In honor of my birthday month, August’s Lyrics & Libations is my favorite cocktail – the smoky paloma! And it’s paired with the perfect birthday banger!

Go, go, go, go go, go, go, shawty.
It’s your birthday.
We gon’ party like it’s yo birthday.
We gon’ sip palomas like it’s your birthday.
And you know we don’t give a f*** it’s not your birthday!

That’s how the lyrics go, right?!

Because I was home last weekend and celebrated with my mom and sister, celebrated with Pat on Monday, celebrated with Simple Mills cakes on Tuesday, and then co-workers yesterday, AND obliviously with Lyrics & Libations today, it feels like my birthday is never ending!

I almost forgot – I have been celebrating all week long with FIVE giveaways on my Instagram… have you entered?!

My favorite cocktail of all time is the Smoky Paloma at Taverna 750.

Traditionally, a paloma tastes similar to a margarita – tequila, lime juice, a little simple syrup, with a salted rim. But palomas have freshly squeezed grapefruit juice added making it tart and refreshing and exactly what I want to be sipping on my birthday.

Taverna’s paloma was incredibly special. Think:

• smoked glass
• vanilla bourbon ice cube
• cocktail prepared tableside

It was the real deal. But my favorite thing about that drink was the smokiness. Personally, I do not own a smoker, so recreating it in the traditional way was not going to happen. BUT, a simple ingredient swap yields the same result.

Enter: mezcal – tequilas smoky, sultry cousin. It is so very nice to meet you.

And birthday drinks would be boring without a birthday jam! I went for some old school rap this month. I mean, was there even another choice?!

Also, this is the first time I watched this music video. Hysterical. I seriously love old school rap even when the videos are ridiculous.

But trust me, you won’t find me in the club on my birthday. You’ll find me sipping on a smoky paloma and most likely in bed by 9:30.

Are there any drinks you would like to see on Lyrics & Libations?

If you make this Smoky Paloma (and listen to ‘In Da Club’!), post a picture on social media and use the hashtag #HBNlyricsandlibations for a chance to be featured!

Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin’ | Pinterest | Twitter

L&L Birthday Edition: Paloma // In Da Club

• Author: Ellie
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 1 drink, multiples easily 1x
• Category: Drink

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

---

Description

A tart and refreshing cocktail to cool you down on summer days. Grapefruit and tequila pair together to offer a delicious alternative to a margarita!

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lime wedge
• Kosher salt
• Ice
• 2 ounces mezcal
• 1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce chilled lime club soda
• 1 lime wedge, for garnish

---

Instructions

1. Moisten the outer rim of a rocks glass with a lime wedge and coat lightly with salt. Fill the glass with ice.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the mezcal, grapefruit and lime juices and simple syrup; shake well. Strain into the glass, stir in the club soda and garnish with a lime wedge.

---

Keywords: drink, cocktail, paloma, grapefruit, tequila

Make sure you pin this for later!