Paloma
Easy
Fresh & Sour
3 Minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
The Paloma is a beloved Tequila drink, but it’s not just any ol’ Tequila drink. “It’s the number one Tequila-based cocktail coming out of Mexico,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
Oh! Did we mention that it’s also simple to make? No shaking, no blending – no fancy bartending tools required whatsoever.
Easy to make, easy to love – here’s how to make a Paloma!
How To Make a PALOMA COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
How to Mix
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Pour some Kosher Salt onto a Medium-Size Plate.
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Use a Knife to cut a Lime in half.
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Dip the Lime-Coated rim of the Highball Glass into the Kosher Salt to evenly coat it with Salt.
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Fill the Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Tequila into the Glass.
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Pour Grapefruit Soda all the way to the top of the Glass.
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Use the other Lime half to cut a Lime Wheel then place it on the rim to garnish.
Rico shows how to make a Paloma cocktail!
All about the Paloma
The Paloma is a delicious easy-to-make Tequila cocktail with origins from Mexico. Tequila and grapefruit soda served in a salt-rimmed glass and garnished with a lime wheel. It’s not hard to see why it’s one of the most popular drinks around.
Tequila and grapefruit work so well together and that’s what this drink is all about. Served in a salt-rimmed glass, you could say it’s like a grapefruit-flavored Margarita.
“You get those delicious Agave notes (from the Tequila) coming through, the effervescence of the grapefruit juice, balanced off with a salty rim,” adds Rico.
It’s believed the Paloma drink’s origin is Mexico City and that the drink came into existence in the 1950s when a specific popular brand of Grapefruit Soda was introduced to Mexico.
While cherished in Mexico for decades, the Paloma gained broader popularity globally during the 2000s, thanks to rising interest in tequila and cocktail culture. Today, the Paloma is one of the most popular cocktails in the world.
Grapefruit Soda
“In Mexico, they use a specific brand of Grapefruit Soda that they drink so much of, that none of that Grapefruit Soda ever leaves Mexico. It doesn’t matter what Grapefruit you use. If you want to use Fresh Grapefruit and mix it with Soda Water, do that,” says Rico. For this recipe, Rico recommends using bottled Grapefruit Soda.
Kosher Salt
While you can rim the Glass with any Fine Grain Salt, we highly recommend using Kosher Salt. You’ll achieve the perfect clump-free look and get the perfect amount of salt for the perfect cocktail.
The Swedish Paloma
A fantastic variation of the Paloma that not only uses Absolut Grapefruit (Grapefruit-Flavored Vodka) instead of Tequila but mixes Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit together with Soda Water instead of Grapefruit Soda. Crisp and clean like a Vodka Tonic, the Swedish Paloma is a must for the summer and somehow tastes as pink as it looks. What…a….drink!
Discover how to make The Swedish Paloma.
Without Lime Juice
While the traditional Paloma includes Fresh Lime Juice, we prefer to let the Grapefruit Soda take center stage and omit the Lime Juice altogether. The Lime Wheel garnish adds just the right touch of Lime.
We recommend serving a Paloma in a Highball Glass filled to the top with Ice Cubes.
Some people choose a Grapefruit Wedge to garnish their Palomas, others use a Lime Wheel or Lime Wedge. Rico prefers to garnish his Paloma with a Lime Wheel to add some color and “Give it just that little bit of 80s flair”. But you can also use a Grapefruit Wedge. You decide!
It’s the number one Tequila-based cocktail coming out of Mexico!
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Paloma FAQ
While both use Tequila, Lime, and Salt, the Paloma has a citrusy, effervescent profile thanks to Grapefruit Soda, while the Margarita is sweet and tangy from Lime Juice and Orange Liqueur.
Yes! Swap Tequila for Absolut Grapefruit (Grapefruit-Flavored Vodka) to create The Swedish Paloma. Trust us, it’s incredible!
Some believe the Paloma’s name comes from the Spanish word for “dove”, while others say it comes from the Spanish word pomelo, which means “grapefruit”.
