Two peach-coloured cocktails in short glasses with salted rims and a wedge of grapefruit

Paloma cocktail

Name: Paloma cocktail
Total time: 5 min
Yield: Serves 1
Ingredients: 1 lime; flaked sea salt a pinch; 50ml blanco tequila; 50ml pink grapefruit juice; 1 tbsp agave syrup; a handful ice cubes for shaking; sparkling water to top up; wedge of grapefruit to serve

Hannah Guinness

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Serves 1

Easy

Total time: 5 mins

A star rating of 5 out of 5.13 ratingsRate

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The margarita's softer, breezier cousin – this zingy Paloma cocktail makes a great sip for the summer months, starring refreshing grapefruit

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Alternatives

Complete the dish

Mix up a refreshing Paloma cocktail, then check out our classic margarita cocktail, daiquiri, sex on the beach, caipirinha, white russian cocktail and more summer cocktail recipes and pink cocktail recipes.

Our drinks expert, Hannah Guinness, shares her at-home bar tips to help you take your paloma to the next level.

What is a paloma?

Think of this refreshing, cooling Mexican cocktail as a breezier cousin of the margarita, featuring tequila and tart grapefruit.

Paloma ingredients

A blanco tequila is best for this cocktail but a lightly aged reposado tequila would also work. We’ve tried and tested the best tequilas here, check out the results. A grapefruit soda is classically used in a paloma but we’ve opted for fresh grapefruit juice to maximise those tart citrus notes – just remember to add sparkling water as the drinks needs fizziness.

Bar hacks and garnishes

We’ve included a salt rim in this recipe – a chilli salt rim would also be delicious or try adding a pinch of salt directly to the drink for a saline hint that matches well with the tequila. As this is a long drink serve a paloma in a tall highball glass or generously sized tumbler.

Take your skills to the next level with this handy cocktail kit from the olive shop. Completed with easy-to-use cobbler shaker, double jigger, fine mesh strainer and bar spoon, it has everything you need to make next-level drinks at home. Buy here.

Paloma cocktail recipe

Ingredients

1 lime
flaked sea salt

a pinch
50ml blanco tequila
50ml pink grapefruit juice
1 tbsp agave syrup
a handful ice cubes

for shaking
sparkling water

to top up
wedge of grapefruit

to serve

Method

step 1

Cut the lime and run it around the rim of a chilled highball glass. Put some salt in a small dish and upturn the glass to coat the rim in the salt.
step 2

Put the tequila, grapefruit juice, 1 tbsp of juice from the lime and the agave syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
step 3

Strain into the glass, top up with sparkling water and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit.

Discover more of our easy cocktail recipes

Piña Colada Recipe

Authors

Hannah GuinnessSenior sub editor and drinks writer

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