Agave warmth with a bright, citrus kick. The Paloma is the quintessential cocktail of summer, especially for tequila enthusiasts.
This classic cocktail is a warm-weather staple, with a timeless appeal that has made it one of summer’s most popular drinks. When the temperature goes up, cool down with a refreshing Paloma, with its subtle combination of bitter, sweet, and sour.
Traditional Palomas are relatively simple cocktails, just tequila, grapefruit soda, and a dash of lime juice. Now, on-trend bartenders like to swap out grapefruit soda for grapefruit juice, with a splash of soda water. Palomas are generally less sweet than margaritas, which allows the tequila’s agave-forward characteristics to stand out from the zesty grapefruit and citrusy lime.
The tried-and-true Paloma is always delicious, but there are dozens of ways to elevate this classic refresher. Transform it with a high-end tequila or by adding new flavors to the mix.
Spicy Paloma
- 2 oz. blanco tequila (Vintegrity recommendation: Tequila Arette Blanco)
- 2 oz. grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz. lime juice
- 0.5 oz. agave syrup
- Soda water
- 2-4 slices of fresh jalapeno
In a shaker, muddle jalapeno slices. Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave syrup. Shake well with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with grapefruit or jalapeno.
Mango Paloma Twist Recipe
Recipe from the National Mango Board.
- 2 oz. mezcal (Vintegrity recommendation: Lucy Pistolas Wild Salmiana)
- 0.5 oz. mango puree
- 0.25 oz. fresh lemon juice
- Grapefruit soda
- Salt for rim
Rim the glass with salt, add mezcal, mango puree, and lemon juice to the glass. Add ice and grapefruit juice. Stir well and garnish with mango, grapefruit, or lemon.
Honey Basil Paloma
- 2 oz. blanco tequila (Vintegrity recommendation: Alma del Jaguar Tequila Blanco)
- 2 oz. grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz. lime juice
- 0.5 honey syrup
- 3-5 fresh basil leaves
- Soda water
In a shaker, gently muddle the basil leaves with the honey syrup. Make sure not to over-crush, just bruise the leaves. Add tequila, grapefruit juice, and lime juice. Shake well with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with soda water and garnish with basil or grapefruit.
Smoky Pineapple Paloma
- 2 oz. reposado tequila (Vintegrity recommendation: Tequila Tapatio Reposado)
- 1.5 oz. pineapple juice
- 1.5 oz. grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz. lime juice
- 0.5 oz. agave syrup
- Smoked salt
- Soda water
Rim the glass with the smoked salt. In a shaker, combine the tequila, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and a pinch of the smoked salt. Add ice, shake well, and then strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
