Bright, citrusy, and just the right balance of sweet and tart, this Paloma cocktail recipe instantly feels like a mini escape in a glass. Grapefruit juice and fresh lime bring a crisp, refreshing bite, while a splash of fizz keeps it light and easy to sip. Whether you’re hosting friends or unwinding at the end of the day, this simple cocktail delivers bold flavor with minimal effort – the perfect go-to drink for warm afternoons and special occasions.

Three light pink paloma cocktails side by side on a stainless steel rectangular serving tray. Each cocktail is garnished with a grapefruit wedge and sprig of mint.

I love the pink color of this drink. It’s an ideal choice for a relaxed brunch or a festive Mother’s Day celebration, adding a cheerful, elegant touch to the table.

Although I use a shaker to bring this drink together, it could just as easily be done without one. It’s perfectly simple. Add the ingredients to your glass, give it a gentle stir and voila!

And if you are looking for more cocktail ideas, you might want to check out my:

Side angle shot of a low ball glass filled with ice and a gentle yellow pineapple jalapeno margarita. The rim of the glass is rimmed with tajin and sugar. There is a cocktail pick running across the top of the glass with a slice of pineapple and a thin slice of jalapeno on top. In the glass there are two slices of jalapeno floating between the ice and the side of the glass. — Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

Two blue margaritas served on a silver rectangular serving tray. Lime wheels are skewered with a cocktail picks and lay across the top of the drinks. Another blue margarita is in the background. — Blue Margarita

Close up shot of a stemless wine glass sitting on a wood chopping board filled with Limoncello Spritz. The glass is filled with ice and the drink is a yellow ombre, darker yellow on the bottom which lightens as it goes up. There is a yellow straw in the glass and it is garnished with fresh mint. — Limoncello Spritz

What Type of Alcohol is in a Paloma?

Palomas are traditionally made with tequila. Tequila is categorized into 5 main categories based on how long it is aged:

Blanco (silver) tequila is aged the least
Joven (gold)
Reposado (rested)
Anejo (aged)
Extra anejo (ultra-aged)
classified into 5 main categories based on how long it is aged. From least aged to ultra aged you have: blanco (silver), joven (gold), reposado (rested), anejo (aged), extra anejo (ultra aged). The more aged, typically the smoother the flavor and makes for a better sipping tequila. For cocktails, I prefer blanco.

The more aged, typically the smoother the flavor and better it is as a sipping tequila. For cocktails, I prefer blanco as its flavor blends cleanly with the citrus.

Why You Will Love This Paloma Cocktail Recipe

An easy Paloma cocktail recipe – Simple steps and minimal prep make this a foolproof tequila cocktail anyone can make.
Bright, refreshing flavor – Grapefruit and lime juice create a crisp, citrusy drink that isn’t overly sweet.
Perfect brunch cocktail – Light and refreshing, it’s ideal for brunch, Mother’s Day, or warm-weather entertaining.
Quick homemade cocktail – Ready in minutes for effortless hosting or relaxing at home.
Customizable – Easily adjust the sweetness or fizz to create your perfect homemade Paloma.
Beautiful presentation – A salted rim and citrus garnish make this cocktail look bar-worthy.
A crowd-favorite tequila drink – Balanced flavors that appeal to both casual and experienced cocktail drinkers.

Close up side shot of a paloma drink. This pink cocktail is garnished with a grapefruit wedge and a sprig of mint.

Equipment Needed For This Paloma Recipe

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A bartending set is great if you will be making cocktails in general. You can use the jigger and shaker in this recipe. But if you don’t have a shaker, you can easily stir the ingredients.
Low ball glasses or small non-stemmed wine glasses work great.
Citrus Juicer – to make your own lime juice and grapefruit juice if you want.

Ingredients in a Paloma Cocktail

Grapefruit Juice
Lime Juice
Tequila Blanco
Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar
Club Soda

side shot of the ingredients used to make this paloma cocktail recipe. Tequila, grapefruit juice, limes, club soda, and simple syrup.

Grapefruit Juice – freshly squeezed gives the best flavor, but a good store bought juice will work well too.

Lime Juice – freshly squeezed is a must. Store bought lime juice does not taste nearly as good – you will notice the difference.

Tequila Blanco – It’s flavor profile blends well with the citrus flavors.

Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar – adds sweetness. You can adjust how much you add based on your preferences. If your grapefruit juice is fresh, it tends to be more tart and may require a little more simple syrup.

Club Soda – adds the fizz! This could be replaced with sparkling water as well.

How To Make a Paloma Cocktail

Prepare the Salt Rim:

On a small plate, pour out roughly 2 tablespoons of course salt.

Prepare the cocktail glass by rubbing the rim with a wedge of a lime or grapefruit.

Place the moistened rim into the salt giving the glass a little twist to help the salt adhere to the moist rim. Pull the glass up and out of the salt vertically and set right side up.

Rimming a glass with salt by inverting the glass into coarse salt on a small black plate.

Preparing the Cocktail Using a Shaker

Add ice to the prepared cocktail glass and set aside.

Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to the cocktail shaker. Seal the lid on and give it a good shake for about 10 seconds. Pour gently into the prepared cocktail glass being careful to not disturb the salt rim.

Two side by side photos showing the salted cocktail glass having the paloma cocktail poured in over ice from a shaker. The second photo shows the cocktail being topped up with club soda.

Top with the club soda.

Garnish and serve.

Preparing the Cocktail Without a Shaker

Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to the prepared cocktail glass. Give it a gentle stir being careful to not disturb the salt rim.

Gently add in some ice cubes and top with the club soda.

Garnish and serve.

A low angle 45 shot of a non-stemmed wine glass filled with a pink paloma cocktail. In the background are two more palomas. All are garnished with a grapefruit wedge and a sprig of mint in the glass.

Pro Tips and Substitutions

You can also rim the glass with Tajin instead of coarse salt if you want to try something different.
I find grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed if you can, gives the best tasting paloma. However, it can be replaced with store bough grapefruit juice. Some people prefer using grapefruit soda, in which case you don’t need to add the club soda, or the simple syrup, just replace those 2 ¼ oz with more grapefruit soda.
If you don’t have club soda it can be replaced with sparkling water.

FAQs

Can I make a pitcher of Palomas ahead of time? Yes, you can ramp up the quantities to make a pitcher. Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to the pitcher, stir and store in the fridge until ready to use. You can also rim the glasses before guests arrive so they are ready to go when needed. Best to add the club soda right before serving or individually into peoples glasses, so you don’t lose too much fizz.

What glass should a Paloma be served in? A Paloma is typically served in a highball or rocks glass over ice.

Do I have to salt the rim of the glass? No, the salted rim is optional. It enhances the citrus flavor, but the cocktail is still delicious without it.

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If You Liked This Paloma Cocktail Recipe…

If you liked this recipe, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below – I love to hear how people get on with my recipes and I truly make an effort to respond to everyone who takes the time to comment. For other great cocktail ideas check out my Limoncello Spritz, Blue Margarita, and Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita.

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Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Leanne Neill

Bright, citrusy, and just the right balance of sweet and tart, a Paloma cocktail instantly feels like a mini escape in a glass. Grapefruit juice and fresh lime bring a crisp, refreshing bite, while a splash of fizz keeps it light and easy to sip. Whether you’re hosting friends or unwinding at the end of the day, this simple cocktail delivers bold flavor with minimal effort – the perfect go-to drink for warm afternoons and special occasions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Appertivo, Brunch, digestivo, Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1 Cocktail

Equipment

cocktail shaker
jigger
Cocktail Stirrer
Citrus Juicer

Ingredients

Salt or Tajin – for rimming the glass
3 oz Grapefruit juice
2 oz Tequila blanco
½ oz Lime juice
¼ oz Simple syrup or agave nectar
2 oz Club soda

Garnish – any of the following or in combination

Lime wheel/wedge
Grapefruit wedge
Mint sprig
Cilantro sprig

Instructions

Prepare Salt Rim

On a small plate, pour out roughly 2 tablespoons of course salt.
Prepare the cocktail glass by rubbing the rim with a wedge of a lime or grapefruit.
Place the moistened rim into the salt giving the glass a little twist to help the salt adhere to the moist rim. Pull the glass up and out of the salt vertically and set right side up.

Preparing a Paloma With a Shaker

Add ice to the prepared cocktail glass and set aside.
Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to the cocktail shaker. Seal the lid on and give it a good shake for about 10 seconds. Pour gently into the prepared cocktail glass being careful to not disturb the salt rim.
Top with the club soda.
Garnish and serve.

Preparing a Paloma Without a Shaker

Add the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to the prepared cocktail glass. Give it a gentle stir being careful to not disturb the salt rim.
Gently add in some ice cubes and top with the club soda.
Garnish and serve.

Notes

You can also rim the glass with Tajin instead of coarse salt if you want to try something different.
I find grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed if you can, gives the best tasting paloma. However, it can be replaced with store bough grapefruit juice. Some people prefer using grapefruit soda, in which case you don’t need to add the club soda, or the simple syrup, just replace those 2 ¼ oz with more grapefruit soda.
If you don’t have club soda it can be replaced with sparkling water.

Keyword Brunch Cocktail, Grapefruit Cocktail, Paloma Cocktail, Pink Cocktail, Pink Drink, Tequila Cocktail, Tequila Drink