Paloma Cocktail Recipe
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.
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.