Paloma

FlavorBlvd

Paloma Cocktail

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Prep Time 10

Servings 5

Equipment

Cocktail Glass

Ingredients

Ingredients
2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
4 ounces Grapefruit soda chilled, to top
Pinch of salt
Garnish: lime wheel

Instructions

Add the tequila, lime juice, and pinch of salt to the glass, and fill with ice.
Top with grapefruit soda, and stir briefly and gently to combine.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

Notes

How to Make a Perfectly Balanced Paloma

Palomas are effortless but also offer a surprisingly complex flavor profile. The simple 3-ingredient formula also contains more variables for differentiation than one might think.

Blanco tequila is the traditional choice, but lightly aged reposado also makes a fine drink. It’s best to keep the añejo capped for this cocktail, as the well-aged expression’s oaky profile disrupts that clean, refreshing taste you want in a Paloma.

In Mexico, Jarritos is commonly the grapefruit soda of choice for its easy accessibility, high carbonation, and sugar cane-sweetened grapefruit flavor. This brand is relatively easy to find stateside, particularly in grocery stores that stock Mexican foods and ingredients. The slightly tarter Squirt is another common pick in Mexico and is a bartender favorite.

Some people may choose to rim the glass with salt, while others add a pinch of salt straight into the drink. This step isn’t necessary, but it does add a savory quality that melds beautifully with the earthy tequila and tart grapefruit. And it opens the possibility of using a spiced salt, like Tajín, for an extra seasoning kick.

Because the Paloma is constructed right in the glass, you don’t need any bar tools to make it. Just add your ingredients to a highball glass with ice, give a quick stir, and you’re ready to enjoy a refreshing cocktail. Mexico’s national cocktail is a great choice any day of the year.