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This Paloma drink recipe pairs tequila and grapefruit to make the most refreshing sweet tart classic cocktail!
Looking for a refreshing tequila cocktail? Try the Paloma! Cousin of the margarita, the Paloma is a a classic Mexican cocktail that features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime. Switching up the citrus makes for a simple sour that’s sweet tart and refreshing. It’s perfect for happy hour drinks, or water it down and it could be a brunch drink too. Add a salt rim and you’re in business! This is one of our favorite cocktails of all time, and here’s how to make it.
What’s in a Paloma cocktail?
Why is it called a Paloma? Paloma means “dove” in Spanish. The history around the drink is a bit murky, though many believe it to have originated in the 1950’s. Some attribute the drink to a legendary bartender in Tequila, Mexico, Don Javier Delgado Corona (source). It’s possible it could be named after a popular folk song called “La Paloma.”
However it originated, the classic Paloma is just two ingredients: tequila and grapefruit soda. However, you can also make it with homemade soda using fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, and soda water. It turns out perfectly balanced: sweet, tart, and with the sharp undertone of tequila. Make whatever version you prefer! Here are the ingredients in this Paloma cocktail:
- Tequila
- Lime juice
- Grapefruit soda OR grapefruit juice, simple syrup and soda water
Love grapefruit cocktails? Try the Greyhound, Salty Dog Cocktail, Brown Derby, Hemingway Daiquiri, or Sea Breeze.
How to make a Paloma (3 basic steps!)
A Paloma is a laid-back tequila drink that’s so easy to make, you don’t even need a cocktail shaker! Outside of making the salt rim, it’s simply stirred together right in the glass.
- Rim the glass with salt. The salt isn’t just for looks: it enhances the overall flavor of the drink!
- Stir tequila, grapefruit, lime and syrup in the glass. This cocktail is so simple, you don’t even need to dirty up a cocktail shaker! Mix it all together in the glass.
- Add ice and top with soda water. Fill the glass with ice and top with soda water. Or if you’re using grapefruit soda, simply pour the soda into the tequila. A grapefruit wedge makes a nice garnish!
Tips for making a salt rim
For the salt rim on this Paloma, we use flaky sea salt. You can also use kosher salt if you have it, which has large grains. Just don’t use iodized table salt: it tastes much too salty! Here are a few tips to making a salt rim:
- Spread the salt on a plate in an even layer.
- Take a grapefruit wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the glass rim without having to use your fingers.
- Tilt the glass and gently turn so the outside edge goes into the salt. Try to keep the salt on the outside rim. Shake off any loose salt into the sink.
Variations on the Paloma
Want to add a unique spin to your Paloma? Here are a few ideas:
- Mezcal: Try it with mezcal! This agave-based liquor goes well with tequila drinks to give them a smoky nuance. Go to Mezcal Paloma.
- Jalapeño: Slice a jalapeño pepper into 3 thin slices, then shake it in a cocktail shaker with the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and simple syrup before pouring in a glass and topping with soda water.
- Strawberry: Use strawberry syrup instead of simple syrup.
- Ginger: Use ginger simple syrup instead of simple syrup.
Dress it up with clear ice!
Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails because of its crystal clear look and beautiful organic shapes. We made a batch of clear ice for this Paloma, and it made it look stunning! Alex worked out a method so you can make clear ice at home, and it’s so easy! All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Here’s How to Make Clear Ice.
Variations and related drinks
There are a few drinks that are similar to the Paloma cocktail:
- Cantarito This spin on the Paloma is even more delicious, with a few more citrus juices.
- Greyhound Uses grapefruit juice and gin! The Paloma is a little stronger and more flavorful.
- Salty Dog Same as the Greyhound but with a salt rim.
- Classic Margarita The Classic is our favorite, but also try it Skinny, Italian, Jalapeno, Cadillac, as Sangria, or Frozen.
- Tequila Sunrise Another famous tequila cocktail: this one looks like the colors of a summer sunrise! Try it with our homemade grenadine.
Paloma Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
This Paloma drink recipe pairs tequila and grapefruit to make the most refreshing sweet tart classic cocktail!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* tequila blanco
- ½ ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces** fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce soda water
- Flaky sea salt & grapefruit wedge, for the garnish
Instructions
- Cut a notch in the grapefruit wedge, then run the grapefruit around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt.
- To the glass, add the tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup and stir until combined.
- Fill the glass with ice (clear ice if you want to get fancy!). Top with soda water and serve!
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
**Or, substitute 4 ounces grapefruit soda for the grapefruit juice, simple syrup and soda water.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktail
I made myself a Paloma tonight following your recipe with the exception that I did not add soda. Combined all the other ingredients in a shaker with ice, rimmed a frozen martini glass with grapefruit juice and tajin, gave the ingredients a good shake with the ice and poured into the glass. It WAS delicious!
Love this drink! Instead of salt on the rim, try tajin…yum!
dlicate ingredients will recommend
Amazing, i love this blog
great recipe my husband and kids love it thanks
Great articles
This sounds and looks so refreshing. I must try this recipe soon.
Loved this drink; used lime Perrier for the soda water. Refreshing!
An interesting and unique flavour!
Would it be ok if I made the base — tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, syrup — in a batch so I could put it in a pitcher, then pour several glasses and add soda as needed?
Yes! I’d do it the same day if possible because the grapefruit juice will start to lose it’s zing after a few hours.
Had a fresh grapefruit sitting around so I’m happy I stumbled on this recipe. It came out great! I have a little bottle of real maple syrup I keep in the fridge so I used that. YUM!