Sparkling Paloma Tequila Cocktail

Some people love the idea of a shot of tequila, a wedge of lime and salt. For me, I can feel my face puckering at the very idea. It seems such a waste of good tequila, to be gone in a second and surrounded by such sharp friends!

But there is a way if you love that whole salt, lime and tequila thing to get a drink that’s longer and more enjoyable. The classic version’s called the Paloma and it’s the national drink of Mexico. What we’re making here is a Sparkling Paloma, a tequila cocktail that just delicious!

What’s the Paloma?

People often say the Paloma is like a long, fruity version of a margarita. There’s a bit more to it than that but it is still one of those lovely simple cocktails.

The classic recipe uses:

• 50ml tequila
• 5ml lime juice
• 100ml pink grapefruit soda
• Pinch of salt

To make it, pop the tequila in a highball glass then add the lime. Add ice and the salt then slowly top with soda and give it a gentle stir. If you can’t’ find grapefruit soda (which I’ll be honest, I can’t say I’ve seen before) you can use some grapefruit juice and club soda.

Twists on the recipe

You can also make the drink with vodka when it is known as a Greyhound. Another variation is to make it with grapefruit vodka – Absolut are one brand that has this flavour in their range. They have a ‘ Swedish Paloma ‘ that uses their grapefruit vodka, ruby grapefruit juice, lime juice and soda water to make the cocktail. Rim the glass with salt if you like and don’t forget to garnish it with a wedge of grapefruit too!

What you need to make the Sparkling Paloma

• Himalayan rock salt, fine
• 1 large lime, cut into wedges
• Ice
• 6 oz. fresh pink grapefruit juice
• 3 oz. Blanco tequila
• 1 T. fresh lime juice
• Club soda

Garnish: Lime wheels and/or twisted grapefruit peel

How to make the recipe

STEP 1: Pour the Himalayan salt onto a shallow dish. Wipe the rim of each glass with a wedge of lime and place the wet edge into the salt to line the rim. For best results, rotate and firmly press the rim into the salt several times.

STEP 2: Fill each glass with ice. Divide the grapefruit juice, tequila, and lime juice between the two glasses and give the mixture a quick stir to combine.

STEP 3: To serve, top off each glass with some club soda and garnish with a lime wheel and/or a piece of grapefruit rind. Enjoy!

Recipe tips

If you want to make this into a mocktail, then simply remove the tequila from the list and add more club soda.

If you are juicing the grapefruit yourself, you should get around 6 ounces of juice from one large pink grapefruit with a manual juicer

You can sweeten the drink a bit with some powdered monk fruit simply syrup or agave syrup. Make the simple syrup the same as you would with sugar but use powdered monkfruit instead for a low-sugar alternative.