Growing up, I haaaated grapefruit. I thought it was more of a punishment than a treat (even when my nanny would give it to me sprinkled with sugar)! I’m happy to say that I have grown to love grapefruit and this paloma is one of my favorite drinks to make.
It’s refreshing, super versatile, and has just enough sweetness. After sipping on this drink a few times, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’ll quickly be one of your new favorite cocktails.
Ingredients
- Tequila
- Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
- Simple syrup (store bought or homemade)
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed
- La Croix Pamplemousse
- Salt
- Lime and grapefruit slice for garnish, optional
- Sparkling rosemary for garnish, optional
Typically, palomas are made with grapefruit soda. I absolutely love La Croix and had their grapefruit flavor on hand and decided to swap the soda for their sparkling water (and honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll ever use soda again)!
Pro Tip – You don’t have to use freshly squeezed juice, but I highly recommend it.
How to make a paloma
A paloma is one of the few cocktails that you can make with or without a shaker. If you’re after a good cocktail set, I highly recommend this one (it’s been a favorite of mine for a while now and comes with everything you need).
Regardless of how you make a paloma, you’ll need to prepare your glass first.
I like to rub the rim of my glass with a lime wedge, dip it into salt, then fill the glass with ice. From there, I’ll typically just make my grapefruit paloma in the glass!
To make a paloma in a glass, add the tequila, simple syrup, and the grapefruit and lime juice. Give it a good stir until everything is combined, then top it off with the La Croix. Add your garnish and enjoy! Simple.
If you’d like to make a paloma in a cocktail shaker, simply add the tequila, grapefruit and lime juice, and simple syrup into the shaker and shake until it’s well combined. Pour the mixture into your prepared glass and garnish!
Both ways are incredibly easy – one just involves less equipment!
Frequently asked questions
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, make sure you leave it in the comment box below & I’ll do my best to answer it!
How is a paloma different from a margarita?
Both of these drinks contain tequila, lime, and salt. That’s sort of where the similarities end though. A classic paloma is sweetened with fresh grapefruit juice, some simple syrup, and sparkling water whereas a margarita is flavored with orange liqueur or bottled margarita mix.
What’s the difference between a paloma and a greyhound?
A greyhound is soooo similar to a paloma, with the key difference being that it’s often served with gin or vodka over ice (rather than tequila).
How to Make a Paloma
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 5 Minutes
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, about 1/2 a large grapefruit
- juice from 1/2 a lime, about 1 TBSP
- 2 oz tequila of choice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- La Croix Pamplemousse, filled to top
- Garnish: salt, lime slice, grapefruit slice, and sparkling rosemary (optional)
Instructions
- Rub the rim of your glass with a lime slice and then dip the glass in salt (optional). Fill your glass with ice and set to the side.
- Add the tequila, grapefruit and lime juice, and simple syrup to a large glass and stir until well mixed.
- Top it off with the La Croix pamplemousse. Garnish with a lime slice, grapefruit slice, and some sparkling rosemary. Enjoy!
Notes
This drink can also be made in a shaker bottle. All you’d have to do is add the tequila, grapefruit and lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker and shake until well combined. Then, pour your mixture into the cup!
