Grapefruit Mint Margarita {Mint Paloma}

Instead of muddled mint, this Grapefruit Mint Margarita recipe (also known as a Mint Paloma) uses a mint simple syrup. Add in freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, tequila, and lime juice and you'll fall in love with this super refreshing grapefruit cocktail!

It's that time of year where we're starting to think about putting our gardens to bed... But our mint plants have plans of their own and are still growing like crazy!

Mint is one of those herbs that will take over any space you give it. And then start creeping into all of the space you don't give it. It does what it wants when it wants to.

Luckily, it's delicious and there's so much you can do with it. Of course, one of my very favorite things to do with mint is to make cocktails.

This Grapefruit Mint Margarita will quickly become your favorite way to move from summer into fall. And will help you get that mint plant under control.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

There are lots of reasons to love this recipe, especially if you're a grapefruit fan! It's made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (you can certainly use store-bought juice, but I always think fresh is best!) and packed with grapefruit flavor.

I love mint cocktails, but I'm not a big fan of muddled mint. I hate how it sits on the bottom of your cocktail glass, until you take a sip when it starts floating around the glass.

The simple solution? Make a mint flavored simple syrup! With that, it's easy to add a little bit of sweetness and mint flavor to drinks.

So, this grapefruit mint margarita has a delicious grapefruit and mint flavor and leaves nothing floating around your glass! Aside from a little bit of pretty mint garnish if you decide to use it.

What's the Difference Between a Grapefruit Margarita and a Paloma?

Great question! And the answer really depends since people make margaritas and palomas in all kinds of different ways. This recipe could really be considered either depending on your thoughts on how each should be made.

Both grapefruit margaritas and palomas have grapefruit, tequila, and lime in them, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily the same. Here are some thoughts:

• Traditionally palomas are made with grapefruit soda as opposed to freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, but lots of people make them with grapefruit juice anyway. This drink is made with juice rather than soda.

• Margaritas usually have Cointreau or another type of orange liquor in them, but sometimes they have different types of sweeteners. I didn't want to take away from the grapefruit flavor in this cocktail, so I used the simple syrup instead of orange liquor.

Ingredients

The ingredients in this grapefruit mint margarita are simple and include:

• Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (use store-bought if you can't get freshly squeezed)
• Tequila
• Mint simple syrup
• Lime juice

You may also want coarse salt or sugar to rim your glass and fresh mint and grapefruit wedges for garnish.

How to Make Mint Simple Syrup

I have a whole tutorial on making mint simple syrup, but will give you the basics for how to make it here. It's so easy and you only need 3 ingredients!

Just put 1 cup water, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 12 mint leaves in a medium saucepan, stir, and bring to a boil.

Lower to a simmer and let mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup has thickened.

Now, remove saucepan from heat and pour mixture through a fine mesh sieve to strain mint leaves out and into a heat-proof bowl or mason jar.

Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.

How to Make Grapefruit Mint Margaritas

As with most margaritas and palomas, this cocktail is incredibly easy to make.

The toughest part is getting the juice out of the grapefruit. But look how pretty that ruby red juice is!

You can typically get about ¾ cups juice out of one grapefruit. Which means you should be able to make two of these mint palomas with one grapefruit.

I also like to salt the rims of my cocktail glasses. You can use coarse sugar instead, if you prefer. But I love a good salty margarita!

Once your juice is ready, pour grapefruit juice, tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and pour into prepared glass.

Top your glasses with fresh mint and little grapefruit wedges.

This is a really pretty cocktail and perfect for any grapefruit lover! Plus, how lovely is it that there's no mashed up mint floating around the glass?

Despite no visible mint leaves floating around, this paloma is still filled with fresh mint flavor thanks to the mint simple syrup!

And grapefruit and mint is really a flavor match made in heaven.

More Grapefruit Cocktails

I'm a huge grapefruit fan and have lots of drink recipes featuring grapefruit here at We are not Martha. Here are some of my favorites:

• Spicy Grapefruit Margarita
• Grapefruit Lillet Cocktail
• Grapefruit Blood Orange Cocktail
• Grapefruit Maple Derby
• Spicy Roasted Grapefruit Margaritas
• Triple Grapefruit Fizz
• Grapefruit Rosemary Sparkler (from Fake Ginger)
• Sea Breeze Cocktail (from Belly Full)

And if you're really obsessed with grapefruit, you need to try this Creamy Grapefruit Salmon!

Since the homemade mint simple syrup will stay good in your fridge for about a month, you can make it now and still be enjoying your summer mint well into fall.

This is the kind of margarita that knows no season and can be enjoyed year-round!

📖 Recipe