MY GRAPEFRUIT PALOMA IS 'DANGEROUSLY DRINKABLE'

While the classic margarita may get the majority of attention, the paloma (its pink-hued cousin) deserves its fair share of the spotlight. It’s certainly beloved here at Delish, with one of our food editors calling it “dangerously drinkable” after just one sip. Along with its sweet, citrus-y flavor, the paloma is also perfectly simple to create, making it an ideal low-lift summer cocktail. Not counting ice and salt, all you need are 5 ingredients: tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and club soda. Even if you’re not a grapefruit lover, don’t be scared off just yet—this paloma hits the perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors, promising to convert even the staunchest grapefruit haters.

How To Make A Paloma

INGREDIENTS

• Lime: While a paloma is a grapefruit-based drink, the lime helps to bring a bit of acidity so that the drink doesn’t taste flat and one-note. It also helps to balance the sweetness.
• Grapefruit Juice: What’s a paloma without grapefruit juice! I recommend getting an all-natural grapefruit juice with no added sugars (since we’ll be adding our own simple syrup!). This way, you’ll get the most concentrated grapefruit flavor.
• Tequila: There’s a lot of tequila out there, and not all of them are created equal. If you’re looking for the best type of tequila to use for your paloma, blanco is most commonly used, but you can also use reposado if you’re looking to add a smooth, almost caramel-like flavor to your cocktail. Can’t get enough of mezcal? Use it instead to add some smoky, earthy flavors to this sweet citrus drink.
• Simple Syrup: You can buy simple syrup, but it’s also incredibly easy to make at home. It’s just equal parts sugar and water!
• Club Soda: Though traditionally a paloma features a grapefruit soda like Squirt or Jarritos, we didn’t love how overly syrupy those options can be. To control the sweetness of our cocktail, we swapped out the grapefruit soda for grapefruit juice, club soda, and simple syrup. If you prefer your paloma more or less sweet, feel free to experiment with the amount of simple syrup added to find your ideal level.
• Grapefruit Wedge: A grapefruit wedge is optional for this drink, but we think it really takes the cuteness factor over the top.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Before you mix your drink, you have to prepare your glasses! Pour salt into a small, shallow plate. Rub the rim of your glass with a lime wedge. Dip your glass into the salt and roll slightly so that the entire rim gets coated.

Fill your glass with ice. Pour grapefruit juice, tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice over the ice. Top the glass off with club soda and stir everything together with a long bar spoon. Add the grapefruit wedge as the final touch!

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• What’s the difference between a margarita and a paloma? Besides salt and ice, a classic margarita includes 3 key ingredients: lime juice, tequila, and triple sec. Alternatively, a paloma ditches the triple sec and adds grapefruit soda (or grapefruit juice and club soda, like this recipe) instead. The result is a cocktail that perfectly balances sweet and sour, and packs a citrus kick that a classic marg lacks.
• Make it frozen. Craving this drink on an extra hot day? Make our frozen paloma instead—it’s so refreshing.

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Yields: 1 serving

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Kosher salt

• 1

  lime wedge

• 2 oz.

  grapefruit juice

• 2 oz.

  tequila

• 1/2 oz.

  simple syrup

• Juice of 1/2 lime

• 2 oz.

  club soda

• 1

  grapefruit wedge

Directions

1. Pour salt onto a small plate. Rub rim of a Collins glass with lime wedge, then dip into salt, turning to coat.
2. Fill prepared glass with ice. Add grapefruit juice, tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Top off with club soda and gently stir with a bar spoon. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

2026-04-16T18:47:26Z