Spring is fully here, and with it: brunch season. We’re going to spend the month celebrating the greatest of all meals, starting with an earthy but effervescent Blackberry Paloma. – Andrew

Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Blackberry Paloma

1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila
1 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Agave Syrup
4-5 Blackberries
Grapefruit Soda

Combine the tequila, lime juice, and agave syrup (rich simple syrup will do in a pinch) with the blackberries in the bottom of a shaker. Muddle the blackberries, then fill the shaker two-thirds full with large square ice cubes. Shake well and double-strain (using a tea strainer or a strainer spoon with a tight coil) into a chilled flute. Top with grapefruit soda and enjoy!

The Paloma – which means dove in Spanish – is a popular Mexican tequila cocktail. With its earthy agave, tart lime, and sweet, fizzy grapefruit flavors, it’s also a perfect brunch drink, light and airy and flavorful. (We’re big fans of using Izze Sparkling Grapefruit Juice in place of soda here.) Blackberries lend this drink a sweet seasonal fruitiness and a gorgeous magenta color.

I suspect we’ll be spending a lot of time with fizzy drinks this month – there’s just something about brunch and sparkling cocktails that makes sense.

(Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, where we’ve been posting our experiments before they make their way onto this column!)

Glassware by Liquorary 

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper