Skip to main content

How to Make a Perfect Paloma Drink

Step aside Margarita, the Paloma is the real drink of Mexico. The zesty cocktail is delicious any month of the year but it’s especially mouthwatering on a hot day. In a situation such as this, we like to pick the wise brains of cocktail gurus like Alicia Perry and Garret Dostal. Perry makes incredible drinks and oversees the cocktail program over at Polite Provisions. Garrett Dostal is a cocktail consultant and brand ambassador for Hiatus Tequila.

“In terms of the Paloma cocktail, I am really looking for a cocktail that is juicy, acidic, and thirst quenching,” Perry says. She adds that there are three major components at play — the tequila for the Paloma, citrus, and soda. “In the process of creating my perfect Paloma I found that specific Blanco Tequilas were either too dominant, or were not able to stand up to the ingredients of the cocktail,” she says. “Fortaleza Blanco allowed for subtle notes of citrus, agave, and vanilla to be well represented in the cocktail.”

Related Videos

When it comes to grapefruit, Perry likes the pink variety as it offers a solid balance of bitterness and sweetness. Which soda? She likes Topo Chico for its full effervescence and minerality. “I also found that sea salt and a grapefruit wedge implemented into the cocktail allowed for it to have more robust flavors and a rounded body,” she adds.

According to Dostal, “When it comes to the Paloma it is a very simple cocktail,” he says. “However, the simpler the cocktail, often the greater the scrutiny from purists.”

One way to make a Paloma, he says, is the “soda method.” It’s basically a dumbed-down version of the drink, turning a four-to-five-ingredient drink into a three-ingredient one. “This recipe maximizes efficiency and highlights the products being used by allowing the minimal ingredients to shine,” he says. Essentially, it’s just tequila and grapefruit soda.

On a personal level, Dostal is attracted to a Paloma with balance. He also appreciates rich agave notes from a quality tequila. “As a drink made from an agave spirit I want to be able to taste the spirit in the drink,” he says. “For this, I would recommend a Blanco tequila from the Tequila Valley – like Hiatus Tequila Blanco. It is sharp to cut through the fruit and soda, and has rich bold agave flavors to shine in the drink.”

How do you achieve balance? It’s all about evening out the bitter, sweet, and sour. “Everyone has their preference when it comes to this ratio,” Dostal admits. “However, I prefer for the cocktail to sit slightly on the sweeter side than the sour. This is more appealing to a larger audience and helps lift the agave notes from the tequila.” See below for Perry and Dostal’s ideal Paloma cocktail recipes.

Related Reading

Perry’s Ideal Paloma

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Fortaleza Blanco
  • .75 oz  lime juice
  • .75 oz grapefruit juice (pink grapefruit)
  • .75 oz simple syrup (1:1)
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 1 grapefruit triangle

Method:

Muddle grapefruit triangle and shake with ice in cocktail tins. Strain and pour into a Collins or tall glass over ice and top with Topo Chico. Garnish with a salted grapefruit triangle.

Dostal’s Ideal Paloma

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Hiatus Tequila Blanco
  • 2 oz grapefruit juice
  • .5 oz fresh lime juice
  • Club soda
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 grapefruit wedge

Method:

Salt the rim of a highball glass or Collins Glass and fill with ice. Add all ingredients to a shaker tin.  Add two pinches of salt and seal the tin and shake. Strain over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Editors' Recommendations

The 5 best ways to cook Lil Smokies, the perfect appetizer for any gathering
Lil smokies: These snacks may be little, but they're packing big time flavor

No matter if it's game day, or a Saturday backyard picnic, when it comes time to serve an All-American meaty treat, we suggest you look no further than the sure-fire people-pleaser, Little Smokies (AKA Lil' Smokies).  Aside from vegans and vegetarians, we can't think of a single person who would be disappointed to see a piping hot bowl of Little Smokies, complete with various dipping sauces.

These bad boys are super easy to make and are great on their own. However, if you're looking to level-up your Little Smokie game, here are some easy recipes that will have the crowd cheering.

Read more
Benefits of ginger: 5 reasons why you should add it to your grocery list today
Learn how ginger could be an essential superfood for your diet
Ginger on cutting board.

All over the world,ginger is consumed in many ways; these include as a spice, in teas and soups, and more! No matter how you choose to enjoy the superfood, it cannot be denied that there are many benefits of ginger. Due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, there are five significant ways that ginger can positively affect your health.

It doesn’t require a lot of ginger to make a difference, either! Three to four grams of ginger daily is optimal for the average healthy adult. Any more than this can lead to gastrointestinal distress and heartburn. So as long as you stay within the guidelines, you can include ginger in your diet in various ways and reap the many health benefits it provides.

Read more
The best tequilas you can buy for less than $20
These wallet-friendly tequilas taste much more expensive than they are
best tequilas under 20 espolon tequila

Tequila can start a party. It also can end one very quickly. Your focus should stay on those that can star at any gathering. A solid tequila doesn't have to break the bank, either. Also, keep this in mind when looking for quality tequila, affordable or not: Make sure it's 100% agave. Those headache-inducing tequilas of your past were more than likely only part agave -- they just need to be 51%. The additional sugar in those was likely your culprit.

All tequila hails from the Mexican state of Jalisco. All start as Blue Weber Agave and take a wonderful ride to reach their final destination on a drinker's palate. This Mexican spirit has a beautiful, rich history. The excellence of this well-made spirit can be witnessed even in inexpensive versions -- neat or mixed into a tasty margarita.

Read more