Paloma

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (258 ratings)

Serve in a Collins glass

Ingredients:
1 23 oz Patrón Silver blanco tequila
56 oz Pink grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
0.42 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
14 oz Agave syrup
1 23 oz Thomas Henry Pink Grapefruit soda
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Collins glass.
  2. Optionally, RIM glass with salt (moisten outside edge with lime juice and dip into salt).
  3. Prepare garnish of pink (or red) grapefruit wedge.
  4. SHAKE first 4 ingredients with ice.
  5. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
  6. TOP with grapefruit soda and briefly stir.
  7. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 6/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10
Cocktail of the day:

24th July 2025 is Tequila Day

Review:

Reminiscent of a long fruity Margarita with refreshing effervescence.

View readers' comments

History:

Paloma is Spanish for 'dove'. Its origins are unknown although it is reputed to date back to the 1950s. Some attribute its creation to the legendary Don Javier Delgado Corona, the former owner/bartender of La Capilla (The Chapel) in Tequila, Mexico, who created the Batanga.

Nutrition:

One serving of Paloma contains 168 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.1 standard drinks
  • 10.14% alc./vol. (10.14° proof)
  • 14.7 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
27th January at 11:07
My first taste of the eponymous Mrs Difford’s drink. The new taste of summer… or should be! After a 37 deg C day this was just the thing! Used homemade grapefruit lemonade from Klaus Skt Rainer’s Cocktails book. Surly upped the lime for my taste/today’s fruit and enjoyed a half-salted rim. Super refreshing and delicious.
Paloma Difford’s Avatar Paloma Difford
27th January at 15:37
If only it was that warm over this side of the world today...more like 37 deg F in chilly UK! Happy to hear you have the weather to enjoy it, a delicious summer cocktail ♥️
Yorey C’s Avatar Yorey C
18th November 2024 at 21:58
Los Cabos | Fever Tree | pasteurized gfruit ... great mix, well balanced, matter of fact i accidentally have 20% extra agave and i can tell it would be better with simon's spec had i poured more accurately. using a cheap tequila, but doesn't hurt it, could handle more spirit if i wanted
STEVEN JEPSON’s Avatar STEVEN JEPSON
11th October 2024 at 22:10
I had never had a Paloma - I am on Statins for medical reasons which generally proscribe even the smallest doses of grapefruit! However I found an alternative form that is not grapefruit intolerant and thankyou NHS got switched.

I love both grapefruit and tequila and am now in heaven - I will never drink a Margarita again - Wow
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
23rd September 2024 at 08:26
We add a generous barspoon of Grapefruit Honey Cheong to our Palomas. [Mash 2 ruby grapefruit with 230g (1/2lb) each of honey (we use leatherwood) and sugar (we use demarera), fill a sterilised jar and place it in the fridge for a week before enjoying.] This allows us to dial back on the agave syrup and go with just plain soda.
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
23rd September 2024 at 08:42
Incidentally, if you've enjoyed one or two too many Palomas the night before, shake 3 generous barspoons of Grapefruit Honey Cheong and 1 cup of freshly brewed but cool tea (we use Earl Grey) with ice and strain into a glass filled with 1 cup crushed ice; garnish with a sprig of mint. You'll be back to feeling wonderful in no time at all.
Nathalie O'Flynn’s Avatar Nathalie O'Flynn
21st September 2024 at 08:17
Happy birthday Paloma, have a fabulous day, and I think a cocktail with champagne is in order. 😊
Paloma Difford’s Avatar Paloma Difford
21st September 2024 at 09:49
Champagne? What a good idea 🙌 Many thanks for your birthday wishes Nathalie 🥂
Alex’s Avatar Alex
23rd April 2024 at 11:40
A very enjoyable and refreshing cocktail. Hopefully we have a nice summer this year so I can enjoy one in the garden!
3rd August 2023 at 14:06
Very nice anytime drink.
I substituted half of the Blanco tequila for reposado tequila, to get a little more of that "tequila taste". Highly recommended.
Florian Ruf’s Avatar Florian Ruf
13th January 2023 at 16:00
I like to omit the salt rim and instead add a bit of saline solution. Tequila blanco and citrus are perfect for that addition.
Scott Noonan’s Avatar Scott Noonan
21st September 2022 at 08:33
It's a classic for a reason. It's pretty much the perfect any time cocktail. I like to add a sprig of young thyme to the shaker, something about thyme, grapefruit and tequila is ethereal.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
22nd May 2022 at 21:00
Used Herradura, Pink Ting, and Ocean Spray white grapefruit juice... a bit sweet, but has fairly nice balance overall... Naturally, I'd prefer a touch more acidity and boozy bite. (22 May 2022, 5:00p)