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Paloma
Tequila and grapefruit were made for each other, and the Paloma proves it in one tall fizzy glass. Lime sharpens the edges, a pinch of salt pulls the citrus forward, and the soda keeps every sip light and cold. It is the drink Mexico reaches for most, and one taste explains why.
Ingredients
- 2oz (60ml) blanco tequila, 100 percent agave
- 0.5oz (15ml) fresh lime juice
- 4oz (120ml) grapefruit soda, well chilled
- 1 pinch of fine sea salt, plus coarse salt for the rim
- Grapefruit wedge, for garnish
- Plenty of fresh ice
Method
- Run a lime wedge around half the rim of a tall glass and roll that half in coarse salt.
- Fill the glass to the top with fresh ice.
- Pour in the tequila and the lime juice, then add the pinch of salt.
- Top slowly with the grapefruit soda so the fizz stays lively.
- Stir once gently from the bottom, then rest the grapefruit wedge on the rim.
Tip: Chill everything before you build. Warm soda loses its fizz on contact with ice, while cold soda poured slowly over cold tequila keeps the glass sparkling from the first sip to the last.
Serve It With
Our sister site Cooking with Dade pairs it with Easy Taco Salad.
Variations
- Paloma in a Cantarito Cup. Build the same drink in a clay cantarito cup and add a dusting of chilli salt on the rim. Earthy, rustic, and made for slow afternoons outside.
- Spicy Paloma. Shake the tequila and lime juice with two thin slices of jalapeno before building the glass. The heat hums underneath the grapefruit and the salt keeps it in line.
Questions
What is in a Paloma?
Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, a pinch of salt, and grapefruit soda, built over ice in a tall glass with a salted rim and a grapefruit wedge.
Where does the Paloma come from?
The Paloma comes from Mexico, where it has long been the most loved tequila highball in the country. The name means dove in Spanish, and the drink became a staple wherever grapefruit soda and good tequila met.
What grapefruit soda works best in a Paloma?
A grapefruit soda with real bite and a gentle bitterness works best, because it has to stand up to the tequila and the lime. Pour it cold and pour it last so the fizz stays lively.
Can I use fresh grapefruit juice instead of soda?
You can. Swap the soda for 2 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice plus a splash of soda water and a touch of simple syrup. The drink tastes fresher and softer, though a little less fizzy.
Blanco or reposado in a Paloma?
Blanco is the classic call, bright and peppery against the grapefruit. Reposado makes a rounder and slightly richer glass. Both work, so pour the bottle you reach for most.