Jalapaloma

This month Mixology Monday is being hosted by Feu de Vie. Check out all the fiery entries here: fire drinks The theme is fire and it has me a little indecisive. Do I infuse something with chilis? Do I go over the top and make a drink that you ignite before serving? Do I go super subtle and just use bourbon, because it is aged in charred oak barrels? Do I infuse a smoky ingredient rather than a fiery ingredient like black cardamom or lapsang suchang tea? Uggh.

           

My wonderful girlfriend reminded me that I made a chili version of a Paloma last week that we both really enjoyed. So that's settled. When I made the original drink, I used jalapeno tequila made by Karen at Little Baby's Icecream. They were experimenting on a weirdo ice cream flavor, as they always do, and it didn't pan out and they had left over booze. I bake cookies for them and Karen knows I like making cocktails so she gave me what they had left over.

I looked up some jalapeno infused tequila recipes/ recommendations on the internet and I didn't believe them. However, I think they were right. I ended up testing a batch which was 1 small jalapeno, sliced  crosswise then infused in 1/2 C tequila for 30 mins. It was so incredibly spicy!!! Not unbearably so, but so much more than I expected. Most infusions (except tea) I do for days if not weeks so 30 mins didn't seem like much. Half a chili in a cup of booze is what Id recommend. Or use more chili for less time. Or if you like heat, do it the way I did and add a little more lime and salt to help balance out all that spicy. {But I don't recommend it, I prefer the more subtle spiciness.} And my camera died while procrastinating my cocktail homework so here's just a pic of chilies infusing....

Jalapaloma

2 oz jalapeno infused tequila
4 oz grapefruit soda
wedge of lime
pinch of salt

Build in an ice filled collins glass. Squeeze the lime, throw it in and stir.
To make jalapeno infused tequila, leave half a deseeded jalapeno in 8 oz tequila for 30 mins.
You can rim the glass with salt if you love salty things, but at least throw a pinch in the drink, its really nice. 

La Paloma

I've been getting more into tequila in the warmer months and many fun new cocktails have been brought to my attention now. (I've also been so hot that I'm too lazy to make cocktails and drink lager tallboys like its going out of style.) There's always margaritas, so sour and refreshing, but sometimes, especially in the heat, you want a bigger drink that lets you drink more without having to drink a pint of margarita. Enter La Paloma. It is basically grapefruit soda and tequila. Maybe with lime and salt, as most Mexican things like to be garnished. The sum is greater than the parts here folks. Somehow, this transforms into a magically delicious, how did they think of that?, profoundly enjoyable experience.

With such a simple recipe, the door is open to infinite variation and experimentation. I bought some Italian grapefruit soda at Trader Joes, specifically to make La Paloma. It is cane sugar sweetened, which i like. I also bought the same packaged blood orange soda. Luckily for me, the internet already decided that La Paloma also works with blood orange soda. Really well, in fact. I got this idea from Aida Mollenkamp. I am really bad at rimming glasses with salt, or anything really. I dont like salt rimmed margaritas and have not practiced much because of it. This drink made me want to perfect thyme salt rims. (I have not yet though.)

La Paloma

2 oz tequila
1/2 lime, squeezed and thrown in
pinch salt
grapefruit soda to taste

Build in a highball filled with ice. I've made with Reposado and Blanco tequila with great results. I've only tried with Tjs soda, but Pellegrino and Jarritos both make grapefruit soda too.

Blood Orange and Thyme Paloma 
from Aida



12 sprigs fresh thyme leaves removed and roughly chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt such as Maldon
Ice
2 ounces 100% agave silver tequila
1/2 ounces freshly-squeezed lime juice
6 ounces Blood Orange Soda such as San Pellegrino

Chop thyme and mix with salt. Put on a small plate, rub the glass with a lime wedge and roll it in thymey salt. I used lemon thyme because i am growing it and it is the most delicious thyme one could eat. I used Tjs blood orange soda. It was so good that I made 2 in a row. I am very bad at rimming a glass though...