Classic Paloma Recipe

Name: Classic Paloma
Prep time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients: 2 oz (60 ml) blanco tequila; 0.5 oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice; 1 pinch fine sea salt, plus more for the rim (optional); 4 oz (120 ml) grapefruit soda, chilled (such as Squirt, Jarritos, or Ting); Ice cubes, enough to fill the glass; 1 grapefruit or lime wedge, to garnish

The Paloma is generally reckoned to be far more popular in Mexico than the Margarita: blanco tequila, lime, a pinch of salt, and grapefruit soda over ice. It takes two minutes, needs no shaker, and the salt in the drink rather than only on the rim is what makes it taste finished. Long, tart, and easy in hot weather.

Classic Paloma

Prep4 min

Total time4 min

Servings1 cocktail

DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

2 oz (60 ml) blanco tequila
0.5 oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
1 pinch fine sea salt, plus more for the rim (optional)
4 oz (120 ml) grapefruit soda, chilled (such as Squirt, Jarritos, or Ting)
Ice cubes, enough to fill the glass
1 grapefruit or lime wedge, to garnish

Instructions

If you want a salt rim, run a lime wedge around the outer edge of a highball glass and roll it in fine salt.
Fill the glass to the top with ice cubes.
Pour in the tequila.
Add the fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt directly into the glass.
Stir briefly to dissolve the salt into the tequila and lime.
Top with chilled grapefruit soda.
Give one gentle stir from the bottom and garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge.

Contains 2 oz of 40% tequila, roughly 1.3 US standard drinks. Use 100% agave tequila; mixto bottlings bring a sugary aftertaste that this simple build cannot hide.

Tips

The pinch of salt inside the drink is the real technique here. It suppresses the bitterness of the grapefruit and makes the whole thing taste rounder; the rim is decoration by comparison.
For a fresh-juice Paloma, use 2 oz fresh pink grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup, and 2 oz soda water in place of the grapefruit soda. It is sharper and less sweet.
Blanco tequila keeps the drink bright. Reposado adds oak that muddles the grapefruit rather than complementing it.
Grapefruit sodas differ a lot in sugar. If yours is very sweet, push the lime up to 0.75 oz.

FAQ

What usually goes wrong?

Leaving out the salt entirely. Without it the grapefruit turns aggressively bitter halfway down the glass and the drink tastes unbalanced rather than refreshing.

How do I store it?

Serve immediately. Carbonated and citrus-based, so it flattens within about 15 minutes and does not batch well unless you hold back the soda until pouring.

Why do my times differ?

Ovens differ. Use the times as a guide and judge by how it looks and feels.