Easy Paloma Cocktail

This Easy Paloma Cocktail Recipe is one of our favorite refreshing summer drinks! Made with fresh grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, and sparkling water, it’s bright and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. Add a little bit of Tajín or a salt rim for that extra pop of flavor! Whether you’re making these for happy hour on the patio, taco night with friends, or a laid-back summer gathering, this simple Paloma recipe is always a favorite!

Why You’ll Love This Paloma Cocktail Recipe

• Simple Ingredients – You only need 6 easy-to-find ingredients! 
• Quick + Easy – With just a few minutes of prep, these cocktails are ready to drink in about 5 minutes. 
• Customizable – Adjust the sweetness, alternate between salt and Tajín for the rim, or add extra sparkling water to adjust the drinks to your preference. 
• Great for Entertaining – Ideal for date nights, happy hours, or sharing with a friend, this recipe makes 2 servings and can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger gathering. 

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Ingredients

Sweet and refreshing, the ingredients for this paloma cocktail recipe are easy to find at any grocery store. Here’s what to gather: 

• Tajín or Flaky Sea Salt – These are used to rim the glasses for an extra layer of flavor. Tajín adds a slightly spicy kick while sea salt creates a delicious sweet and salty combo. 
• Lime – Fresh lime juice brightens the cocktail and helps the Tajín or salt stick to the rim of the glass. 
• Grapefruit – Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is the star of the show, giving the drink its signature sweet-tart citrus flavor. We also use grapefruit slices for a pretty garnish.
• Blanco Tequila – A good-quality blanco tequila provides a smooth, clean flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh citrus.
• Agave Nectar – This adds a touch of sweetness to balance the tart fruit juices. 
• Sparkling Water – Used to top off the glasses, this gives the cocktail a signature bubbly finish. 

How to Make a Paloma Cocktail

With their pretty orange-pink color, these paloma cocktails look fancy, but they’re super simple to make. You’ll need a small plate, two cocktail glasses, a juicer, a cocktail shaker or large mason jar, and a small sieve. Here’s how to make an Easy Paloma Cocktail Recipe: 

1. Salt the rim – Place the Tajín or salt on a small plate. Slice a lime in half, and run the lime around two cocktail glasses to moisten the edges. Dip each glass into the plate, completely coating the rims. 
2. Prep the grapefruit – Cut 2 thin slices of grapefruit, and set them aside. Then, with the remaining grapefruit halves, squeeze all the juice into a cocktail shaker or large mason jar. 
3. Combine ingredients – Add the tequila, agave, and lime juice to the grapefruit juice, and shake or stir to combine. 
4. Serve – Pour the grapefruit mixture over a small sieve, and divide the liquid between the two prepared glasses filled with ice. Top the drinks off with sparkling water, add the reserved grapefruit slices as garnish, and enjoy! 

Tips

• Use fresh grapefruit juice. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice makes a huge difference in flavor and gives the cocktail a brighter, more vibrant taste than bottled juice.
• Chill your ingredients. Cold grapefruit juice, tequila, and sparkling water help keep the drink refreshing without requiring too much ice, which can water it down. 
• Add the sparkling water last. Pour the sparkling water in after combining the other ingredients to help preserve its bubbles.
• Adjust the sweetness to taste. Grapefruits can vary in sweetness, so feel free to add a little extra agave nectar if needed.

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Variations 

• Make a Spicy Paloma Cocktail. Add a few slices of jalapeño to the cocktail shaker or muddle them with the grapefruit juice for a spicy kick.
• Use Mezcal. Swap the tequila for mezcal to give the drink a smoky flavor that adds amazing depth and offsets the sweet, tart citrus.
• Try a Different Sweetener. Replace the agave nectar with honey or simple syrup for a slightly different flavor profile.
• Make It Frozen. Blend the ingredients with ice for a frozen paloma that’s perfect for hot summer days.
• Add Fresh Herbs. Muddle fresh mint, basil, or rosemary with the citrus juice for an herbal twist.
• Make It Extra Citrusy. Add a splash of fresh orange juice for a sweeter, fruitier version.
• Turn It Into a Paloma Pitcher. Double or triple the recipe for parties and add the sparkling water just before serving to keep it bubbly.
• Create a Mocktail Version. Skip the tequila and use extra sparkling water or a grapefruit-flavored sparkling beverage for a refreshing alcohol-free drink.

How to Store

This paloma cocktail is best enjoyed immediately after it’s made while the sparkling water is cold and bubbly. 

However, you can prepare the citrus mixture ahead of time. To do so, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, pour the mixture over ice, and top with fresh sparkling water.

For parties, you can prepare a larger batch of the grapefruit-tequila mixture in advance and let guests add their own sparkling water and garnishes just before drinking.

More Cocktail Recipes

• Fizzy Pomegranate Cocktail
• Easy Champagne Cocktail
• Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
• Cranberry Orange Ginger Beer Cocktail
• Valentine’s Day Cocktail
• Creme Brûlée Cocktail

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Easy Paloma Cocktail

Desserts & Drinks

This Easy Paloma Cocktail Recipe is one of our favorite refreshing summer drinks! Made with fresh grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, and sparkling water, it’s bright and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. Add a little bit of Tajín or a salt rim for that extra pop of flavor! Whether you're making these for happy hour on the patio, taco night with friends, or a laid-back summer gathering, this simple Paloma recipe is always a favorite!

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Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Drinks

Equipment

• 2 Vintage Cocktail Glasses
• Juicer
• Cocktail Shaker or Large Mason Jar
• Fine Mesh Sieve

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 Tablespoon Tajin or flakey sea salt
• 1 lime halved
• 1 grapefruit
• 3 ounces blanco tequila
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons agave nectar
• 4-6 ounces sparkling water
• Ice

Instructions

 

• Place the salt or tajin onto a small plate.
• Take 1/2 a lime. Slice a slit in one of the halves. Take two cocktail glasses and run the half lime with the slit around the edge of the glass to moisten the edges of the cup.
• Dip the rim of the glass in the plate of tajin (or salt) until the entire rim is coated.
• Repeat the lime & tajin process with the second glass.
• Fill each glass halfway with ice.
• Slice the grapefruit in half. Cut 2 thin slices of grapefruit for garnish. Set those two slices aside.
• Take the remaining grapefruit halves and squeeze all the juice into a cocktail shaker or large mason jar. Add the tequila, agave and squeeze both lime halves into the mixture. Shake or stir to combine.
• Pour the grapefruit mixture over a small sieve and divide equally over the two glasses.
• Top with sparkling water until the glasses are nearly full.
• Take the grapefruit slices and place one into each glass.

Notes

• You can halve the recipe for 1 portion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Drink

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