This is a quick spin on the original paloma drink which is made with tequila! A fresh punch of citrus lime stands up well to whiskey in this limey and vibrant grapefruit whiskey cocktail that you can sip on all summer long!
The traditional paloma-inspired combination of lime and grapefruit marry stunningly well with whiskey in this refreshing pink grapefruit whiskey cocktail with a curiously delicious twist!
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This delicious pink grapefruit cocktail will be at the top of your summer list when you’re looking for something refreshing, tasty, and unique.
The sparkling grapefruit juice in this whiskey paloma plays well with lime, whiskey, and a little salted rim. It’s crisp, refershing and right down delicious. Perfect for anyone in need of whiskey drinks that lean on the thirst-quenching refreshing side or for anyone who enjoys crisp sparkling grapefruit cocktails.
The whiskey flavor literally mixes in and melts away into the fizzing grapefruit flavor. The whiskey, grapefruit, and perfuminess of the fresh lime become totally one. The salty rim just takes it over the top. It’s so simple… but man, it’s good.
A Simple and Delicious Grapefruit Whiskey Cocktail For Summer (or any Occasion)
A super easy and refreshing summer drink always starts with juicy fresh citrus.
For that pink citrus pop I used a sparkling pink grapefruit juice by Fever-Tree.
It’s only lightly sweet and brings a fizzy refreshing finish to this easy grapefruit whiskey cocktail. It is one of my favorites for using in easy grapefruit cocktails kinda like I did in this stunning Empress gin Antique Rose cocktail.
If you want to see how this sparkling grapefruit plays out in a traditional tequila paloma, plus a little jalapeño, check out this spicy jalapeño paloma with tequila!
A Whiskey Paloma Is Just as Refreshing…
Now here’s where the twist comes in! Instead of the silver tequila you would add in a regular paloma, I’ll add whiskey. This is what makes it a whiskey paloma! The swapping out of the tequila for whiskey switches everything up, but it’s equally tasty, yet unexpected.
If you haven’t tried a fun mixed cocktail like this, you’ll find that this one is bright, refreshing, and easy to splash together…
Ingredients To Make a sparkling pink grapefruit whiskey drink
- Whiskey – such as Jameson (alternatively, your favorite bourbon)
- Fresh Lime – for squeezing in plus sliced for garnish
- Simple Syrup
- Sparkling Grapefruit Juice – such as Fever Tree grapefruit
- Grapefruit Sparkling Water – such as La Croix grapefruit or Bubbly brand grapefruit
- Coarse salt – for cocktail rim
How To Make a Sparkling Pink Whiskey Grapefruit Drink
To make this cocktail simply grab your glass and rub it with a lime wedge. Dip your glass in a little coarse salt to create a salted rim.
add whiskey to your pink paloma
Now fill your glass about halfway with fresh ice and splash in your whiskey. I recommend slender highball glasses like these for a nice presentation on a tasty cocktail like this one!
What Kind of Whiskey Can I mix with Grapefruit?
You can use your favorite whiskey, but, I find that smooth tasting whiskeys with nice clean flavors like Jameson (or even some Canadian whiskeys like Crown Royal) work best because they don’t overpower the grapefruit and lime flavors.
They blend in flawlessly and give the cocktail plenty of room to keep its refreshing balance of flavors.
add grapefruit juice and lime to your summer whiskey cocktail
Now splash in a little simple syrup and squeeze in all the juice from a lime wedge. Top it all off with sparkling pink grapefruit juice and give it a good but gentle stir with a spoon.
Garnish this easy fever tree grapefruit cocktail with lots of fresh thin-sliced lime. Optionally, sometimes I like to finish mine with a little splash of grapefruit sparkling water. Serve chilled.
Be sure to serve this as an easy Jameson whiskey drink for St. Patrick’s day, or as a fizzy spring or summer cocktail to keep cool and refreshed as we make our way into the warmer seasons!
Pink Whiskey Paloma | A Delicious Grapefruit Whiskey Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Bourbon or Whiskey - Your favorite brand. I used Jameson.
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 1 wedge Fresh Lime
- Sparkling Grapefruit Juice - I used Fever-Tree Pink Grapefruit
- Grapefruit Sparkling Water - optional – for topping off at the end
- Coarse Sea Salt - for rimming glass
Instructions
- Rub with rim of your rocks glass with a wedge of lime and dip it in a little coarse sea salt. Set aside.
- Fill a tall cocktail glass with ice 3/4 of the way up. Pour in whiskey and squeeze in the full juice of one fresh lime wedge.
- Now pour in the simple syrup and top it all off with the sparkling grapefruit juice. Using a spoon, stir everyting together until totally chilled through.
- Garnish liberally with thinly sliced lime wheels and optionally, top off with a finishing splash of La Croix Hibiscus sparkling water, or plain sparkling water, if desired.
- Serve cold, serve immediately.
