I love adding a fresh twist to classic cocktails, and the Lavender Paloma is honestly one of my favorites.

This recipe combines bright grapefruit and lime with floral lavender syrup and crisp tequila for a unique drink. It’s perfect for warm days or, honestly, whenever I’m craving something refreshing and a little different.

Every time I make this cocktail, I get compliments—not just on the taste but also on that beautiful, soft color.

With just a handful of ingredients and basic tools, you can pull off a bar-quality drink without leaving your kitchen.

Lavender Paloma Cocktail Recipe

I like to whip up a Lavender Paloma when I want something that’s both refreshing and a bit floral. This recipe brings together the citrusy punch of grapefruit, a subtle hit of lavender, and, of course, a little fizz.

John

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Serving Size

Equipment

Ingredients

2 oz tequila blanco works best
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz lime juice
0.75 oz lavender simple syrup “see notes”
2 oz club soda
Grapefruit slice or wheel for garnish
Lavender sprig optional, for garnish
Salt for glass rim, optional
Ice cubes

Instructions

If you want, rub a wedge of grapefruit on the rim of your glass and dip it in salt.

Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and lavender syrup to a shaker with ice.
Shake it up well—about 15 seconds does the trick.

Strain the mix into your prepared glass over the ice.
Top with club soda and give it a gentle stir with your bar spoon.
Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and maybe a sprig of lavender if you’ve got it.

Notes

To make lavender simple syrup, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender in a small saucepan.

Heat it until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool and strain out the lavender.

Fresh grapefruit juice makes a big difference here, so I always squeeze it myself if I can.

The club soda adds a nice fizz at the end—don’t skip it. Adjust the lavender syrup to taste if you want more or less floral notes.

No cocktail shaker? Just stir everything except the soda in a glass first, then add club soda after. And definitely use edible lavender for the syrup—better safe than sorry.

Tasting Notes

When I take a sip of the Lavender Paloma, the floral aroma hits first. It’s subtle, not too much, and it plays nicely with the tartness of the grapefruit.

The drink itself is crisp and light, with a little sweetness from the syrup and a gentle bitterness from the grapefruit juice.

The tequila adds a bit of warmth and depth. And I kind of love how the bubbles from the soda make each sip feel extra lively.

Key notes I notice most:

Fresh grapefruit tang right on the tongue

Hints of smooth lavender weaving through
Sweetness is balanced, never cloying

The aftertaste is clean, with just a touch of herbal lingering. The lavender hangs around, but doesn’t try to steal the show.

Must Have Ingredients

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Substitute

Sometimes I’ve got to swap out ingredients if I don’t have everything for a Lavender Paloma. Here are some options I actually use, depending on what’s in my kitchen:

Possible Ingredient Substitutes:

Lavender Simple Syrup:
- If I’m out of the syrup, I’ll grab plain simple syrup and toss in a drop of lavender extract.
- Honey syrup does the trick, too, but it brings a slightly different vibe to the drink.
Tequila:
- Sometimes, I’ll reach for mezcal instead, just to get that smoky kick.
- If I want to skip the alcohol, club soda or sparkling water stands in for tequila.
Grapefruit Juice:
- Orange juice is my go-to backup when grapefruit juice runs out.
- Honestly, I’ve mixed lemon-lime soda with a splash of lime juice when I’m desperate—it’s not the same, but it works in a pinch.

Substitute Equipment:

No cocktail shaker? I just use a mason jar with a lid. Works fine for me.
If I can’t find my bar spoon (which happens a lot), a fork or regular spoon gets the job done.

Instructions When Using Substitutes:

I combine the substitutes just like I would with the original stuff.
Shake or stir, whatever the recipe says—no need to overthink it.
I’ll taste and tweak the sweetness or tartness until it hits the spot.

Lavender Paloma Cocktail Recipe