If you have travelled in Mexico and ordered a tequila cocktail, you have probably had a Paloma. The Margarita is for tourists; the Paloma is what Mexicans actually drink. Lighter, longer, more refreshing, and the grapefruit-tequila pairing is one of the great cocktail combinations.
Ingredients
- Tequila blanco 50ml
- Fresh pink grapefruit juice 60ml
- Fresh lime juice 15ml
- Agave syrup 10ml
- Pinch of salt
- Chilled grapefruit soda (Squirt, San Pellegrino Pompelmo, Jarritos Toronja) to top, ~80ml
- Salt for the rim
- Grapefruit wedge to garnish
Method
- Salt the rim of a tall glass (wet rim with grapefruit, dip in coarse salt).
- Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave, and salt in a shaker with ice.
- Shake briefly, 5 seconds, just to chill.
- Strain over fresh ice into the salt-rimmed glass.
- Top with grapefruit soda (or plain soda for a drier version).
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Why grapefruit + tequila works
Tequila's natural pepper-and-citrus notes overlap with the bittersweet character of pink grapefruit in a way no other spirit does. The result reads as more grown-up than a Margarita, less sweet, more food-friendly.
Pink grapefruit > white grapefruit > yellow grapefruit for this drink. Pink is softer and slightly sweeter; white is more aggressive; yellow is too bitter for the format.
Variations
Mezcal Paloma: swap tequila for mezcal. Adds smoke. Many guests prefer this version.
Spicy Paloma: add half a cili padi muddled in. Mexican-Malaysian combination. See builder template spicy_paloma.
Tequila Highball (the "Paloma sin nada"): tequila + grapefruit soda + lime. Skip the shake; build over ice. Lower-effort, casual.
What tequila to use
100% agave tequila blanco. Avoid the "mixto" (50% agave, 50% other sugar) products like Jose Cuervo Especial. The "Especial" version of a Paloma will give you a hangover.
Good choices: Cazcabel, Patrón Silver, Espolon Blanco, Olmeca Altos Plata, Tapatío Blanco. RM 250-450 per bottle at most KL retailers.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Paloma served in?
A tall glass with a salted rim, filled with fresh ice, garnished with a grapefruit wedge. A Highball or Collins glass both work. The salt rim is structural; it cuts through the grapefruit's bitter notes and rounds out the agave. Skip the salt at your peril.
Can I substitute the tequila in a Paloma?
Mezcal gives you a Mezcal Paloma with smoke layered over the grapefruit; many guests prefer this version. Other spirits don't substitute well; the agave-grapefruit pairing is the whole point. Use 100% agave tequila blanco; mixto tequilas (the cheap "Especial" ones) will give you a hangover and a flat drink. Cazcabel, Espolon Blanco, Olmeca Altos all work.
How strong is the Paloma?
Around 10 to 13 percent ABV in the glass after the soda top and ice melt. The 50ml of tequila is the alcohol load; the grapefruit juice, lime, agave, and roughly 80ml of grapefruit soda lengthen the drink. Long format, easy drinking, built for hot afternoons. The grapefruit's bittersweet acid keeps it food-friendly across two or three drinks.
Where can I order a Paloma in PJ or KL?
On request at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue to Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) and at Soluble Solids in SS2, Petaling Jaya (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed to Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both bars are in Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26. Fresh-squeezed grapefruit, real tequila, salt rim. Ask for mezcal if you want it smokier.
What food pairs with the Paloma?
Tacos al pastor, carne asada, ceviche, fish tacos, anything Mexican. More broadly: grilled meats with bright sauces, salt-and-pepper squid, charred prawns. For Malaysian context, the Paloma pairs beautifully with ikan bakar (sambal-grilled fish), nasi lemak, or grilled prawns with chilli sauce. The salt rim and grapefruit acid handle chilli heat better than most cocktails.