drink · Drink

How to Make a Paloma

Name: How to Make a Paloma
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 ounces silver tequila; 1 ounce fresh lime juice; 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice; 4 ounces grapefruit soda; 1 lime wedge; 1 grapefruit wheel; coarse salt

A proper paloma needs three things: good tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, and lime juice, topped with grapefruit soda or club soda. The key is the balance—tart enough to make your mouth water, sweet enough to keep you coming back. Skip the artificial mixers and use real fruit juice.

Total time: 5 min
Hands-on: 5 min
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

2 ounces silver tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
4 ounces grapefruit soda
1 lime wedge
1 grapefruit wheel
coarse salt

Step by step

Salt the rim. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass. Roll the rim in coarse salt on a small plate. Fill the glass with ice.
Add the base. Pour 2 ounces of silver tequila into the glass. Add 1 ounce of fresh lime juice and 2 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice.
Top and stir. Top with 4 ounces of grapefruit soda like Jarritos or Squirt. If you prefer less sweet, use club soda instead. Stir gently with a bar spoon.
Garnish and serve. Add a grapefruit wheel and lime wedge to the glass. Serve immediately while the ice is still crackling.

Tips & troubleshooting

Use silver tequila, not gold—the cleaner flavor lets the grapefruit shine
Fresh juice makes all the difference. Bottled grapefruit juice tastes flat and artificial
Chill your glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before building the drink
Taste before serving—some grapefruits are more tart than others, adjust with a splash of simple syrup if needed
Make the salt rim optional for guests who don't want it

Variations

Spicy Paloma. Muddle 2-3 jalapeño slices in the glass before adding tequila, or rim with chili-lime salt instead of plain salt.
Skinny Paloma. Use fresh grapefruit juice and club soda only, skip the grapefruit soda. Add a splash of simple syrup if needed.
Mezcal Paloma. Replace tequila with mezcal for a smokier, more complex flavor that pairs beautifully with the grapefruit.
Frozen Paloma. Blend all ingredients with 1 cup of ice in a blender until smooth. Serve in a salt-rimmed margarita glass.

Questions

Can I make palomas ahead of time?: Mix the tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit juice ahead of time and keep chilled. Add the soda and ice right before serving so it stays fizzy.
What if I can't find grapefruit soda?: Club soda works perfectly. You'll get a cleaner, less sweet drink that tastes more like the fruit itself. Add simple syrup to taste if you want it sweeter.
Do I need expensive tequila?: No, but avoid the cheapest bottles. A mid-range 100% agave silver tequila works great. Save the expensive stuff for sipping neat.
Can I use bottled lime juice?: Fresh lime juice is worth the extra minute it takes to squeeze. Bottled lime juice has a chemical taste that will overpower the delicate grapefruit flavor.