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This Brown Sugar Sage Ginger Paloma is a tried and true favorite that everyone can enjoy. Homemade ginger syrup with fresh sage and star anise, mixed with grapefruit juice and tequila if you choose. Then topped off with bubbly grapefruit ginger seltzer for the perfect holiday drink. Great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all of your upcoming holiday parties. Make a large batch to serve to family and friends this season, this is so easy to create.
If you look back through the 7 pages of cocktail recipes on this website, you’ll see one of the first-ever drinks I shared was a Pomegranate Ginger Paloma. It’s a cocktail I make every season, often times I’ll make it spicy. But my White Christmas Mojito, North Pole Cocktail, and Christmas Sangria are the drinks that got me excited to explore holiday cocktails even more.
Since first creating those recipes, I’ve really enjoyed sharing new holiday drinks every single November and December. Sharing a new Paloma recipe brings back all those memories of learning how to properly mix a drink. I was just starting out!
And today we’ve got a fresh new Paloma recipe. It has a sage ginger syrup that really highlights the wonderful flavors of this holiday season.
You can create a pitcher for a crowd or omit the alcohol altogether and mix up a mocktail. Whatever option you choose, this is the perfect drink to kick off Thanksgiving week and welcome yet another busy holiday season!
The details
Step 1: make the sage and ginger syrup
It’s a mix of brown sugar or honey, I usually use honey, but brown sugar does add a bit of holiday specialness. Then fresh ginger, sage, and star anise. The star anise adds a hint of peppery spice, but it’s not intense, it’s just right.
Step 2: the salted vanilla sugar
We all know I love to add an air of specialness to each cocktail. For this drink, it’s the salted vanilla sugar around the rim of each glass.
Now the salty rim isn’t a must, but it sure is delicious. A mix of flaked Maldon sea salt, coarse sugar, and vanilla extract really makes this Paloma sparkle.
Step 3: the Paloma
Mix the grapefruit juice, lime, and tequila (if using). Add as much syrup as you’d like, then top the drink off with a grapefruit seltzer or ginger beer. I love to use the Betty Buzz grapefruit seltzer. It’s very bubbly and not too sweet.
Looking for other easy Thanksgiving cocktails?? Here are my favorites:
Spicy Pomegranate Ginger Paloma
Lastly, if you make this Brown Sugar Sage Ginger Paloma, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Sage Ginger Paloma
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 227 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Sage Ginger Syrup
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
- 1 inch fresh ginger sliced
- 1/3 cup fresh sage leaves
- 1 star anise
Paloma
- 3 ounces (1/3 cup) grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) silver tequila
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/3 cup sparkling grapefruit seltzer or ginger beer
- pomegranate arils, for serving
Salted Vanilla Sugar
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. To make the sage ginger syrup, bring 1/2 cup water, honey, ginger, sage, and star anise to a boil over high heat. Once boiling simmer for 1-2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.2. On a small plate, mix the salt and coarse sugar. Dip the rim of the glass into a thin layer of vanilla extract. Then dip the glass into the salt mix.3. Fill your glass with ice. Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, and lime juice. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the sage ginger syrup. Stir to combine, then top with seltzer/ginger beer. Garnish with pomegranate and fresh sage. Enjoy!4. To Make a Mocktail: omit the tequila and add 2 tablespoons of additional grapefruit juice and 2 tablespoons of additional seltzer/ginger beer.
Sage Ginger Paloma Pitcher
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 227 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
Sage Ginger Syrup
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 1/3 cup fresh sage leaves
- 1 star anise
Pitcher
- 2 cups grapefruit juice
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 bottles (12 ounce) sparkling grapefruit seltzer or ginger beer
- pomegranate arils, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, add the grapefruit juice, tequila (if using), lime juice, and sage ginger syrup. Chill until ready to serve.2. When ready to serve, if desired, rim glasses in vanilla salt (recipe above), and fill with ice. Pour the beverage into prepared glasses. Top with seltzer.3. Garnish with pomegranate and sage. 4. To Make a Mocktail: omit the tequila and use 3/4 cup of additional grapefruit juice and 3/4 cup of additional seltzer.
This post was originally published on November 18, 2023
Hi Tieghan,
I am going to try to make this for Thanksgiving 2025, serving 8 people. I increased the measurements in your recipe, but I couldn’t get the vanilla salt to print. What would the measurement be for the vanilla salt recipe for 8 people? Just trying to balance it out.
Thanks.
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
You can keep the same measurements for the vanilla salt:) It’s just for rimming the glasses so it should be just fine. Cheers!
How much simple syrup are you adding in the pitcher?
Hi Adriana,
You are going to use all of the simple syrup for the pitcher. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Can you make this as a batch in big pitcher vs individually?
Hey Britney,
Totally! The pitcher instructions are written above:) I hope you love this recipe! Happy Thanksgiving! xx
How much syrup do you put in each drink? And do you strain the sage and ginger out of it before storing or serving?
Hi Kelsey,
Yes, you can strain the sage and ginger out before serving. You are going to add 2-3 tablespoons of the syrup. I hope this helps! Cheers! xx
The Sage Ginger Paloma is not a mocktail. Even without the tequilla.
Vanilla extractois half alcohol. Beware!