Paloma Cocktail

Combine tequila and grapefruit and you have the classic Mexican paloma cocktail! Here’s how to make this flavorful and refreshing drink.

Looking for a refreshing tequila cocktail? try it Paloma! A cousin of the margarita, the paloma is a classic Mexican cocktail that features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime. Switching citrus gives a simple sweet and refreshing acidity. It’s perfect for happy hour or washing up, and it could be brunch too. Paloma is traditionally made with grapefruit soda, but you can make your own with grapefruit juice and sparkling water. Add a salt rim and you’re in business! Here’s how to make a paloma.

What’s in a Paloma cocktail?

Why is it called Paloma? Paloma means “dove” in Spanish. The drink’s history is somewhat murky, although many believe it dates back to the 1950s. Some credit the creation of the drink to a legendary Mexican tequila bartender, Don Javier Delgado Corona (source). It is possible that it is named after a popular folk song called “La Paloma”.

The classic Paloma consists of only two ingredients anyway: tequila and grapefruit soda. For this version, we love making them Naturally with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice and sparkling water. It turns out to be perfectly balanced: sweet, tangy and with the spicy undertone of tequila. You can make it the version you prefer! Here are the ingredients of this Paloma cocktail:

Do you like grapefruit cocktails? Try Greyhound, Salty Dog Cocktail, Brown Derby, Hemingway Daiquiri or Sea Breeze.

How to Make a Paloma (3 Basic Steps!)

A paloma is a casual tequila drink that’s so easy to make, you don’t even need a shaker! Aside from making the salt rim, it is simply mixed right into the glass.

1. Rim the glass with salt. Not only does he look cute! Salt enhances the overall flavor of the drink. How do you make the perfect salt rim? See below.
2. Stir the tequila, grapefruit, lime and syrup into the glass. This cocktail is so easy, you don’t even have to dirty a shaker! Mix everything in the glass.
3. Add ice and top up with sparkling water. Fill the glass with ice and cover with sparkling water. Or if using grapefruit soda, simply pour the soda into the tequila. A slice of grapefruit makes a great garnish!

Tips for making a salt rim

For the salty rim of this paloma, we used flaky sea salt. You can also use kosher salt if you have it, which has large grains. Do not use iodized table salt: it tastes far too salty! Here are some tips for making a salt rim:

1. Spread the salt in an even layer on a plate.
2. Take a quarter of a grapefruit and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This will wet the rim of the glass without having to use your fingers.
3. Tilt the jar and gently rotate it so the outer rim sinks into the salt. Try to keep the salt on the outer edge. Shake out loose salt in the sink.

Try mezcal

Would you like to give your paloma a unique touch? Try it with mezcal! This agave-based liqueur pairs well with tequila-based drinks to give them a smoky undertone. Adding to a paloma is really exciting! Go to Paloma Mezcal.

Dress it up with clear ice!

Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails for its crystalline appearance and beautiful organic shapes. We made a lot of clear ice for this paloma and it made her look beautiful! Alex came up with a method that you can use to make clear ice at home and it’s that simple! All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Here’s how to make transparent ice cream.

There are a few drinks that are similar to the Paloma cocktail: