A Sweet and Smoky Mezcal Paloma Recipe — The Outlet (2024)

This recipe is part of our premium co*cktail recipe series:

So by now hopefully you’ve tracked down at least one of our recommended premium spirits and had the chance to craft a truly incredible quaff. From here on out, this series is going to blaze ahead of our premium spirits list and feature incredible hand-selected distillates from around the world and imaginative mixes you can use them in.

This week we are again looking far afield for a unique and storied spirit, to temperate Oaxaca, Mexico. Here, the agave grow strong and tall in their fields and skilled, caring hands work with centuries of tradition to produce mezcal, a smoky, complex distillate native to Mexico. In this week’s co*cktail recipe, Bozal’s Sacrifico Borrega Mezcal takes centre stage in a savoury, smoky and sweet riff on the classic Paloma. Read on for the low down on this simple yet spectacular recipe.

Despite its long-standing popularity, not much is known for sure about the paloma's origins. As Mexico’s favourite co*cktail today, many naturally speculate that the humble tequila, lime juice and grapefruit co*cktail was invented there, possibly even named after the 19th Century Mexican folk song of the same name. Regardless, today the paloma is enjoyed the world over (in just about every bar that stocks tequila, I’d imagine).

La Paloma y Borregais a savoury and earthy riff on this sweet and refreshing drink, swapping in the Sacrificio Borrega Mezcal for the traditional tequila. This premium mezcal’s uniquely viscous palate, grain-derived earthy tones and luxurious lamb-smoke finish will shine through the mix while being nicely balanced by the citrus juice and uplifted by the soda.

Add just a couple of sprigs of rosemary to garnish and you’ve got a complex, rich and more-ish co*cktail that you’ll want to share and savour.

Ingredients

• 45 mL Sacrificio Borrega Mezcal

• 60 mL pink grapefruit juice

• 15 mL lime juice

• ~ 10 mL agave syrup (or simple syrup)

• 2 Rosemary sprigs + 1 more for garnish

• Splash of soda water

• Grapefruit wedge

Method

• Combine mezcal, citrus juices, syrup and 2 rosemary sprigs in a co*cktail shaker filled with ice

• Shake for around 20 seconds

• Strain into a tall tumbler filled with ice and rimmed with salt flakes

• Top up with soda water

• Garnish with grapefruit wedge and remaining rosemary sprig

Working on your bar skills? Check out our Premium co*cktail Series for more recipes.

Jacob Hall

Jacob is a writer who loves travel, beach days, and speaking foreign languages. Jacob has his own blog, Democratista, where he talks about society, history, and political economy.

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