This light, refreshing tequila based cocktail is just what you need on a warm summer evening. If you can mix a margarita, you can mix a Paloma cocktail. Recipe also includes a pitcher version.
A Paloma Cocktail is easy to prepare and one I think you'll love. Even better than easy to prepare? This Paloma recipe uses real food ingredients rather than sticky sodas with ingredients you can’t pronounce. A few ounces of club soda and agave nectar round out the tartness from the grapefruit and lime juices.
It's the perfect cocktail to serve at a Cinco de Mayo celebration, or any celebration for that matter. Mix up a pitcher to keep your guests happy all night long. Need some great appetizers to serve with your Palomas? Check out these Mexican-inspired recipes.
FAQs:
Traditionally, a Paloma is tequila mixed with a grapefruit soda such as Jarritos or Squirt, served in a salt-rimmed glass with a lime garnish.
You can use either tequila or mezcal in your Paloma--both are used in different regions of Mexico. I happen to like Cuervo 1800 silver, but use any tequila you like.
Definitely. Simply omit the tequila, and add extra club soda. Also, if you have bitters on hand, add a few dashes.
Both contain tequila and lime juice (and an optional salted rim), but the remaining ingredients differ. A margarita adds an orange liqueur (such as triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier) plus, quite often, sweet and sour mix. A paloma adds grapefruit juice to the tequila and lime juice. Often the grapefruit juice is soda based such as Jarritos to add sweetness.
Paloma Ingredients:
- Grapefruit: I like ruby red.
- Lime: Fresh juiced is best.
- Tequila: I prefer silver.
- Club soda: Adds some sparkle to the cocktail.
- Agave nectar: The light sweetness balances the tart fruit juices.
How to make a Paloma cocktail:
- Begin by cutting the grapefruit and lime in half. Squeeze the juice from one half of the grapefruit into a bowl. Make sure there are no seeds in the juice, then pour into a sixteen ounce cocktail glass. If you don’t have a lime or lemon juicer, follow the same process with both halves of the lime. If you have a hand juicer, just squeeze the lime juice into the glass.
- Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice, then add the lime and grapefruit juice. Pour in the agave nectar and the tequila, then top with club soda. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, and give a few shakes to combine all the ingredients well.
- Salt the rim of the cocktail glass before pouring the shaker contents back into the glass. (To salt the rim, simply run a piece of lime around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass in margarita or kosher salt.) Add a lime wheel on the edge of the glass for garnish.
Make a Pitcher of Palomas for a Party:
Ingredients you'll need:
- 4 grapefruit (or 12 ounces juice)
- 8 limes (or 8 ounces juice)
- 14 ounces tequila (1 ¾ cups)
- 4 ounces agave nectar
- 2 ½ - 3 cups club soda
Pitcher Directions:
To prepare ahead of time, juice the grapefruits and limes, and add the juice to a large pitcher. Pour in the tequila and agave nectar, and give the ingredients a good stir. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Serves 8)
To serve, rim the glasses with salt (if using). Fill with ice, pour in the paloma mixture, and top with club soda. Add a lime wheel to the rim if desired.
RECIPE TIP: Keep the club soda refrigerated as well, for perfectly chilled cocktails.
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Substitutions:
- Fresh fruit: Fruit juice will also work.
- Agave nectar: Simple syurp is a good substitute. If using fruit juice instead of fresh fruit, taste for sweetness first.
- Club soda: For a sweeter cocktail, lemon-lime soda or grapefruit soda can also be used.
Recipe Notes:
- If you want to ensure your cocktail is gluten-free, make sure to use pure blue agave tequila.
- Need to up your home bartending game? This cocktail shaker set will have you mixing up cocktails and looking like a pro.
- You should be able to find margarita salt in the bar mixer section of your local grocery or liquor store.
- I found my agave nectar at Trader Joe's, but you can also find it at Amazon.
- Check out all the Cocktail and Drink recipes.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card and/or a review in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Are you following along on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook?
EASY APPETIZERS TO SERVE WITH A REFRESHING PALOMA COCKTAIL:
Refreshing Paloma Cocktail
A Paloma is simple cocktail to prepare, and one I think you’ll love. This recipe uses real food ingredients rather than sticky sodas with ingredients you can’t pronounce. A few ounces of club soda and agave nectar round out the tartness from the grapefruit and lime juices.
Ingredients
For a single cocktail:
- ½ ruby red grapefruit, juiced
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ ounce agave nectar
- 1 ¾ ounce silver tequila (I used Cuervo 1800 Silver.)
- 2-3 ounces club soda
To make a pitcher:
- 4 grapefruit (or 12 ounces juice)
- 8 limes (or 8 ounces juice)
- 14 ounces tequila (1 ¾ cups)
- 4 ounces agave nectar
- 2 ½ - 3 cups club soda
Instructions
For a single cocktail:
- Begin by cutting the grapefruit and lime in half. Squeeze the juice from one half of the grapefruit into a bowl. Add the juice from the lime to the bowl.
- Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice. Pour in the fruit juice, agave nectar, and tequila, then top with club soda.
- Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, and give a few shakes to combine all the ingredients well.
- Salt the rim of the cocktail glass before pouring the shaker contents back into the glass. (To salt the rim, simply run a piece of lime around the edge, then dip in margarita or kosher salt.) Add a lime wheel on the edge of the glass for garnish.
To make a pitcher (serves 8)
- Add all the ingredients (except the club soda) to a large pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice, add the paloma mixture, then top with a few ounces club soda.
- Pour the contents of the glass into a shaker, and shake a few times. Add a salt rim to the glass before pouring the shaker contents back into the glass.
Notes
- If you want to make sure your cocktail is gluten-free, make sure to use pure blue agave tequila.
- Simple syrup can be substituted for the agave nectar.
- The salted rim is optional and not included in the nutrition analysis.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 255
Note: Nutritional information is an approximation. Different brands and/or quantities will change the nutrition profile.
Cathy Wharton
After working out in the yard this looks so refreshing. Much more so than the cucumber kale smoothie I made.
Colleen Sall
We made this Paloma recipe for Super Bowl 2023 and our friends loved it. We used all fresh squeezed juice that we juiced ourselves and followed the recipe exactly except the Silver tequila was sold out, so we used Blanco and it was delicious. Light, great flavor, refreshing. We brought the pitcher of juice and tequila with us and individually mixed each drink as indicated in the recipe, shaking the juice and tequila from the pitcher with the club soda and ice and poured each drink into salt rimmed glasses. We topped each one with a red grapefruit segment garnish, and it was fabulous - definitely making again!
Brandi Wharton
Thanks so much for sharing, Colleen. You totally made my day. So happy you and your friends enjoyed the cocktail.