Spicy Paloma Recipe

Adds a kick to your traditional Paloma cocktail with this delicious and easy Spicy Paloma Cocktail recipe.

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

Tired of the same old Paloma? It’s time to spice things up! We’re talking literally. After our Salty Dog creation, we’ve been on a spicy cocktail kick.

So get ready to ignite your taste buds with our Spicy Paloma recipe. This isn’t your grandma’s Paloma. We’re adding a kick that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance. Think tequila, grapefruit, lime, and a fiery surprise. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you. 

So grab your shaker, and let’s get this party started!

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

What is a Paloma?

The traditional Paloma contains tequila, lime juice, and a grapefruit-flavored soda or juice. It is very similar to a margarita which also contains tequila and lime juice. Instead of grapefruit soda, margaritas typically call for orange liqueur or a margarita mix.

What Makes this Paloma Recipe Spicy?

What adds kick to the Paloma? Our jalapeño simple syrup is what makes this Paloma cocktail spicy.

If you’re not totally sure that you’re going to love this drink enough to go through the trouble of making your own spicy simple syrup, you can always take a simpler route. Just add a jalapeño slice or two to the Paloma recipe by itself to see what you think first!

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

Can I Make this Cocktail Not Spicy?

Before you non-spicy lovers go running, you can always skip the spicy portion for regular simple syrup to make a traditional Paloma. And it’s as simple as mixing 3 ingredients together! Doesn’t get much easier than that, right? 

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make a Jalapeño Simple Syrup

Ingredients needed

  • Jalapeño peppers
  • Sugar
  • Water

Step by step instructions

1 — Prep the jalapeños by removing the stems, slicing into rounds, and then removing the seeds and membrane. You can leave the seeds and membrane intact if you’re wanting it extra spicy, though!

2 — Next, bring the water to a boil and add in the sugar by continuously mixing until it’s fully dissolved. Add the jalapeño to the sugar water and let it come to a boil again. Then, let it simmer for 10 minutes.

3 — Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool completely until it’s back to room temperature. Strain/remove the jalapeños from the simple syrup. Once it cool, it’s ready for mixing cocktails!

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

How to Store Jalapeño Simple Syrup

You can store your jalapeño simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

Ingredients to Make a Spicy Paloma Cocktail

  • Tequila
  • Fresh grapefruit juice — Strained
  • Jalapeño simple syrup — Refer to our recipe.
  • Lime — You’ll only need a squeeze in each cocktail.
  • Grapefruit soda water — We used La Croix, but you can also use regular soda water.
  • Jalapeño slice, sugar and sea salt mixture — For garnishing

 

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make a Spicy Paloma Cocktail

1 —  If you’re dressing up your rim, run a lime wedge across the top of your glass and dip it into the sugar and sea salt mixture before assembling your cocktail.

2 — In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, grapefruit juices, spicy simple syrup, and squeeze of lime juice over ice. Shake and then strain and pour over ice into your dress glass.

3 — If you want an extra spicy version, you can top with a jalapeño slice with the membrane still intact, or remove the seeds and membrane for a mild (and cute!) garnish on top.

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

Other Spicy Cocktails to Try

What do you think?! Are you down for trying a little bit of spice with your summer sips? For our fellow spicy lovers, what are some of your other favorite drinks with a kick? We’re looking to branch out so definitely link to your recipe for me to try! If you love a bit of kick to your cocktails, check out a few of our favorite recipes from our archives —

simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth
photo of the spicy Paloma cocktail recipe by top Houston lifestyle blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth
simple spicy paloma recipe #sipsforsummer - Sugar & Cloth

Spicy Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Print Recipe
4.91 from 22 votes
We’ve added a kick to your traditional Paloma cocktail with some spice!
Total Time40 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Cocktails

Ingredients

For the jalapeño simple syrup:

  • 3 jalapeño pepper
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

For the Paloma:

  • 1 oz tequila
  • 3 oz grapefruit juice strained
  • 1 oz jalapeño simple syrup
  • 1 squeeze lime
  • 1 splash grapefruit soda water or regular soda water
  • 1 jalapeño slice and sugar and sea salt mixture for garnishing

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 1
Calories: 207kcal

Notes

  • Store your jalapeño simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
  • If you don’t want to make the jalapeño simple syrup but still want the spice, add a jalapeño slice or two to the Paloma recipe by itself!
  • You can omit the peppers if you don’t want the kick.

Instructions

To make the jalapeño simple syrup:

  • Prep the jalapeños by removing the stems, slicing into rounds, and then removing the seeds and membrane. You can leave the seeds and membrane intact if you’re wanting it extra spicy, though!
  • Bring the water to a boil and add in the sugar by continuously mixing until it’s fully dissolved. Add the jalapeño to the sugar water and let it come to a boil again, then let it simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool completely until it’s back to room temperature and strain/remove the jalapeños from the simple syrup. Once it cool, it’s ready for mixing cocktails!

To make the Spicy Jalapeño Paloma:

  • If you’re dressing up your rim, run a lime wedge across the top of your glass and dip it into the sugar and sea salt mixture before assembling your cocktail.
  • In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, grapefruit juices, spicy simple syrup, and squeeze of lime juice over ice. Shake and then strain and pour over ice into your dress glass.
  • If you want an extra spicy version, you can top with a jalapeño slice with the membrane still intact, or remove the seeds and membrane for a mild (and cute!) garnish on top.
KEYWORD: spicy paloma recipe

Don’t forget to share your Spicy Paloma drink with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? Find them all right here!

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4.91 from 22 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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18 Comments

  1. These were so good! Thank you for the recipe! So I actually wanted to make a large batch for a party- one punch bowl served about 10-15. I doubled the recipe for the jalapeño simple syrup. For the rest I used 2 cups tequila, 2 cups jalapeño simple syrup, 3 cups grapfruit juice plus half of a fresh grapfruit squeezed into bowl with pulp. About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lime. I just eyed this one- I used lime juice and fresh squeezed limes and just tasted it till I thought it was enough. I then cute grapefruit rounds and lime rounds as garnish for the punch bowl. Served over ice this drink was a huge hit!!5 stars

  2. I made these for my NYE party and they were a huge hit! A couple tips. One is that if you remove all the seeds from the jalapenos and only let them simmer for 10 min, the syrup will not get spicy. I ended up simmering for about 30 min, at which point i took some of the seeds i removed and added them in. so i recommend leaving the seeds in, simmering 10 min, then taste to see where you’re at. another recommendation – use a touch less tequila and then sub in a little bit of mezcal. it makes the cocktail even more complex with that hint of smokiness. cheers!5 stars

  3. It’s so funny that you posted this, just saw where Svedka vodka makes a Grapefruit & Jalapeno vodka this weekend, didn’t sound very good, but this recipe makes the combo sound better! :)5 stars

  4. I will be sipping this on the beach tomorrow- thank you! Jalapeño is such a wonderful summer treat.5 stars

  5. Looks delicious!!! I would probably be TKO after one. I hope game night consists of Quelf and Bananagrams. Both of these are the best.

  6. Love this ! I have a simple go to recipe for spicy drink which is mainly coconut water with jalapeno and a little mint. Love it … for the extra kick throw in a little vodka ;) Also, how great are those gold coasters!!! where are they from?5 stars