How to Make a Paloma Cocktail—the Tequila Drink You Never Knew You Needed
Updated: Mar. 31, 2020
The Paloma is a popular Mexican cocktail starring smooth tequila and sweet-tart grapefruit soda. This simple Paloma recipe makes a fruity pink drink that's perfect for Cinco de Mayo. ¡Salud!
When you think of Mexican cocktails, you likely envision classic lime margaritas. However, the Paloma, which is Spanish for dove, might even be more popular than the margarita in Mexico. Made with tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice, the Paloma boasts a sweet and zesty flavor with a smooth finish. Best of all—it’s a snap to make.
How to Make a Paloma Cocktail
Palomas pair well with traditional Mexican dishes like spicy pork and green chili verde and appetizers like tortilla chips and guacamole. Make a batch at your next party for guests to sip on!
What You’ll Need
- Coarse sea salt
- 1-1/2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 cup grapefruit soda (Some of our favorites are IZZE, Fresca, Jarritos and San Pellegrino.)
- Lime wedge
Step 1: Rim the Glass
Gently moisten the rim of a highball glass with water or fresh lime juice. Pour a bit of the sea salt onto a flat, clean surface (such as a plate or cutting board). Dip the glass into the salt lip-side-down to evenly coat the rim in salt—just the same as you’d do for a margarita.
Step 2: Shake and Pour
Add a few ice cubes to the glass. In a cocktail shaker, combine a dash of salt, the tequila and lime juice. Pour the drink into the glass, then slowly top with the grapefruit soda.
Step 3: Top It Off
Garnish with a lime wedge and a light sprinkling of more salt, if desired.
Of course, knowing how to make a Paloma doesn’t stop us from wanting to make a margarita, too. Here’s our simple recipe for margaritas on the rocks or blended.
If you’re looking to brush up on more bartender skills, our collection of surprisingly good mixed drinks will put your technique to the test.
Try These Tequila Drinks Next
Long Island Iced Tea
It's easy to customize Long Island iced tea ingredients to suit your tastes. For instance, try adjusting the tequila. If you like a bolder flavor, use one ounce. If you would prefer a more mellow drink, then use a half ounce in this Long Island recipe.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen Do you know what tequila is made from?
Summertime Tea
You can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee
Blue Lagoon Margaritas
This is one super drink that'll have the neighbors asking, "What's that?" Show them and make an extra batch to share. —Willie DeWaard, Coralville, Iowa By the way, these are the best tequilas for a margarita.
Grapefruit Margarita
When you add a drizzle of grenadine to your finished grapefruit margarita, it sinks to the bottom of the glass, creating a beautiful sunset look. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Tequila Sunrise
When you really want to relax and enjoy the evening try one of these mild orange-flavored Tequila Sunrises.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen Browse this list of classic tequila cocktails, too.
Classic Margarita
A classic margarita recipe doesn't need anything other than tequila, Triple Sec and fresh lime juice. When you're making the cocktail, make sure you squeeze the limes correctly for the ultimate freshness. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Watermelon Margaritas
As beautiful as it is tasty, this tequila drink recipe uses fresh watermelon. Slices are blended with traditional margarita ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. The result is this wonderfully refreshing drink. It's perfect for summer, but also delicious any time you have a perfectly ripe watermelon on hand. Want some margarita basics? Here's everything you need to know.
Texas Red River Margaritas
Tequila drink recipes often lend themselves well to an extra kick. In this Texas Red River Margarita, that kick comes from a few slices of jalapeno. It might sound funny, but paired with tart grapefruit juice and tequila, it hits the spot.
Tequila Blackberry Lemonade
This drink is fantastic for parties because you can blend a big batch in advance. From the blog Real Housemoms comes this fruity, tequila cocktail brimming with blackberries. (Use fresh-picked if you have some bushes near you!) Here are some more ideas for what to mix with tequila.
Amaretto Margarita
With this amaretto margarita, add a touch of Italian flair to the classic lime drink. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Paloma
This is a traditional drink in Mexico. The pretty paloma is a blend of tequila, lime juice and a grapefruit soda like Fresca, Jarritos or Spindrift. It's light, sparkling and thirst-quenching! You can add extra zing with a splash of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, too.
Margarita Sangria
Give your favorite sangria recipe a kick with a dose of tequila. It's a pretty and festive beverage to break out for your next dinner party.
Grilled Pineapple Margarita
Here is a fun tequila drink from my blog, Hungry Enough To Eat Six! Planks of fresh pineapple are grilled to give them a wonderful smoky-sweetness that's delicious in a margarita. The grilled pineapple is frozen, then blended with tequila, ice and orange liqueur for a unique and scrumptious cocktail.
Frozen Strawberry-Basil Margarita
Fresh, fruity and oh, so cool, this strawberry-basil margarita may be the perfect summer cocktail. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Tequila Kiwi Smash
This jewel of a cocktail comes courtesy of the No Spoon Necessary food blog. Fresh and vibrant kiwi combine with cool mint leaves, plus tequila and club soda. The slices of kiwi add flavor and are delicious to nibble on between sips as well.
Bloody Maria
Think of this as a south-of-the-border Bloody Mary. Instead of being vodka-based, this cocktail combines tequila (of course!) with the flavors you love in your Bloody Mary: tomato juice, celery salt, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. This is a perfect Cinco de Mayo brunch drink. You'll also want to try this cocktail with mezcal.
Strawberry Sriracha Margarita
If you like spicy-sweet cocktails, then this is a really good one for you! This margarita recipe comes from Domestic Fits: fresh strawberries, orange liqueur, tequila—and a dash of fiery sriracha sauce. It's a fruity drink with some heat that you can make as subtle or intense as you like.
Fresh Lime Margaritas
This basic fresh margarita recipe is easy to modify to your tastes. Try it frozen or with strawberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Caribbean Blue Margarita
For a fun spin on a classic cocktail, substitute Blue Curacao for Triple Sec. The vibrant blue margarita will make you think you're on the shores of the Caribbean. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
New England Iced Tea
The familiar Long Island iced tea gets a Cape Cod update with this drink. The liquors from the original are still there—vodka, light rum, gin, Triple Sec and tequila. In place of sour mix, the bite in this iced tea comes from tart cranberry juice.
Margarita Floats
On a hot afternoon, what could be better than a cold margarita float? The addition of creamy ice cream really takes this treat to the next level. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Refreshing Beer Margaritas
Have you ever tried a beer margarita before? The combination may sound unusual but is actually similar to a shandy, which is made with equal parts beer and lemonade. In this drink, the citrus kick comes from limeade concentrate, sour mix and slices of fresh lime.
Spicy Pineapple Paloma
This is a unique twist on a classic paloma. The flavors of fresh grapefruit and tequila are still there, along with pineapple soda and a few slices of Serrano peppers. Instead of just salt on the rim, this drink has zesty Tajín—a spice blend of salt, lime and chili peppers.
Frozen Sriracha-Mango Margarita
The sweetness of the fruit helps offset the spiciness of the Sriracha, giving this mango margarita a unique and fun twist. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Tequila Mojito
A traditional mojito cocktail is a blend of rum, mint and lime juice. This recipe from Delicious Everyday is a twist on that, using tequila in place of the rum—preferably anejo aged tequila to give a subtle smokiness to the drink.
Frozen Coconut Margarita
Take your cocktail to the tropics with this coconut margarita. It's very refreshing! —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Spicy Cucumber Margarita
Here is another drink to try if you're a fan of fiery cocktails! Slices of fresh cucumber and jalapeños are muddled with tequila and lime juice, plus a little agave nectar for a touch of sweetness. Next, try these amazing tequila shots.Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Originally Published: March 14, 2019
