PalomaOur take on this iconic Mexican cocktail swaps out the sugary soda for fresh lime and grapefruit juice for an extra-refreshing riff bursting with citrus flavor.

One of Mexico's many widely known and beloved tequila drinks, the Paloma cocktail, is a refreshing summertime highball featuring lime juice and grapefruit. Grapefruit-flavored sodas like Fresca or Squirt are common ingredients, but this version swaps in fresh juice and seltzer for a more balanced sweetness and maximum citrus flavor. For this Paloma recipe, we prefer an unoaked tequila blanco (also known as silver tequila), as opposed to tequila reposado or tequila añejo, which may be barrel-aged between two months and three years. The blanco’s clean taste and herbaceous quality make a perfect base for this drink’s sweet and sunny flavors.

  • Serves

    1

  • Time

    3 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. tequila blanco
  • 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
  • Pinch fine salt
  • 3 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
  • 3 oz. seltzer
  • Lime slices, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

To a highball or Collins glass, add the tequila, lime juice, and salt. Fill the glass with ice, add the grapefruit juice and seltzer, stir gently, garnish with lime slices, and serve.
  1. To a highball or Collins glass, add the tequila, lime juice, and salt. Fill the glass with ice, add the grapefruit juice and seltzer, stir gently, garnish with lime slices, and serve.
Recipes

Paloma

Our take on this iconic Mexican cocktail swaps out the sugary soda for fresh lime and grapefruit juice for an extra-refreshing riff bursting with citrus flavor.

  • Serves

    1

  • Time

    3 minutes

Paloma
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND • FOOD STYLING: JESSIE YUCHEN

By SAVEUR Editors


Updated on August 7, 2023

One of Mexico's many widely known and beloved tequila drinks, the Paloma cocktail, is a refreshing summertime highball featuring lime juice and grapefruit. Grapefruit-flavored sodas like Fresca or Squirt are common ingredients, but this version swaps in fresh juice and seltzer for a more balanced sweetness and maximum citrus flavor. For this Paloma recipe, we prefer an unoaked tequila blanco (also known as silver tequila), as opposed to tequila reposado or tequila añejo, which may be barrel-aged between two months and three years. The blanco’s clean taste and herbaceous quality make a perfect base for this drink’s sweet and sunny flavors.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. tequila blanco
  • 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
  • Pinch fine salt
  • 3 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
  • 3 oz. seltzer
  • Lime slices, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

To a highball or Collins glass, add the tequila, lime juice, and salt. Fill the glass with ice, add the grapefruit juice and seltzer, stir gently, garnish with lime slices, and serve.
  1. To a highball or Collins glass, add the tequila, lime juice, and salt. Fill the glass with ice, add the grapefruit juice and seltzer, stir gently, garnish with lime slices, and serve.

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