Toronha Cocktail

The margarita is undoubtedly the most popular tequila cocktail the world over, followed by the Paloma. The Toromha cocktail is a close cousin of the margarita and is believed to have been invented by the Tequila Tezon company. The “Toronha” name comes from “toronja” (the Spanish word for grapefruit) and takes the extra ‘h’ from the tahona wheel used in tequila’s production.

Toronha is a cocktail with a citrusy fusion. Orange liqueur and grenadine do just enough to take the edge off the sharpness of the grapefruit juice. Although I have never been a huge fan of frozen margaritas, this drink intrigued me after hearing about it.

In this recipe, I use silver or “blanco” tequila, but if you have a particular reposado tequila that you love, it’s also fine to use that. This cocktail also calls for an orange liqueur, for most home bars, triple sec is the standard. There are many citrus liqueurs out there, be sure you use a good one. Cointreau is the gold standard triple sec, but it’s expensive. In the case of Cointreau, you get what you pay for and that’s why every bar out there stocks it.

Gran Mariner is one of the finest orange liqueurs in the Curacao tradition. But be forwarded, it is not triple sec. Most cocktail recipes, like my Toronha, use only a small amount of triple sec, so remember it’s worth the investment. A small bottle of Cointreau could last you a long time. And just like triple sec, don’t skimp on the grapefruit juice. When it comes to citrus in cocktails, fresh is always best and can make or break the drink in a heartbeat.

As summer is winding down and life is restarting, give this lovely, refreshing Toronha cocktail a whirl and hold onto all the good things summer 2021 has allowed you to do and experience with friends and family again.