Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Before you start

The Paloma is a tall, refreshing tequila highball built around grapefruit. In its simplest form, it is tequila and a squeeze of lime topped with grapefruit soda, with a pinch of salt. That easy version is how many people drink it. A fresh-juice version, using grapefruit juice, a little syrup and plain soda water, tastes brighter and less sweet.

This page gives both. Whichever you choose, keep the drink cold and fizzy: build it in a glass full of ice, top with chilled carbonation, and stir only gently. Salt matters more than you might think here; a small pinch makes grapefruit taste juicier and tames its bitterness.

Ingredients

• Soda version60 ml (2 oz) blanco tequila
• 15 ml (½ oz) fresh lime juice
• 120 ml (4 oz) grapefruit soda — chilled
• pinch salt
• Fresh-juice version60 ml (2 oz) blanco tequila
• 45 ml (1½ oz) fresh grapefruit juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) fresh lime juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) simple syrup (1:1)
• 60 ml (2 oz) soda water — chilled
• pinch salt
• to fill the glass ice cubes
• 1 grapefruit or lime wedge

Method

1. Optional: salt half the rim of a highball glass by wetting the outside with a lime wedge and rolling it in coarse salt.
2. Fill the glass to the top with fresh, hard ice cubes.
3. For the soda version, pour the tequila, lime juice and a pinch of salt over the ice, then top slowly with the grapefruit soda.
4. For the fresh-juice version, shake the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, syrup and salt with ice for about 8 seconds, then strain into the ice-filled glass and top with soda water.
5. Lift the ice once with the bar spoon to mix without knocking out the bubbles.
6. Garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge and serve.

Tips for success

• Grapefruit sodas range from sweet to quite dry. Taste yours and adjust the lime to balance it.
• Use a small, cold can or bottle of soda so it is lively when it hits the glass.
• Pink or red grapefruit gives a sweeter, prettier fresh-juice Paloma than white grapefruit.

Substitutions

Blanco tequila

Reposado tequila gives a rounder drink. Mezcal makes a smoky Paloma that pairs well with grapefruit.

Grapefruit soda

Plain soda water plus 45 ml grapefruit juice and 15 ml syrup gives the fresh-juice version. Grapefruit-flavored sparkling water is very dry and needs syrup added.

Simple syrup

Agave syrup (about 10 ml) works well and echoes the tequila.

Variations

Spicy Paloma

Rim the glass with a chile-lime salt blend, or add a thin jalapeño slice to the shaker.

Paloma spritz

Replace half the soda with dry sparkling wine.

Troubleshooting

It is flat

The soda was warm or was stirred too much. Chill it well, pour gently and mix with one lift.

It tastes bitter

Add the pinch of salt, which softens grapefruit bitterness, or a little more syrup.

It is cloyingly sweet

Your soda may be very sweet. Add more lime or use half soda water.

Storage

Serve immediately. Fresh grapefruit juice keeps covered in the fridge for a day but tastes best freshly squeezed.

Safety notes

Contains 60 ml of tequila, about 1.4 U.S. standard drinks (one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). For adults of legal drinking age only; never drink and drive. Grapefruit can interact with some medications; ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.