Paloma Cocktail – The Best Alternative to a Margarita

Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Paloma Cocktail


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Paloma Cocktail
Paloma Cocktail

A Paloma is a refreshing tequila cocktail that’s perfect for summertime sipping. In this recipe, we show you how to make a Paloma using grapefruit juice, lime juice, and tequila. It’s easy to mix up and tastes great! So grab your favorite glass and get ready to enjoy one of our favorite cocktails. Cheers!

The Best Alternative to a Margarita

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Paloma Cocktail Recipe

This Paloma cocktail recipe makes a tart refreshing tequila based drink. It is one of Mexico’s best loved cocktails. If you are looking for an alternative to a Margarita this is a great place to use that bottle of tequila.

The Paloma is a simple mix of tequila and grapefruit soda served over ice in a tall glass. It is often served with a sugar rim and a wedge of lime or grapefruit.


Paloma Cocktail Ingredients

This is a very simple cocktail. You could simply pour some tequila in a glass and top it with Jarrito’s Grapefruit soda and call it a day. In fact, if that’s what you want to do, go for it.

But, even if we step it up a bit it is still a pretty simple drink to mix up. It’s well worth mixing up a batch of grapefruit syrup to have on hand to get you through the warmer months.

Blanco Tequila

Blanco, plato or silver tequila is a tequila that, if it has been aged at all, has been aged less than three months. Keep an eye out for 100% weber blue agave on the label. Try to avoid bottom shelf ‘mixto’ tequila. A couple of bucks can go a really long way in the world of tequila.

Tequila Matchmaker is a great resource for finding high quality tequila. They make it easy to filter out

Grapefruit Soda

I would recommend brewing up a batch of grapefruit soda for this drink. If that’s too much trouble see if you can track down Jarritos Grapefruit Soda. That is what you will typically find in a Paloma in Mexico. Barring that you the San Pellegrino Pompelmo is pretty tasty.

If you are going to make your own grapefruit syrup, try making it with agave nectar. The flavors will marry well with the tequila and give the drink a bit of a boost.

The other option is to use fresh grapefruit juice and to top the drink with soda water. There is no wrong way. Do what you wanna do.

Fresh Lime Juice

A hit of fresh lime juice in corrects the acidity in this drink. Grapefruit is not as acidic as a lemons or lime and the sugar in the grapefruit syrup will throw the balance off. So a little squeeze of lime juice helps balance everything out.

Mezcal

This Paloma cocktail recipe also uses a little Mezcal to bump up the flavor of the white tequila. This works particularly well with the grapefruit. If you don’t have both, it’s not a big deal. Go with what you have.

Pinch of Salt

This could also be your salt rim. But, if you decide not to do a salted rim add a little pinch of salt to the drink will really enhance the flavor of the grapefruit.

Salt Rim

Like a Margarita, a salt rim is up to your own personal preference on this. There is a chance to get creative here. I might try a rim with sugar and roasted black pepper. Salt and cayenne pepper might work well here too.

Garnish

Garnish this bad boy with a grapefruit or lime wedge. It really depends on the glass you are using. Grapefruit is nice, but they can be awkwardly large on many glasses.

Paloma Cocktail Recipe – Tart and Refreshing

  • 1.5 oz. Blanco Tequila
  • ½ oz. Mezcal
  • 1 oz. Grapefruit Soda
  • ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
  1. Pour tequila, mezcal and lime juice into a shaker filled with ice.
  2. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Strain into salt-rimmed Collins filled with ice.
  4. Top with grapefruit soda,
  5. Serve with a straw and a lime wedge.

Try This

  • Make a lavender sugar for the rim. There is a surprising flavor connection between lavender and grapefruit.
  • Sprinkle a little brown sugar and cinnamon on the top. This complements both the flavor of the tequila and the grapefruit.
  • Black pepper is another interesting flavor to bring into the mix. Try a roasted black pepper and sugar rim for something spicier. Or, put some black pepper into the grapefruit soda when you brew it up.

Tequila Cocktails

This is our bid list of tequila cocktails. If you’re interested in learning more about agave click here.

Naked and Famous

The mezcal take on the Last Word. Click here to learn more about this captivating cocktail.

El Diablo

No, the devil made me do it is never an excuse. Even when the devil is in this delicious drink.

Classic Cocktail Recipes

If you are interested in learning more about classic cocktails check out the Cocktail Monkey Guide to Classic Cocktails.

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