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christmas paloma in a with sugared cranberries and rosemary
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Christmas Paloma

This crimson-red Cranberry Christmas Paloma is a festive and flavorful cocktail that puts a holiday twist on the traditional Paloma. If you're looking for the best tequila cocktail for a holiday party, this is it.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Cocktail, Drink
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Keyword: christmas, holiday drink, tequila
Servings: 1 christmas paloma

Ingredients

Rosemary Simple Syrup (Serves 2)

  • 1/4 cup 59ml water
  • 1/4 cup 59ml granulated sugar or honey
  • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs

Sugared Cranberries and Rosemary (Serves 2)

  • 1/4 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • Fresh rosemary from above

Christmas Paloma (Serves 1)

  • 2.5 ounces 1/3 cup; 74ml blanco tequila (Note 1)
  • 2 ounces 1/4 cup; 59ml fresh grapefruit juice
  • 2 ounces 1/4 cup; 59ml cranberry juice
  • 1/2 ounce 1 Tablespoon; 15ml fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
  • 1 ounce 2 Tablespoons; 29ml rosemary simple syrup, more or less to taste
  • Club soda grapefruit soda like Fresca, lime soda, or regular, for topping
  • Garnish: Sprig of Rosemary above, sugared cranberries(above), fresh limes, fresh grapefruit

Instructions

  • Make the rosemary simple syrup. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and rosemary sprigs over medium heat until bubbling. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow the rosemary to steep for 10 minutes while the mixture cools slightly.
  • Add the cranberries from to the simple syrup and toss to coat quickly. Transfer the rosemary sprigs and cranberries to a wire cooling rack and cool for 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar to a medium bowl and cover each rosemary sprig in sugar then place it back on the wire rack. Repeat with the cranberries. Let them cool and set while you prepare the cocktail.
  • Rim a highball glass with a lime wedge and salt (optional). Fill it halfway with crushed ice.
  • In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup. Add ice to the shaker. Shake the ingredients well to chill the mixture and combine.
  • Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over the ice. Top it off with club soda (or another soda) to your liking.
  • Garnish with a sprig of fresh sugared rosemary and a few sugared cranberries.

Notes

Note 1. Tequila. Blanco tequila (or silver tequila) is my personal favorite tequila to use for this Paloma drink. If you don’t have silver tequila on hand, another type of tequila like Reposado or Añejo will both work well.
Batch of Christmas Palomas (4 servings): Double the simple syrup recipe and the sugared cranberry recipe. Add 1 1/4 cups of vodka, 1 cup of grapefruit juice, 1 cup of cranberry juice, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2-3 limes), and all of the simple syrup to a pitcher. Stir well to combine and chill for an hour or up to 2 days. Follow the instructions to serve.
Special Tools (affiliate): Cocktail Shaker, Large Pitcher (for big patch), Shallow Bowl (for a salt rim), Mason Jars, Margarita Glasses, or Old-Fashioned Glasses.

Nutrition

Serving: 1paloma | Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 60.4g | Protein: 0.7g | Fat: 0.6g | Sodium: 5mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 49.5g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 34mg