This Brown Sugar Sage Ginger Paloma is one of those drinks that never fails—it’s a total favorite, and honestly, everyone loves it. Imagine a homemade ginger syrup infused with fresh sage and star anise, mixed with bright, tangy grapefruit juice and a splash of tequila (if you’re feeling it). Then, to make it extra festive, it’s topped off with bubbly grapefruit ginger seltzer for that perfect little fizz. It’s the kind of drink that just screams holiday cheer—great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any party you’ve got coming up. And the best part? It’s so easy to make, you can whip up a big batch in no time to serve to all your family and friends.
If you take a little trip back through the 7 pages of cocktail recipes on this site, you’ll find one of the very first drinks I ever posted—a Pomegranate Ginger Paloma. That one’s a classic for me, something I make every single year, and sometimes I’ll even spice it up if I’m in the mood. But really, it was my White Christmas Mojito, North Pole Cocktail, and Christmas Sangria that got me totally hooked on coming up with fun holiday drinks.
Ever since I first made those recipes, I’ve made it a little tradition of mine to share a brand-new holiday cocktail every November and December. And now, bringing back a fresh Paloma recipe feels extra special because it reminds me of when I was just starting out—back when I was still figuring out how to mix drinks the right way!
But today, we’re taking it up a notch with this new Paloma. The star here is the sage ginger syrup, which really brings out all those warm, cozy flavors that just feel like the holidays.
And the best part? You can totally customize it. Make a whole pitcher for a crowd, or leave out the alcohol and turn it into a mocktail—either way, it’s the perfect drink to kick off Thanksgiving week and get ready for all the busy, fun chaos of the season.
The Details
Step 1: Make the Sage Ginger Syrup
This syrup is what makes the drink so good. You’ll need brown sugar or honey (I usually use honey, but brown sugar gives it a little extra holiday magic), plus fresh ginger, sage, and star anise. The star anise adds just a tiny hint of peppery spice—nothing too strong, just enough to make it feel warm and festive.
Step 2: The Salted Vanilla Sugar Rim
Okay, you know I can’t resist adding a little something special to every cocktail, and for this one, it’s all about the salted vanilla sugar rim.
Now, you could skip the salty rim if you want… but why would you? It’s so good! Just mix together Maldon sea salt flakes, coarse sugar, and a little vanilla extract, and suddenly your Paloma feels extra fancy.
Step 3: Mix Up the Paloma
Now for the fun part—putting it all together! Grab some grapefruit juice, lime, and tequila (if you’re using it), then stir in as much of that delicious sage ginger syrup as you like. Top the whole thing off with grapefruit seltzer or ginger beer—my personal favorite is Betty Buzz grapefruit seltzer because it’s super fizzy and not too sweet.
