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Forward facing shot of a pink blood orange cocktail and a hand pouring the drink into it from a copper cocktail shaker

Spiced Blood Orange Palomas

These Spiced Blood Orange Palomas are a refreshing, but still cozy holiday cocktail! The simple syrup is infused with star anise and cinnamon, and the palomas are filled with tequila, fresh blood orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and a little soda water for some bubbles! For a little extra spice, the rim is made with margarita salt, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves!

Course Beverage, Booze, Cocktail, Drink
Keyword blood orange paloma, paloma cocktail
Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail, is easily multiplied
Author Molly | Spices in My DNA

Ingredients

For the spiced simple syrup

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 2 cinnamon sticks

For the spiced salty sugar rim

  • 2 tablespoons margarita salt or coarse salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of allspice
  • pinch of cloves

For the paloma

  • 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1 1/2 ounces spiced simple syrup
  • splash of soda water

Instructions

spiced simple syrup

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, sugar, star anise, and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Once boiling, stir for 30 seconds to ensure sugar is dissolved, then set aside to cool completely. Once cooled completely, discard the cinnamon sticks and star anise.

spiced salty sugar rim

  1. On a small plate, mix together the salt, sugar, and spices until combined.

paloma

  1. Moisten the edge of your glass with lime or grapefruit wedge and rim in the spiced sugar rim. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add the grapefruit juice, blood orange juice, lime juice, tequila, and spiced simple syrup to the shaker and shake for 20-30 seconds. Pour into the glass and top with a splash or two of soda water. Stir to combine and garnish with a slice of blood orange and lime, and a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately!*

Recipe Notes

*Makes enough simple syrup for several cocktails. Extras will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!
*If you want to make these pitcher-style for a crowd, I'd measure all of the paloma ingredients out for how many people you want to make them for, add everything to a pitcher, and chill the mixture in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, add the crushed ice, and serve!