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Made with fresh grapefruit juice and lime juice, this refreshing and zingy Paloma cocktail is not just for the summer! This Mexican cocktail is sweet, sour, salty, and absolutely irresistible. Enjoy this delicious cocktail year-round!
If you love grapefruit, then a paloma is the cocktail for you! It is so simple to make as all you have to do is combine everything into a glass and stir. No shaking, no straining, and all done in one glass with no bar tools needed! The bright citrus flavor pairs well with the tequila, and the grapefruit give the cocktail such a lovely pink color! Whether you want to make this on a hot summer day or for happy hour, this paloma recipe is sure to impress! If you’re looking for more refreshing cocktails, then you should try my classic Margarita Recipe or Strawberry Margarita.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
Grapefruit — you’re going to love the twist I put on this paloma cocktail. A traditional paloma cocktail consists of grapefruit soda, but instead, I use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice combined with club soda. Check that the grapefruit is ripe by giving it a squeeze. It should be firm and feel plump and heavy.
Tequila — since this paloma recipe only uses a handful of ingredients, you should use a good tequila. However, there’s no need to break the bank with a super-expensive one. I like using silver tequila!
HOW TO MAKE A PALOMA
1. Juice the citrus. You can use a citrus squeezer, citrus reamer, or even a power juicer.
2. Salt the rim. To help the salt stay on the rim, you can rub the grapefruit around the rim.
3. Add the citrus juices and sugar to the glass.
4. Add the tequila to the glass.
5. Stir the drink and add the ice.
6. Top off the glass with club soda. You can garnish with a grapefruit peel or slice.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
- Feel free to skip the sugar to make this paloma cocktail recipe less sweet. However, keep in mind that the sugar helps balance out the cocktail as the club soda doesn’t have added sugar compared to a traditional soda.
- If this drink is too strong for your liking, you can just wait for the ice to melt or add additional soda water to it.
- Always use fresh lime juice as the bottled lime juice does not have the same bright citrus flavor and may have a slightly bitter aftertaste.
- You can use agave syrup or sugar syrup in place of sugar if you prefer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I get the most juice out of citrus?
If your grapefruits and limes were in the fridge, bring them to room temperature before juicing. Then roll the fruit under the palm of your hands on the countertop. Doing so helps loosen the juices by breaking down some of the citrus’ membranes.
What is the difference between this cocktail and a margarita?
Both drinks contain tequila and fresh lime juice. The difference is that orange liquor, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau, is used as a sweetener in a margarita, whereas a paloma gets its sweetness from the grapefruit juice.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can make this paloma cocktail ahead of time if you’d like to make a big batch for a party. In a large pitcher, stir together all of the ingredients but the ice and club soda. Let the pitcher chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Before serving, add the club soda to the pitcher and stir to combine before pouring the cocktail over ice. The club soda will become flat and lose flavor over time, so it’s best to add the soda right before serving.
What goes well with this drink?
Some of my favorite meals to serve with a paloma are Shrimp Tacos, Slow Cooker Carnitas, Nachos, Shrimp Ceviche, and Churros.
If you’ve tried this Paloma recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Paloma Cocktail
Equipment
- tumbler
Ingredients
- sea salt for rim
- 2 oz grapefruit juice fresh , 60mL
- 1 tbsp lime juice fresh, 15mL
- 1 tsp sugar 5g
- 2 oz tequila 60mL
- 2 oz club soda 60mL
- grapefruit wedge or peel for garnish
Instructions
- Salt glass. Add in juices and sugar, stir until dissolved.
- Add in tequila and stir.
- Add ice and soda water.
- Garnish with grapefruit peel or slice.
Notes
- Feel free to skip the sugar to make this paloma cocktail recipe less sweet. However, keep in mind that the sugar helps balance out the cocktail as the club soda doesn’t have added sugar compared to a traditional soda.
- If this drink is too strong for your liking, you can just wait for the ice to melt or add additional soda water to it.
- Always use fresh lime juice as the bottled lime juice does not have the same bright citrus flavor and may have a slightly bitter aftertaste.
- You can use agave syrup or sugar syrup in place of sugar if you prefer.
Nutrition
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