It seems blasphemous during the summer to suggest that one might tire of margaritas... But. If you're looking for something different and yet in the same vein, the paloma is a great alternative. Do you know it? It's got a fizzy secret ingredient.
Here it is:
Grapefruit soda. Jarritos Grapefruit Soda, if we're getting picky. In New York, you should be able to find this stuff at a bodega, but we've also heard of substitutes like Fresca (which has grapefruit flavoring in it) and Squirt (which a commentator mentioned in this post).
You could also experiment with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice (maybe with some simple syrup and soda water to add sweetness and fizz?) But if you can find Jarritos, it makes a very delicious drink. The paloma is similar to the margarita in that it has tequila, lime, and salt, but the grapefruit soda makes it a bit less potent, and the carbonation adds some zing.
This recipe comes from a friend—one we didn't tell beforehand that we'd be asking for the recipe. So adjust as you wish, depending on your taste and the size of your glass.
The Paloma
makes one drink (the size pictured above)
1 lime
salt
2 to 3 ounces of silver tequila
ice
Jarritos grapefruit soda
Squeeze the juice of the lime into a glass. Add a few pinches of salt, then pour in the tequila. Stir. Fill the glass with ice and top with the grapefruit soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Related: All About Margaritas
(Images: Elizabeth Passarella; Recipe: Christopher Swetala)
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wait, really? I refer to my summer drink of tequila squirt as the poor man's margarita. nice to know it, uh, has a fancy name?
What a coincidence! I was just drinking this yesterday. I was at a bar, when I was chatting with a very knowledgeable bartender about Tequila. She told me about how she likes to sip Tequila mixed with Fresca with a bit of lime, a drink she often found in the bars of Mexico. I decided to try some and it was lovely! Absolutely tasty and refreshing. I never thought of mixing it with Jarritos, I'll have to try that.
Oh, if we're talking drinks, I made a lovely the other night. I'd made waffles for breakfast, and cooked some nearly spent strawberries with a bit of sugar for waffle syrup. Later on saturday eve, I realized there was strawberry syrup. Went with -
rocks glass
ice
1 oz vodka
1 oz strawberry syrup
soda water
Was heavenly. :) Happy summertime cocktails!
I can't help but think how lovely this would be with gin, and maybe some lime simple syrup (water, lime, sugar and maybe some kaffir lime leaves if you want to get fancy)
http://www.paintedpeach.blogspot.com
On a related note -- I like to add a splash of Squirt to my margaritas at home. It gives them just a little bit of fizz, and (if making frozen margaritas) helps to make them a bit more drinkable.
Cheers. :)
How about Ting--the Caribbean very tangy grapefruit soda? http://www.tingsoda.com
I've made these with the Italian grapefruit soda from Trader Joe's. Delicious summer drink!
Jarritos is SO amazing! My boyfriend discovered it at a local Latin American grocery store and can't get enough of it.
Me gusta muuuuucho la paloma! One of my favorite cheap bar drinks.
I find Jarritos Toronja to be way too sweet. Squirt is a better choice, or if you're in Southern California, Hansen's Grapefruit is awesome.
The way I've had it in Mexico is with the salt on the rim, not mixed in. Also, they used mezcal not tequila. Much more intersting, in my opinion.
These sounded like such a good idea, I sent my fiance out to pick up the closest ingredients available within walking distance to celebrate finishing up a stressful contract with the municipal government.
He came back with Jose Cuervo, President's Choice "Fizz-tastique" grapefruit soda (no name Fresca, basically), and some very acceptable limes. Upon experimenting, I'm omitting the salt, but the rest is pretty much fabulous (for being Cuervo).
Now I just have to nail down suppliers for the ingredients during my next contract - in South Korea!
Tried this last night and we all liked it. Am making a pitcher of it for our summer party. Thanks!
Important to know the Spanish word for grapefruit - Toronjo - and, according to St. Louis "Feast" Magazine where I saw the initial recipe for La Paloma- best to use tequila blanco - Espolon - to be exact. Strong vote for a real pinch of salt. Tried it with just a mini-pinch - tasted it - and then a second mini-pinch - much better. The salt really balances out the sweet and sour. Alternative recipe uses grapefruit juice, club soda and agave syrup. Maybe next time.......
Toronja! (sorry) Picture of a pink grapefruit half on the bottle.