Paloma Cocktail

We all love a margarita, but if you ask me, this paloma cocktail is just as good! Made with grapefruit and lime juice, it's sweet, sour, and refreshing.

paloma cocktail

When Jack and I lived in Austin, we’d always order paloma cocktails on summer afternoons at Hula Hut. It had a big deck right on Lake Austin, and it was filled with people all summer long. We loved to sit there in the hot sun, sipping our cocktails and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with friends.

Last weekend, the spring sun inspired us to make this paloma recipe at home. With just the two of us, our “scene” looked a bit different than our Hula Hut days, but we still had fun mixing up our drinks together. In fact, we’re already looking forward to making this paloma recipe again tomorrow. It’s really simple, and it’s a fresh alternative to other tequila drinks (looking at you, margarita). If you’re looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend, I hope you give it a try!

Paloma recipe ingredients

Paloma Cocktail Ingredients

A traditional paloma cocktail consists of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. My recipe is a fresher version of this classic combination. Here’s what’s in it:

  • Tequila – Use any good-quality blanco tequila in this recipe. We like this brand, but feel free to use your favorite!
  • Grapefruit juice and club soda – I swap the traditional grapefruit soda for a mix of grapefruit juice and sparkling water. For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice!
  • Lime juice – Along with the grapefruit juice, it makes this drink deliciously tart.
  • Agave nectar or simple syrup – Because I don’t use soda in this recipe, I balance the sour/tart flavor of the grapefruit and lime with something sweet. I call for a small amount of agave or simple syrup, but don’t hesitate to add more to taste.
  • Salt – For the rim of your glass! I like to use coarse sea salt, but kosher salt would work here too.
  • Ice – A paloma cocktail is always better on the rocks!

Rub the rim of a highball glass or margarita glass with a grapefruit wedge, and dip it in a small plate of salt. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and sweetener to the glass, stir to combine, and add ice to fill the glass. Sweeten to taste, and garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge. Enjoy!

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

paloma drink

Paloma Recipe Tips

  • Taste and adjust. Whenever you make a cocktail at home, taste and adjust to find a balance of flavors you love. If you prefer a sweeter paloma, add an extra splash of agave or simple syrup. For more tartness, squeeze in extra lime. Have fun making it the way you like it!
  • If it’s too strong, let the ice begin to melt. If your paloma tastes too strong when you first try it, let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature. As the ice melts, it will dilute the drink. If it’s still stiffer than you’d like it to be, top your glass with more sparkling water.
  • Change it up! I love this recipe as written, but it’s also delicious with mezcal. If you try this variation, you might want to add additional sweetener, to taste, to balance the smoky flavor. This paloma cocktail is also fantastic with some heat! To make it spicy, drop a few jalapeño slices into the tequila and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before you make your drink.

paloma

More Favorite Cocktail Recipes

If you love this paloma recipe, try one of these cocktails next:

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Paloma

rate this recipe:
4.99 from 94 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 1
This easy paloma recipe is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, happy hour, or anytime you're craving a fun drink! After you mix it together, taste and adjust your cocktail to find a balance of flavors you love.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Salt the rim of the glass by rubbing a grapefruit wedge around the edge and dipping it onto a small plate of salt.
  • Mix the tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and agave nectar into the glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with ice. Adjust sweetness to taste. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

47 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Amanda
    07.08.2023

    5 stars
    This is a great palmoma recipe! The fresh citrus juice is a must. I used 1 oz gold tequila and 1 oz white tequila & followed the recipe just as written.

  2. Brad
    07.01.2023

    5 stars
    Absolute perfect recipe – perfect for time at the lake. For a little added colour and the sweetness of the simple syrup, add a little maraschino cherry juice. Who doesn’t love a double garnish?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.03.2023

      I’m glad you loved it!

  3. Anna
    03.26.2023

    5 stars
    Well balanced, refreshing cocktail. Made it several times and it’s a total crowd pleaser! I often sub the Taquila for Mazcel, for an extra smoky flavors.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.29.2023

      Yum! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

  4. Leigh
    03.19.2023

    5 stars
    Love it. And I’m not a grapefruit fan usually. I think I like it better without the sparkling water

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.23.2023

      So glad you love the recipe!

  5. Bonnie
    02.21.2023

    5 stars
    LOOOOOVE this! Yes, better than a Margarita! I left out the sweetner, we like it without. I used fresh grapefruit sections, fresh squeezed lime juice and whirled it all with the tequila in the blender. Poured it over ice and topped with club soda. Next time, i will pour it over crushed ice. So refreshing!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.23.2023

      So glad you loved it!!

  6. Jolee
    02.15.2023

    5 stars
    Very pleased with this recipe! Good balance of tart and not too sweet. I added a splash of Mezcal but honestly I think it’s better plain so that the grapefruit flavor can shine.

  7. Nell
    09.30.2022

    I love this cocktail! Can I make a pitcher of this cocktail? What would the amounts be?

  8. Abbey
    08.28.2022

    5 stars
    Holy moly delicious! Better than a margarita and I love a good margarita!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.29.2022

      I’m so glad you loved it!

    • Bonnie
      02.21.2023

      5 stars
      Me too, Abbey! I totally agree!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.