5 Ingredient Paloma (Tequila Grapefruit Cocktail)

This classic paloma is made with 5 simple ingredients: tequila, grapefruit & lime juice, sparkling water, and a splash of simple syrup. The result is a tequila grapefruit cocktail that captures that perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, & bitterness.

Why We Love This Recipe

Like many other classic cocktails, the paloma combines the perfect balance of acidity, bitterness, and sweetness.

If you enjoy the citrus-forward, tropical flavors in this drink, you should also check out this pineapple mojito and classic blended piña colada.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make your own paloma:

• Tequila or mezcal
• Fresh grapefruit juice
• Fresh lime juice
• Simple syrup 
• Sparkling water
• Optional garnishes: ice, salt, sugar, tajin, slice of grapefruit or lime

See recipe card for quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

Perfect Pairings

Here are some tasty bites to pair with your palomas:

Equipment

Here are some simple bar tools that will help in making this cocktail:

• Cocktail shaker – You can buy a fun cocktail shaker if you don’t own one, or use a mason jar with a lid to shake things up.
• Shot glass or jigger – These tools help in measuring out the ounces of each ingredient. Bonus points if it has the ounces marked on the outside!
• Fun glasses – I’m sure you already have some form of this in your kitchen, so pick your favorite glass wear and have some fun! Maybe even pop it in the freezer for 10 minutes before pouring your drink it, to get that delicious chilled effect.

Storage & Large Batch Tips

Like most cocktails, the paloma is best enjoyed fresh.

That said, if you want to prepare a large batch of palomas, I recommend combining the fruit juices, simple syrup, and tequila in advance. This mixture can be chilled in the fridge until ready to serve.

From there, stir well, and serve over with ice before topping with sparkling water and garnish of choice.

The measurements in this recipe will make 1 paloma, so multiply the quantity of each ingredient by the number of palomas you’d like to serve.

Optional Garnishes

Here are a few fun garnish ideas for your paloma:

• A sugared or salted rim – Rub a halved lime around the rim of your glass and run through a plate of sugar, salt or tajin to create a deliciously sweet or salty rim.
• A slice of fresh grapefruit or lime – Thinly slice a piece of grapefruit or lime and wedge it over the rim of your glass.
• Something spicy – a sliced jalapeño or some crushed pink peppercorn on the rim will add a spicy bite to this cocktail.

You can also try using a sprig of fresh rosemary or mint adds a great aroma when taking a sip from this drink.

More Cocktails We Love

Please remember to always drink responsibly,

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