Refreshing Paloma Cocktail

A Paloma Cocktail is easy to prepare and one I think you’ll love. Even better than easy to prepare? This Paloma recipe uses real food ingredients rather than sticky sodas with ingredients you can’t pronounce. A few ounces of club soda and agave nectar round out the tartness from the grapefruit and lime juices.

FAQs:

Just what is a Paloma Cocktail?Traditionally, a Paloma is tequila mixed with a grapefruit soda such as Jarritos or Squirt, served in a salt-rimmed glass with a lime garnish.

What’s the best tequila to use in a Paloma?You can use either tequila or mezcal in your Paloma–both are used in different regions of Mexico. I happen to like Cuervo 1800 silver, but use any tequila you like.

Can I make this Paloma a mocktail?Definitely. Simply omit the tequila, and add extra club soda. Also, if you have bitters on hand, add a few dashes.

What’s the difference between a Paloma and a Margarita?Both contain tequila and lime juice (and an optional salted rim), but the remaining ingredients differ. A margarita adds an orange liqueur (such as triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier) plus, quite often, sweet and sour mix. A paloma adds grapefruit juice to the tequila and lime juice. Often the grapefruit juice is soda based such as Jarritos to add sweetness.

PALOMA INGREDIENTS:

• Grapefruit–I like ruby red.
• Lime–juiced
• Tequila–I prefer silver.
• Club soda
• Agave nectar–Can substitute simple syrup.

PREPARE A REFRESHING PALOMA COCKTAIL:

Begin by cutting the grapefruit and lime in half. Squeeze the juice from one half of the grapefruit into a bowl. Make sure there are no seeds in the juice, then pour into a sixteen ounce cocktail glass. If you don’t have a lime or lemon juicer, follow the same process with both halves of the lime. If you have a hand juicer, just squeeze the lime juice into the glass.

Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice, then add the lime and grapefruit juice. Pour in the agave nectar and the tequila, then top with club soda. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, and give a few shakes to combine all the ingredients well.

Salt the rim of the cocktail glass before pouring the shaker contents back into the glass. (To salt the rim, simply run a piece of lime around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass in margarita or kosher salt.) Add a lime wheel on the edge of the glass for garnish.

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RECIPE NOTES:

• If you want to ensure your cocktail is gluten-free, make sure to use pure blue agave tequila.
• Need bar supplies? Find a muddler, shaker, and strainer on Amazon.
• I used Master of Mixes margarita salt.
• I found my agave nectar at Trader Joe’s, but you can also find it on Amazon.

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