This paloma recipe is elevated with grapefruit soda adding a touch of bitter-sweetness to each sip. All you'll need are 3 ingredients and some ice for this fizzy cocktail!
Cut lime in half and squeeze out the juice, reserving it for the drink. Rub the lime along the edge of the rock glass to moisten the rim.
Dip the rim of the glass in margarita salt.
Fill glass about 3/4 full with ice cubes.
Add tequila and lime juice to the glass.
Top off the glass with grapefruit soda.
Use a cocktail stirrer to gently stir the ingredients together, a turn or two should do it.
Garnish glass with a grapefruit wedge.
Notes
Blanco or silver tequila is best for a paloma cocktail. Most people reach for blanco tequila for its sweeter citrus notes which pairs really well with the lime and grapefruit flavors. Others may prefer to use Reposado or añejo tequila in their paloma recipe which are aged in oak barrels and take on a warm, toasty flavor profile. Reposado and añejo tequila are both darker in color, which will show through in your cocktail.
In this paloma recipe we opted for the mini cans (7 oz) of Squirt. One mini can will make two cocktails. Other good grapefruit sodas include Fresca and Ting. If you can seem to find grapefruit soda you can try a combination of grapefruit juice and sparkling water or club soda.
Traditionally, a paloma is served on the rocks (over ice) with an optional salted rim. Salting the rim helps offset the bitterness of grapefruit although you don't technically need it when using grapefruit soda, but it's always a nice touch. Garnish with a lime or grapefruit wedge. Serve in either a rock glass or highball glass.