ONIMA recipes
Spicy Basil Mezcal Paloma with Habanero Koji
When creating a cocktail that will be remembered, it's necessary to break from tradition. This variant on the paloma does just that by using Habanero Koji, adding complexity through heat. Smoky depth from mezcal, Aperol’s bittersweetness, and the tangy grapefruit syrup work together in harmony.
- Yield
- Serves 1
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Total Time
- 5 minutes
Original recipe
Ingredients
- .75oz grapefruit syrup
- .75oz Aperol
- 1.5oz mezcal
- A few dashes of Habanero Koji hot sauce
- Basil oil, for garnish
- Tajin, for rimming the glass
- Ice
Step by step
-
Mix the Ingredients
Combine the grapefruit syrup, Aperol, mezcal, and Habanero Koji hot sauce in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
-
Prepare the Glass
Rim a glass with Tajin. Strain the shaken mixture into the glass.
-
Garnish
Garnish the surface of the drink with 5-10 drops of basil oil.
The whole recipe, at a glance
Your cooking chart.
Read each branch from left to right. Colored blocks show what comes together; separate preparations meet when it’s time to combine or serve. Tap a block for the full method.
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| Ingredients | Preparation flow | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| .75oz grapefruit syrup | Shake grapefruit syrup, Aperol, mezcal and Habanero Koji vigorously with ice. | Rim the glass with Tajín, then strain the shaken drink into it. | Garnish the surface with drops of basil oil; see the full method for the amount. |
| .75oz Aperol | |||
| 1.5oz mezcal | |||
| A few dashes of Habanero Koji hot sauce | |||
| Ice | |||
| Tajin, for rimming the glass | |||
| Basil oil, for garnish | |||
Habanero Koji offers its full-bodied spiciness and raises the bar of what is otherwise an ordinary drink. With every sip, more layers are exposed; intensifying the mezcal’s herbaceous nature. The grapefruit syrup imparts citrusy brightness, ensuring that the heat doesn’t overwhelm but instead complements all the intricate flavors.
Accentuated with a hint of highly aromatic basil oil, this cocktail has an aromatic finish that refreshes. Even if you have been mixing drinks for years or if you simply want to try out new things—don’t skip past this Habanero Koji infused riff on the classic paloma.