Mexican Paloma: The Best Grapefruit and Tequila Cocktail

Modified: Jan 19, 2026 · Published: Sep 23, 2023 by Juyali (ju-ja-lee) · This post may contain affiliate links · 36 Comments

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5 from 17 votes

If you're in the mood for a refreshing Mexican cocktail with a unique twist, you're in the right place. This Mexican Paloma Cocktail is a delicious blend of tequila and lime juice infused with grapefruit flavors and a splash of Grapefruit Jarritos soda. One of the best tequila cocktails you'll ever try!

Mexican-Paloma-Cocktail-with-turquoise-background

This Paloma is a twist on the classic recipe with the addition of Angostura bitters. My friend Isabel, who is my go-to taste-tester, especially for cocktails (because she is my "concañera", a Venezuelan word that refers to buddy), she loves cocktails with Angostura Bitters, so she obviously loved this Paloma recipe; in fact, she helped me create it! So, in honor of my concañera, I am dedicating this recipe to Isabel! ?

I also love the balance the Angostura bitter brings to the tart grapefruit and the lime juices and the sweetness of the Jarritos Grapefruit soda.

Paloma has become a new favorite drink for me, and I hope it becomes yours too! Before trying this cocktail, I'd never had tequila and grapefruit juice together, but I was immediately hooked!

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Why You'll Love This Refreshing Tequila Drink with Grapefruit Juice
What Kind of Tequila To Use For Palomas
Equipment needed
Paloma Cocktail Ingredients
Instructions
Have a Party?
Here are a few variation ideas for this cocktail recipe
Latin appetizers to pair with your Paloma Cocktail
Other Latin Recipes you may like
📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️

Why You'll Love This Refreshing Tequila Drink with Grapefruit Juice

I love a refreshing cocktail with the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. This Mexican Paloma (Spanish word for DOVE) is a refreshing and delicious tequila cocktail perfect for any occasion.

Paloma is a popular drink in Mexico, enjoyed casually with friends and family. I have taken the casual version of the traditional Paloma cocktail (typically just a combination of tequila and grapefruit soda) and added more ingredients, such as grapefruit and lime juices, plus a dash or two of bitters for an enhanced flavor experience.

Here are a few reasons why you'll love this refreshing drink:

It is easy to make.
It is made with simple, fresh ingredients.
It is refreshing and the perfect cocktail for hot days. Happy hour in a glass!
It is versatile and can be customized to your taste.

Other refreshing drink recipes you might enjoy:

Blackberry Sangria
Watermelon and Strawberry Rosé Sangria
Classic Peruvian Pisco Sour
Brazilian Passion Fruit Caipirinha

What Kind of Tequila To Use For Palomas

Good tequila is key! It is essential to use high-quality tequila for this cocktail, as the flavor of the tequila will come through in the drink.

For this easy Paloma recipe, the best type of tequila is a Blanco Tequila (white tequila) or Silver Tequila. Blanco tequila is a great choice due to its unaged crisp flavor. They offer a smooth tequila base that complements the citrus fruit.

If you don't have tequila blanco or prefer something with a little more depth, try tequila reposado, an aged tequila with a mellower flavor than blanco tequila and a hint of oakiness.

Equipment needed

Cocktail shaker (as a substitute, use a mason jar with a cover)
Cocktail glasses (tall glass, highball glass)
Citrus juicer
Jigger Saucepan (for making the simple sugar syrup). Recipe below.

Paloma Cocktail Ingredients

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities

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Tequila (preferably blanco or silver tequila)
Fresh Grapefruit Juice (store-bought grapefruit juice works, but fresh pink grapefruit juice is best!). If you buy it, make sure it is 100% grapefruit juice.
Fresh Lime Juice – for the best fresh flavor, use the fruit, not bottled juice. Fresh lemon juice can be a substitute if lime is not available.
Simple Syrup (or agave Syrup if you like).
Angostura Bitters (optional)
Grapefruit Jarritos soda or Squirt (grapefruit soda is key for flavor!)
Kosher Salt or any Coarse Sea Salt for salting the glass rim.
Ice cubes.

For more tips on making simple syrup, visit my full post
How to make Sugar-Free Monkfruit Simple Syrup

Instructions

rimming-glass-with-salt-for-mexican-paloma-drink

Step 1: Prepare the Glass

If you want to rim your glass with salt, rub a grapefruit wedge (or lime wedge) around the rim of the glass and dip it into a small plate with salt. For extra flavor and color, I like to salt the rim with a mix of salt and grapefruit zest. The salted rim gives an excellent salty punch, contrasting the Paloma's sweet and tart flavor.

Step 2: Mix the Paloma Ingredients

Add ice to the cocktail shaker. Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and, if you're feeling adventurous, a couple dashes of bitters. Shake vigorously until the mixture is chilled.

Step 3: Serve, top with Jarritos Grapefruit soda, and garnish.

Strain the Paloma mixture into a prepared glass filled with fresh ice. Top off with Jarritos Grapefruit or Squirt soda for a little fizz and extra grapefruit flavor. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge to make your cocktail pop!

Mexican-Paloma-Cocktail-with-turquoise-background-and-garnish

TIP:

Make your own SIMPLE SYRUP by combining equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan and bringing to a boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat and cool.

Have a Party?

Make-Ahead Instructions for a Pitcher of Palomas!
(12 servings)

If you are having a party, you can easily make a pitcher of grapefruit Palomas and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

4 1/2 cups of Tequila
3 cups of Grapefruit Juice
3/4 cup (6 ounces) of fresh-squeezed Lime Juice
3/4 cup (6 ounces) of Simple Syrup
1 1/2 cups of Grapefruit Jarritos or Squirt Soda
Add 1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters per individual glass serving as desired.

Pitcher instructions

In a large pitcher, stir the ingredients well (except the Soda and Angostura bitters) and chill in the refrigerator (do not add ice, or it will dilute it!).
When ready to serve, rim the glasses with salt, fill with ice up to 3/4 full, and fill with the Paloma mix.
Top off with the soda and 1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters per glass (if using).
Garnish with a grapefruit wedge to make your cocktail pop!!

There you have it – an easy recipe for another popular drink from Mexico. With its simplicity, this easy drink is a great way to quench your thirst and explore another traditional Mexican cocktail. ¡Salud!

Here are a few variation ideas for this cocktail recipe

Skinny Paloma: For a lighter vesion with less calories, substitute simple syrup made with sugar with this Sugar-Free Monk Fruit Simple Syrup.
Classic Paloma: This is the simplest form. Two parts of tequila, four parts of grapefruit-flavored soda, a splash of lime, and a pinch of salt for a simple cocktail.
Sweeter Cocktail: Add more simple syrup or even agave nectar.
Spicy Paloma: Toss a few jalapeño slices into the cocktail shaker before shaking.
The spicy flavors will make it pop!
Grapefruit Margarita: Add 1 ounce of triple sec or orange liqueur.
Paloma Mexican Mule: Replace grapefruit soda with ginger beer and serve it in a copper mug!
Aperol Paloma: Simply add 0.5 oz of Aperol.
Tequila Sunrise Paloma: Add a splash of fresh orange juice and a dash of grenadine.
Ranch Water: Use soda water instead of grapefruit soda for a different bubble. Mexican Topo Chico is even better for its unique flavor and fizz).
Club Soda Twist: If you're not a fan of grapefruit soda, club soda provides a milder option.

Looking for another Mexican mixed drink with tequila?

Try my Passion Fruit Margarita – another delicious cocktail made with tequila, passion fruit, lime juice, and orange liqueur.

Or try this Classic Peruvian Cocktail Pisco Sour (Peru's National Cocktail), Brazil's iconic drink, Caipirinha with a touch of exotic Passion Fruit. For a non-alcoholic refreshment try this Mexican Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea).

Latin appetizers to pair with your Paloma Cocktail

See more Appetizers →

Other Latin Recipes you may like

See more Main Dishes and Dinner →

📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️

Featured-Mexican-Paloma-drink-in-glass-with-turquoise-background

Mexican Paloma: The Best Grapefruit and Tequila Cocktail

If you're in the mood for a refreshing Mexican cocktail with a unique twist, you're in the right place.

This Mexican Paloma Drink is a delicious blend of tequila and lime juice infused with grapefruit flavors and a splash of Grapefruit Jarritos soda. One of the best tequila cocktails you'll ever try!

5 from 17 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: easy, mexican cocktails, mexican drinks, mexican recipes

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: drink

Calories: 288kcal

Author: Juyali (ju-ja-lee)

Equipment

Cocktail shaker (as a substitute, use a mason jar with a cover). Cocktail glasses (tall glass, highball glass). Citrus juicer. Jigger. Saucepan (for making the simple sugar syrup): Recipe below.

Ingredients

3 oz Tequila
2 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice store-bought grapefruit juice works, but fresh pink grapefruit juice is best!. If you buy it, make sure it is 100% grapefruit juice.
1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice – for the best fresh flavor (use the fruit, not bottled juice. Fresh lemon juice can be a substitute if lime is not available)
1/2 oz Simple Syrup or agave Syrup if you like
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters (optional)
1 oz Grapefruit Jarritos soda or Squirt
Kosher Salt or any Coarse Sea Salt for salting the glass rim.
Ice cubes.