Paloma Recipe
Tequila, lime and grapefruit soda. Mexico's everyday highball.
The Paloma is a Mexican highball of tequila, fresh lime juice, a pinch of salt and grapefruit soda, served over ice. It is tart, lightly bitter and very refreshing, and it is often described as the most popular tequila cocktail in Mexico.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Tequila blanco 100% agave
- 15 ml Fresh lime juice
- 120 ml Grapefruit soda Such as Squirt, Jarritos or Ting
- 1 pinch Salt In the drink or on the rim
Garnish: Grapefruit or lime wedge, optional salt rim
How to Make a Paloma
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass and dip it in salt, if you like.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add the tequila, lime juice and a pinch of salt.
- Top with grapefruit soda.
- Stir gently and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit or lime.
Best Bottles for a Paloma in India
100% agave, crisp and peppery
Fine for a long, fizzy drink
Oak and vanilla suit grapefruit
A luxury pour for a simple highball
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Paloma
- A pinch of salt in the drink softens the bitterness of the grapefruit, even if you skip the rim.
- No grapefruit soda? Use 60ml fresh grapefruit juice, 10ml agave syrup and 60ml soda water.
- Use 100% agave tequila. The label will say so.
About the Paloma
Nobody knows who made the first Paloma. The name means "dove" in Spanish. The drink is often credited to Don Javier Delgado Corona, the late owner of La Capilla bar in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, but he never claimed it. He is the confirmed creator of a different tequila highball, the Batanga.
What is certain is that the Paloma depends on grapefruit soda. Squirt was created in the United States in 1938 and was sold in Mexico from the 1950s, and tequila with Squirt became a common order across the country. Jarritos Toronja is the other traditional choice.
American bartenders adopted the drink in the 2000s, often replacing the soda with fresh grapefruit juice, lime, agave syrup and soda water. It has been one of the fastest-growing cocktails in the United States during the tequila boom, and it is now on the IBA list of official cocktails.
Paloma Variations
- Fresh Paloma: fresh grapefruit juice, agave syrup and soda water in place of grapefruit soda.
- Spicy Paloma: muddle 2 slices of jalapeño and use a chilli-salt rim.
- Mezcal Paloma: swap half or all of the tequila for mezcal.
- Cantarito: add orange and lemon juice and serve in a clay cup.
- Batanga: tequila, cola, lime and a salt rim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Paloma?
How strong is a Paloma?
Which grapefruit soda is best for a Paloma?
What is the difference between a Paloma and a Margarita?
What is the best tequila for a Paloma?
Can you make a Paloma with fresh grapefruit juice?
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