I found a Classic Paloma Recipe that turns grapefruit and tequila into the sort of cocktail that ruins every other drink for you.

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I adore the Classic Paloma Recipe because it tastes like summer in a glass and wrecks whatever fancy cocktail mood I had planned. I’m obsessed with how tequila blanco and a grapefruit slice slice through sugar and nonsense.

It’s bright, a little bitter, and oddly comforting without being soft. I keep shouting in my head that this is the Best Paloma Recipe when friends sip and go quiet.

But it’s not precious, and that’s the point. Simple ingredients doing loud work.

I want one now. Right now.

No hesitation. Just that pink grapefruit glow for real, no joke seriously please

Ingredients

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Tequila blanco: bright, peppery kick that keeps the drink lively and honest.
Fresh lime juice: zippy acid that wakes everything up, it’s tart and clean.
Fresh grapefruit juice: juicy, slightly bitter citrus that feels refreshingly real.
Grapefruit soda option: sweet and fizzy shortcut when you want instant party vibes.
Agave nectar or simple syrup: adds mellow sweetness, use more if you like sweet.
Club soda to top: light fizz that keeps it refreshing and not too heavy.
Pinch of salt for the rim: balances bitterness, makes each sip pop.
Ice: keeps it chilled and dilute it just enough as you sip.
Grapefruit slice or lime wedge: pretty garnish that hints at what’s inside.

Ingredient Quantities

2 oz tequila blanco (silver)

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz fresh grapefruit juice (or 4 oz grapefruit soda like Jarritos or Squirt)

1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup, more if you like it sweeter (optional)

2 to 3 oz club soda to top if using fresh grapefruit juice

Pinch of fine sea salt or kosher salt for the rim, optional but nice

Ice (plenty)

Grapefruit slice or lime wedge for garnish

How to Make this

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1. If you want a salted rim, rub a grapefruit slice or lime wedge around the glass edge, then dip into a pinch of fine sea salt or kosher salt.

2. Fill a tall glass or Collins glass with plenty of ice.

3. In a shaker or mixing glass add 2 oz tequila blanco and 1/2 oz fresh lime juice.

4. Add 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice if you like a fresher bright flavor, or skip to step 6 and use 4 oz grapefruit soda like Jarritos or Squirt instead.

5. If using fresh grapefruit juice, add 1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup now if you want it sweeter, then fill the shaker with ice, shake hard for about 10 seconds, and strain into the prepared glass.

6. If you chose grapefruit soda, add 4 oz grapefruit soda to the tequila and lime in the shaker or just build it in the glass over ice; stir gently to combine.

7. If you used fresh grapefruit juice, top the drink with 2 to 3 oz club soda to give it fizz, and stir gently to combine.

8. Taste and adjust sweetness with a little more agave or syrup if needed, or add a touch more lime if it feels flat.

9. Garnish with a grapefruit slice or lime wedge, drop it in or hang it on the rim.

10. Serve immediately, sip and enjoy, and remember to drink responsibly.

Equipment Needed

1. Collins or tall glass for serving
2. Cocktail shaker or mixing glass for shaking or building the drink
3. Jigger or measuring spoons to get the tequila and juices right
4. Citrus juicer or reamer for fresh grapefruit and lime juice
5. Fine mesh strainer or Hawthorne strainer to catch pulp and ice chips
6. Bar spoon or long spoon to stir gently when using soda
7. Small plate or shallow bowl for the salted rim and a grapefruit or lime wedge for rubbing
8. Knife and cutting board to slice the grapefruit or lime and a pair of tongs or ice scoop for handling ice

FAQ

Q: Can I use bottled grapefruit juice instead of fresh? A: Yes, you can. Fresh tastes brighter but bottled will still work fine. If it’s not sweet enough, add a touch more agave.

Q: What tequila should I use? A: Use a blanco tequila that’s clean and not too peppery. Mid-range bottles give the best balance for cocktails.

Q: How do I make it less sweet or more tart? A: Add more lime juice for tartness, or reduce the agave. If using soda, switch to plain club soda and control sweetness with agave.

Q: Can I make this non alcoholic? A: Yes. Replace tequila with a non alcoholic spirit or just use extra grapefruit soda and a splash of lime for a mocktail.

Q: Why top with club soda? A: Club soda adds a light fizz and dilutes the drink slightly so it’s refreshing, not heavy. Skip it if you used grapefruit soda.

Q: How long will a premade batch last? A: Make the tequila, lime and grapefruit mix ahead and keep it chilled up to 24 hours. Add soda and ice right before serving.

Q: Any garnish ideas? A: A grapefruit wheel, lime wedge, or even a sprig of rosemary or thyme if you want something aromatic. Don’t overcomplicate it though.

The Best Paloma Cocktail Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few easy swaps you can try if you want to mix the Paloma a little differently. Play around, some of these work great, some will change the vibe more than others, but they’re all tasty.

Tequila blanco
- Mezcal — smokier, more complex, keeps the agave character
- Reposado tequila — rounder and a bit oaky, smoother than blanco
- Vodka — neutral spirit if you really don’t like tequila, keeps it clean
Fresh grapefruit juice or grapefruit soda
- Blood grapefruit juice — sweeter, richer color and flavor
- Sparkling water plus a splash of cranberry or pomegranate juice — bright, tart, bubbly
- Orange soda or sparkling orange beverage — sweeter, different but fun in a pinch
Agave nectar or simple syrup
- Honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) — floral, slightly thicker mouthfeel
- Maple syrup — earthy and warm, use sparingly
- Triple sec or Cointreau — adds orange sweetness and boozy complexity
Club soda (to top)
- Seltzer or sparkling mineral water — same bubbles, easy swap
- Ginger beer — gives a spicy kick, makes a more cocktail-forward drink
- Tonic water — adds a mild bitterness and quinine note, use less to avoid overpowering

Pro Tips

1. Chill everything first. If your tequila, grapefruit juice and glass are cold the drink stays bright longer, otherwise the ice melts fast and waters it down. Don’t skimp on ice, use big cubes if you got em, they melt slower.

2. Balance the bitter grapefruit with salt and sweet carefully. A tiny pinch of salt in the rim makes the citrus pop, but too much will ruin it. Same with agave, add a few drops at a time and taste, you can always add more but you cant take it out.

3. If you want more fizz and a lighter drink use grapefruit soda and build it in the glass. If you want fresher flavor use real juice, shake it hard then top with club soda. Either way stir gently at the end so you dont lose all the bubbles.

4. Little garnishes matter. Rub the rim with a citrus wedge before salting to get oils on the glass, and smack the grapefruit slice between your palms first to release aroma before dropping it in. Looks simple, but people notice the smell before they taste it.

The Best Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I found a Classic Paloma Recipe that turns grapefruit and tequila into the sort of cocktail that ruins every other drink for you.

Servings

servings

Calories

180

kcal

Equipment: 1. Collins or tall glass for serving
2. Cocktail shaker or mixing glass for shaking or building the drink
3. Jigger or measuring spoons to get the tequila and juices right
4. Citrus juicer or reamer for fresh grapefruit and lime juice
5. Fine mesh strainer or Hawthorne strainer to catch pulp and ice chips
6. Bar spoon or long spoon to stir gently when using soda
7. Small plate or shallow bowl for the salted rim and a grapefruit or lime wedge for rubbing
8. Knife and cutting board to slice the grapefruit or lime and a pair of tongs or ice scoop for handling ice

Ingredients

2 oz tequila blanco (silver)
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice (or 4 oz grapefruit soda like Jarritos or Squirt)
1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup, more if you like it sweeter (optional)
2 to 3 oz club soda to top if using fresh grapefruit juice
Pinch of fine sea salt or kosher salt for the rim, optional but nice
Ice (plenty)
Grapefruit slice or lime wedge for garnish

Directions

If you want a salted rim, rub a grapefruit slice or lime wedge around the glass edge, then dip into a pinch of fine sea salt or kosher salt.
Fill a tall glass or Collins glass with plenty of ice.
In a shaker or mixing glass add 2 oz tequila blanco and 1/2 oz fresh lime juice.
Add 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice if you like a fresher bright flavor, or skip to step 6 and use 4 oz grapefruit soda like Jarritos or Squirt instead.
If using fresh grapefruit juice, add 1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup now if you want it sweeter, then fill the shaker with ice, shake hard for about 10 seconds, and strain into the prepared glass.
If you chose grapefruit soda, add 4 oz grapefruit soda to the tequila and lime in the shaker or just build it in the glass over ice; stir gently to combine.
If you used fresh grapefruit juice, top the drink with 2 to 3 oz club soda to give it fizz, and stir gently to combine.
Taste and adjust sweetness with a little more agave or syrup if needed, or add a touch more lime if it feels flat.
Garnish with a grapefruit slice or lime wedge, drop it in or hang it on the rim.
Serve immediately, sip and enjoy, and remember to drink responsibly.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.