The Paloma Cocktail

Steven

4 years ago

One of my favorite Tequila drinks, cool, refreshing, and a little bitter. I make the Paloma cocktail with fresh grapefruit and lime juice, Tequila, and a splash of club soda. Served in a highball glass with the rim salted or not. This Tequila cocktail is perfect for a hot Texas or Mexican summer. And with only 180 calories, it is a great alternative to the high-calorie, super sugary Margarita. Actually, I think the Paloma is more popular in Mexico than the Margarita.

The Paloma cocktail was originally made with grapefruit-flavored soda called Jarrito’s. It’s really good, but you can’t get Jarrito’s soda everywhere. So, I make my recipe with real grapefruit juice and club soda to give it a little fizz.

The Paloma cocktail is an International Bartenders Association cocktail (The IBA). For the “official” recipe, they do not salt the rim of the glass, rather, they add a pinch of salt to the drink itself. If I’m drinking it out by the swimming pool in a plastic cup, I’m not salting the rim, lol.

The Paloma cocktail is closely related to the vodka drinks; The Salty Dog (with salt) and The Greyhound (without salt). The only difference is they are made with vodka, whereas the Paloma is made with Tequila or Mezcal.

Paloma Ingredients

Tequila: No good ever came from a bottle of cheap Tequila! A good quality Tequila is always a must no matter what the cocktail. I always prefer Anejo (aged) tequila, however, a good reposado is excellent as well.
Campari: Campari is an Italian liqueur that has a slightly bitter grapefruit taste and a beautiful color. It is a great addition to the traditional Paloma recipe both for the flavor and the color.
Lime Juice: The lime adds a nice brightness to the grapefruit juice and gives the Paloma that little extra something. ½ of lime is the perfect amount.
Grapefruit Juice or Soda: I like the Paloma made with both. If you can get Jarrito’s soda, it’s the best for this cocktail. Otherwise, I love the combination of real grapefruit juice and club soda. It goes great with the Tequila shot.
Salt: The official IBA recipe has a pinch of salt on the Paloma, however, many people rim the glass with salt as an alternative. Or you can omit the salt altogether, the choice is yours. I like the Paloma with or without salt, you should try it both ways and decide for yourself.

Here is my Paloma cocktail recipe