour the syrup into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve in order to separate the strawberries. Morone warns against squeezing the fruit to avoid a cloudy result. Set the syrup aside to cool completely.

Fill half a cocktail shaker with ice to ensure your drink is nice and frosty. When the syrup is cool, add 1 cup of it along with the tequila and lime juice into the shaker. Shake the ingredients vigorously to combine them well together.

Set out four highball glasses with ice cubes. Strain the liquid from the shaker into the glasses, dividing the portions evenly. Distribute the grapefruit soda between the glasses to add a bubbly mouthfeel and a hint of bitter aromas. Finally, garnish your glass with a piece of strawberry and a thin slice of lime for an added touch.

"I always think tequila based drinks go well with anything spicy, and also with things like nachos," Morone shares. We will happily follow her recommendations!