Driveway Drinks: Spicy Pomelo Paloma
Hard to say, but easy to drink! Happy Friday friends!
This week's drink is....delicious. Ever since that fateful afternoon in Cabo when I was introduced to the fresh Paloma, I seek them out. Call it basic, call it trendy, whatever-- it's delicious. The bitter grapefruit juice, the salty rim, the warming tequila. There's a REASON it's popular.
We are in full swing citrus season (praise Bey). Meyer lemons, blood oranges, cara cara oranges, and the mighty lovable oversized pomelo are overflowing in grocery stores across the country. I first had pomelos in a cocktail in Tulum and have been waiting patiently for the giant orbs to be in stores. Slightly sweeter than a grapefruit, I felt like the fruit was ready for a little heat, so I took the salted simple syrup from another Paloma recipe I've made, and steeped fresh cut jalepenos in it. The result is a bitter, sweet, spicy, AND salty cocktail. Hitting ALL THE SPOTS.
Because pomelos are so giant, you can get quite a bit of juice out of just one fruit. I got 8 ounces from the one I picked from the store, which was enough for two cocktails. The spicey salted simple syrup (this whole recipe is full of word play) will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge, but I think once you match it with citrus and tequila, there's no way you won't use it up in a week.
Spicy Pomelo Paloma
Makes 1 cocktail
1.5 oz tequila
3-4 oz fresh squeezed pomelo juice
1 oz spicy, salted simple syrup (recipe below)
Tajin, for rimming glass
Club Soda, to top.
Spicy Salted Simple Syrup
2 C superfine sugar
1 C water
1/4 C sea salt
1 jalapeño pepper, sliced into rings
Combine sugar, water, jalapeño and salt in saucepan set over medium heat. Stir to dissolve and let come to a boil. Strain through fine-mesh strainer and let cool. Store in glass jar in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Method
First- rim the glass. Take the empty glass you will enjoy your cocktail out of and rub the top rim of the glass with pomelo juice (easiest option, since it's presumably already cut open), or dip just the edge in simple syrup. Add a few teaspoons of tajin to small dish and dip your glass upside down to coat the rim. Set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, juice and simple syrup and shake well to combine and chill. Fill rimmed glass with clear ice. Strain shaker into glass and top off with club soda. Garnish with a wedge of fresh pomelo. Cheers!