If you’ve ever had cocktails in Mexico, there is a good chance you’ve tasted the Paloma. This is one of the country’s most popular mixed drinks, and due to its delicious and refreshing taste, it has spread in popularity around the world. So, what exactly is a paloma?
The Paloma is made of tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and club soda. It is typically served over plenty of ice in a glass with a salted rim. Garnish with lime or grapefruit, and enjoy your refreshing paloma cocktail.
In the rest of this article, we will take a closer look at the key ingredients for the paloma, and see your best picks for tequila, as well as alternate versions with mezcal.
We will also see the possible origins of this famous Mexican drink and how you can make it at home today.
What Is Paloma?
The paloma is a cocktail that combines the citrus of lime and tartness of grapefruit with tequila, served over ice and topped off with club soda in a glass with a salted rim.
It’s a refreshing, fizzy cocktail that is perfect for cooling off on a hot day.
Tequila made from 100% pure agave is preferred, but you can find palomas made from a variety of blanco or reposado tequilas.
You can also find variations that use mezcal, a Mexican liquor that also comes from the agave plant. It can have a smokier flavor, used for a creative twist on the traditional paloma.
5 Best Tequilas for a Paloma Cocktail
When making a Paloma the biggest decision comes down to which tequila to use. Here are our five favorite tequilas in no particular order;
- El Tesoro Blanco Tequila
- Suerte Blanco
- Tequila Corazon Blanco
- Don Julio Blanco
- Altos Reposado
It really comes down to trying different tequilas to find the right one for you.
History of the Paloma
When and how the paloma originated in Mexico is a bit of a mystery. According to some accounts, it gets its name from the popular Mexican folk song with the same name.
This song, composed in the 1860s, translates to “The Dove” in English. Other sources claim that the drink was invented in Tequila, a town in the Jalisco state in Mexico.
The town Tequila is quite appropriately named, as the town thrives on the production of liquor.
It is at La Capilla, a bar in town, that the paloma is rumored to be invented. The original owner, Don Javier Delgado Corona, is rumored to be the original creator of the drink.
The bar is still there today, run by the Delgado Corona family, so if you’re curious, you can even go and check for yourself.
And of course, while you’re there, don’t forget to try a paloma in its possible birthplace.
Either way, the paloma has spread from this one town in Jalisco to bars across Mexico and even the United States.
While the margarita remains the more popular export when comparing the two tequila cocktails, the paloma is a delicious and refreshing drink that is gaining popularity in America’s border states and beyond.
How To Make a Paloma
Palomas are simple to make at home, and you can easily make this drink fresher and healthier depending on your method of preparation.
For example, you can squeeze a fresh grapefruit to have 100% fruit juice in your cocktail. Of course, a store-bought option works as well.
You will need the following:
- A cocktail glass or mason jar
- Lime or grapefruit
- 1.5 oz (45 ml) tequila of your choice
- ½ oz (15 ml) of lime juice
- 3 oz (90 ml) of grapefruit juice
- Club soda
- Ice
Paloma Recipe
- Choose a large cocktail glass or even a mason jar for this drink.
- Run a bit of lime or grapefruit around the rim and dip it in salt.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Grab your tequila of choice, preferably one made from 100% pure agave. Pour a 1.5 ounce (45 ml) shot of tequila over the ice.
- Squeeze in a half-ounce (15 ml) of lime juice. This amount should be about the juice from one-half of fresh lime.
- Measure three ounces (90 ml) of the grapefruit juice and add it to your glass. You can add a bit more ice here if necessary.
- Fill the glass to the top with club soda and give it a gentle stir.
- You can garnish with a slice of lime or a bit of grapefruit.
All that is left to do is sit back and enjoy your tasty, fresh cocktail.
If it isn’t quite sweet enough for you, you can add a bit of simple syrup to satisfy your sweet tooth.
To check out a tutorial on how to make this recipe at home, you can watch this Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOh93U5WM7I
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never tried this popular Mexican cocktail, you’re in for a treat. You can easily make this drink at home with fresh fruits and your favorite tequila.
Or, try it out at a bar and experience the creative twists and variations preferred by the bartender.
Taste the smoky flavor of mezcal instead of tequila or the difference when using freshly squeezed juices instead of mixers.
And be sure to enjoy your cocktail with your favorite Mexican food.
Sources
- Tales of the Cocktail: In Praise of the Paloma
- The Spruce Eats: Paloma Tequila Cocktail
- Youtube: How to Make a Paloma Cocktail
More Mexican Foods
See all →
Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.