Paloma cocktail in a highball glass — Grapefruit soda

Paloma Cocktail Recipe

refreshing citrus easy

tequila, grapefruit soda, lime juice, salt

History

The Paloma is Mexico’s unofficial national cocktail—simpler, more refreshing, and often more popular than the Margarita. It emerged in the mid-20th century once grapefruit soda (especially Squirt, introduced to Mexico around 1955) met tequila, evolving from the broader Mexican tradition of mixing the spirit with soda. No single inventor is known (Don Javier of La Capilla, often credited, created the related Batanga instead). Tequila, lime, salt, and grapefruit soda over ice—bright, effervescent, and endlessly drinkable.

Ingredients

tequila 2 oz

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grapefruit soda 4-6 oz (top)

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lime juice 0.5 oz

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salt pinch (for rim, optional)

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Missing a bottle? Stock your pantry to see what else you can mix.

How to make

Rim a highball glass with salt (optional).
Fill with ice, add tequila and lime juice, then top with grapefruit soda.
Stir gently.
Garnish with a lime wedge.

Glassware

Highball

Built for long drinks with ice and a mixer — keeps the pour cold and easy to top up.

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Paloma FAQ

What ingredients are in a Paloma?

A Paloma is made with tequila, grapefruit soda, lime juice, and salt. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a Paloma?

Rim a highball glass with salt (optional). Fill with ice, add tequila and lime juice, then top with grapefruit soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.