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Cocktails

Paloma

Paloma is a tequila highball built with grapefruit soda, fresh lime and salt. The IBA formula uses 50 ml tequila, 5 ml lime, a pinch of salt and 100 ml pink grapefruit soda, built over ice and stirred gently.

Cocktailalcoholic13.7% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

266 kcalCalories
13.7%ABV
32.1gSugar
33.4gCarbs
1.2Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 4 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Pour tequila into a Highball glass.Pour
  2. Add fresh lime juice, ice and a pinch of salt, top with pink grapefruit soda, and stir gently.Stirred
  3. Garnish with lime.Garnish

How to Serve

Glass
Collins Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Stirred
Served Chilled

Taste

What does Paloma taste like?

Paloma is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

Supporting notes

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • Noticeably sweet

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

Similar styles

Try this if you like grapefruit and agave

Choose the Paloma when you want tequila in a lighter, taller and more refreshing format than a Margarita. Grapefruit gives it bitterness, brightness and easy food-pairing appeal.

Variations

Easy ways to adjust Paloma

For a sharper version, increase the citrus slightly. For a rounder version, add a touch more sweetener or use a richer base ingredient, but avoid hiding the fresh acidity.

Skip if

Skip Paloma if...

Skip Paloma if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

  • Taco NightSuggested from its agave and peppery notes, pairing with mexican food and tacos.
  • SummerSuggested from its citrus notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

May be limited

Low-Sugar

Not compatible

Keto

Not enough information

Low-Carb

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Tequila1 1/2 oz

MezcalWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount; consider reducing smoky or bitter ingredients if the drink becomes intense.
What changes
Mezcal can replace tequila when a smokier, earthier agave profile is welcome.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed alternative recipes

No suitable direct swap is reviewed for Grapefruit Soda. Try this related recipe instead:

MargaritaDifferent recipe

Both are tequila-led citrus drinks, with Paloma offering a lighter grapefruit profile.

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Paloma at home?
Yes. The Paloma uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Collins Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.