The Winter Paloma is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as a winter-inspired variation of the Paloma. Based on a similar recipe published in Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH, this version calls for smoky mezcal as the base spirit instead of tequila and pairs it with the classic's grapefruit, lime, and soda water. Instead of muddling sage leaves, however, this adds a homemade salted sage syrup for more savory and herbal flavors.
Add mezcal, grapefruit juice, salted sage syrup, and lime juice to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Add fresh cracked ice to a highball glass.
Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain into highball glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with sage leaves.