Swap the Tequila for Mezcal and Your Paloma Becomes a Fall Drink
The Paloma is usually associated with warm weather, bright citrus, and long summer afternoons. But with one simple swap, it transitions surprisingly well into fall.
For this Smoky Paloma Twist, mezcal takes the place of tequila, adding a deeper, smoky character that pairs naturally with grapefruit and lime. Collins Paloma Simple Syrup keeps the citrus flavor bright and balanced, while soda water gives the finished drink a crisp, refreshing finish.
It still tastes like a Paloma, just with a little more depth for cooler evenings and the start of a new season.
Smoky Paloma Twist
Ingredients
- 2 oz mezcal
- 1 oz Collins Paloma Simple Syrup
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Soda water
- Grapefruit slice or Collins Dehydrated Grapefruit Garnish, for garnish
Preparation
Add the mezcal, Collins Paloma Simple Syrup, and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake until well chilled, then strain into an ice-filled glass.
Top with soda water.
Finish with a grapefruit slice or Collins Dehydrated Grapefruit Garnish and serve.
Why Mezcal Changes the Paloma
A classic Paloma is usually built around tequila, grapefruit, and citrus. Swapping in mezcal keeps the familiar structure of the cocktail while changing its overall character.
Mezcal brings smoky, earthy notes that contrast with the bright grapefruit flavor and fresh lime. The result feels richer and more complex without becoming heavy.
That makes it an easy way to take a cocktail you already know and move it into a new season without completely reinventing the recipe.
From Summer Paloma to Fall Paloma
Seasonal cocktails don’t always require an entirely new ingredient list.
Sometimes changing the base spirit is enough.
Where a tequila Paloma feels light and sunny, a mezcal Paloma has a little more warmth and depth. Collins Paloma Simple Syrup ties both versions together, making it easy to keep the grapefruit flavor consistent while changing the personality of the drink.
It’s a simple transition for that stretch of the year when the afternoons can still feel like summer but the evenings are starting to feel unmistakably like fall.
Keep the Finish Bright
Even with the smokier mezcal base, the Paloma should still taste refreshing.
Fresh lime juice adds acidity, while soda water lightens the cocktail and keeps the grapefruit flavor crisp. A grapefruit garnish finishes the drink with an extra citrus accent and a polished presentation.
For an easy bar-cart option, Collins Dehydrated Grapefruit Garnish gives the cocktail a ready-to-use finishing touch.
Featured Collins Products
Collins Paloma Simple Syrup, 12.7 oz
An easy way to bring balanced grapefruit flavor to Palomas and other citrus-forward cocktails without building the mixer from scratch.
Collins Dehydrated Grapefruit Garnish, 1.3 oz
A convenient finishing touch for Palomas and other grapefruit cocktails, ready whenever your drink needs a polished citrus garnish.
A Paloma for the Start of Fall
The first days of fall don’t necessarily call for heavy cocktails.
The Smoky Paloma Twist keeps everything refreshing while adding just enough depth to fit the season. Mezcal brings the smoke, grapefruit keeps things bright, and Collins Paloma Simple Syrup makes the whole drink easy to put together.
It’s proof that sometimes moving a favorite cocktail from one season to the next only takes one good swap.