– Easily make this cocktail a mocktail by skipping the tequila. –

I’ve never been a big fan of a Paloma but this Passionfruit Paloma may have redeemed them. I like tequila and I like grapefruit soda, but putting together in a cocktail leaves me… grossed out. The last time I had one was in a casino in Reno. I lived in The Biggest Little City for a span (absolutely loved it) and had been raving to my friend about being able to get free drinks in the casinos. She came in town & off we went with $40 in hand.

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Turns out, drinks aren’t free when you order them from the bar. I ordered us both a Paloma, because what was I thinking?, and they were awful. We hunkered down at the Blackjack table to drink our disgusting drinks because we paid for those dang things. But not all was lost. I mean that both figuratively & literally– we each hung on to twenty-five cents.

A traditional Paloma has tequila, grapefruit soda (like Fresca or Jarritos), and lime juice. I opted for grapefruit juice to bring that flavor upfront. I still needed to get that fizz from somewhere and I found it in the perfect form of unsweetened passionfruit sparkling water. The beet syrup brings a hint of earthy sweetness to the drink and imparts the stunning color.

Don’t be intimidated by the beet syrup. I got a huge bag of beet powder from Walmart for under $10. Beet powder is great for upping the antioxidant power of smoothies and for dying baked goods a range of pink shades. I recently used it to dye the icing of my daughter’s vanilla birthday cake. Only one party guest asked what the icing was flavored with, and he guessed cinnamon, so I’d say that it won’t make your recipes too beet-y. I’m not entirely health & wellness conscious but if I have the option to use something artificial or natural, I’m gonna opt for natural.

If you’re looking to make a *small* investment in your barware, consider buying a giant ice cube mold. A bigger ice cube is going to melt slower and make your drink a little colder. Plus they look cool & profesh.

The Ingredients for a Passionfruit Paloma

• 1 1/2 oz. tequila reposado (skip this & make a great mocktail)
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz. beet simple syrup
• unsweetened passionfruit sparkling water (Aldi’s PurAqua Belle Vie brand is fantastic)
• slice of grapefruit of lemon to garnish

How to Make a Passionfruit Paloma

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, & beet syrup. Shake well to combine. Pour into a low-ball glass with ice. Top off with your passionfruit sparkling water. Alternatively, you can “float” the syrup for a more layered effect but honestly, the taste is more uniform if you shake it with the other ingredients.