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This delicious grapefruit Paloma cocktail recipe uses ingredients easily found at the grocery store to craft a refreshing classic cocktail.
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Palomas are a classic Mexican cocktail (it's the national drink of Mexico!), though margaritas still outrank them in popularity in the United States.
And Margaritas are my favorite drink. Originally stocked tequila in my home bar just for them - but then I learned about other tequila drinks like the Paloma.
With its perfect combination of fresh juice and grapefruit flavor, a Paloma has quickly risen to the top of my list of favorite happy hour sips.
Ingredients
- Fresh grapefruit and fresh lime - The difference between a good cocktail and a great cocktail is fresh citrus. Squeeze fresh fruit for this cocktail. You'll need about half of a grapefruit and half of a lime for this Paloma.
- Silver tequila - Skip the gold tequilas and go for a clear, silver tequila for this Paloma recipe.
- Simple syrup - Make your own simple syrup for this recipe, just be sure to give it enough time to chill before using it.
- Grapefruit soda - I love using Jarritos Grapefruit soda in this drink. But I also enjoy a less sweet Paloma and often choose to use grapefruit sparkling water or club soda in this cocktail in place of the grapefruit-flavored soda.
How to Make a Paloma Cocktail
Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake it all up.
Strain into a tall glass filled with ice cubes. Top with grapefruit soda or sparkling water.
Stir, sip and enjoy!
Garnish with a grapefruit slice or lime wedge.
Recipe Tips
- Like a margarita, this cocktail is delicious with a salt rim! Run a piece of grapefruit around the rim of your glass and dip it in a small plate of coarse salt or flaky sea salt before you add ice cubes and pour your drink.
- Want a Paloma recipe without grapefruit soda? Simply make this recipe as directed, leaving out the soda and serve it in a rocks glass.
Don’t Miss These Tequila Cocktails
If you love Palomas, try this Mezcal Paloma variation or a refreshing Cantaritos cocktail with even more citrus. Or make one of my favorite tequila drinks - a margarita. I have lots of margarita recipes on my site, like this classic margarita or my triple citrus margaritas.
FAQs and Substitutions
Your favorite blanco tequila (aka silver tequila) is best in this cocktail. I use Jose Cuervo in my drinks because it’s affordable, easily available, and tastes great in this Paloma cocktail.
Only in that they both have fresh grapefruit juice. A salty dog has a heavily salted rim and combines gin with grapefruit, whereas most Palomas are served without salt and contain tequila. But if you love one of these cocktails, you should definitely try out the other.
More Delicious Grapefruit Recipes You'll Love
Print the Recipe Card
PrintClassic Grapefruit Paloma Recipe
Grapefruit and tequila are a delicious combination! This classic Paloma cocktail is bright, refreshing, and a tasty alternative to a traditional margarita.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Cocktail Shaker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 2 oz silver tequila
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 1-2 oz grapefruit soda or grapefruit sparkling water
Instructions
Combine grapefruit juice, tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake it all up. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice cubes. Top with grapefruit soda or sparkling water.
Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or lime slice.
Stir, sip and enjoy!
Notes
To make simple syrup, combine ½ cup hot water with ½ cup cane sugar or agave syrup and stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool completely before using.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 218
- Sugar: 14.2 g
- Sodium: 1.7 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Tammy S says
Hi Katy, how do I adapt the cocktail recipes with an infused liquor? for example, if I make a grapefruit infused vodka, does that mean I just substitute the vodka in a paloma recipe? or also the grapefruit juice? please advise. thank you.
Katy McAvoy says
Hi Tammy! Just swap out the liquor that's called for with the infused liquor. So in your example, swap the regular vodka for the grapefruit infused vodka. Leave the other ingredients in the recipe as is to maintain the balance of the cocktail. Hope this helps!