The Upgraded Paloma Recipe (2024)

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  • co*cktails
  • Tequila

A little work in advance makes a co*cktail to drink all summer.

ByMax Falkowitz

Updated January 14, 2023

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The Upgraded Paloma Recipe (1)

Why It Works

  • Macerating grapefruit peels in sugar makes for a complex and concentrated cordial with a rounded, almost buttery character.
  • Campari tames the co*cktail's sweet and sour character, while a hit of salt brings the whole drink into focus.

"It's just a Paloma variation with a cordial instead of a grapefruit soda," Zac Overman, the bar manager of Seattle's now-closedSitka & Sprucetells me, about the fizzy pink drink listed on his menu simply as "Grapefruit." ThePalomais one of the great warm weather drinks, easy enough to make in the stupefying heat of summer and refreshing as all get out: tequila, grapefruit soda, and a squeeze of lime juice in a glass, with enough ice cubes to make the drink sweat all over the table.

Overman's version is more complicated. You have to peel a grapefruit, carefully avoiding the bitter pith, bury the peel in sugar, and let it macerate for 24 hours. Then juice a bagful of grapefruit and limes, stir the juice into your sugary base, andthenstart making your co*cktail. It's a recipe for a cramp in your wrist as much as a drink in your glass.

I consider it a lesson in patience. Do a little work now, wait a bit, then reap far greater rewards than the instant gratification of the original.

The Upgraded Paloma Recipe (2)

Take a taste and you'll see where all your hard work went. Where the typical Paloma follows a predictable path to sweet-and-sour fizzy refreshment, this drink has an almost rounded, buttery quality from all the oils in the grapefruit skin, yet it's perfectly thirst-quenching. A touch of Campari makes it a little more complex and sophisticated, and there's a wee hit of salt to, as Overman puts it, "make you go back for another sip."

Overman's recipe makes one drink and nearly a pint of the grapefruit cordial, which means your upfront investment will pay out for many drinks to come. The cordial is also far more flavorful than any grapefruit-juice syrup. So much of grapefruit's flavor and aroma is found within the top millimeter of its rind, and by mixing that rind with sugar and letting it macerate, you extract all those flavorful oils into a heady, super-concentrated syrup called anoleo-saccharum. You then combine it with grapefruit juice, lime juice, and salt for a potent flavor base.

The Upgraded Paloma Recipe (3)

The cordial will keep for weeks in the fridge, which means every time you want a co*cktail, all you need is some tequila (Overman goes for the saline bite ofChinaco, though any 100% agave blanco will do), some lime, and Campari. It's also easy to batch in larger amounts, then pour from a pitcher into multiple ice-filled glasses. Or you can drizzle extra cordial over fresh fruit or ice cream; it's as friendly with dessert as a mixing glass.

Sometimes nothing beats the simple brightness of a Paloma with grocery store grapefruit soda. But what are you doing right now? Can it wait half an hour? Good. Then make yourself a cordial and drink this highball upgrade all summer long.

June 2015

Recipe Details

The Upgraded Paloma Recipe

Active30 mins

Total24 hrs

Ingredients

For the Salted Grapefruit Cordial:

  • 1/2 cup fresh juice from 2 large Ruby Red grapefruit, plus peel of 1 Ruby Red grapefruit with little to no white pith (see notes)

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup fresh juice from about 8 limes

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

For One co*cktail:

  • 2 ouncesblanco tequila, such as Chinaco

  • 1 ounce salted grapefruit cordial

  • 3/4 ounce fresh juice from 2 limes

  • 1/4 ounce Campari

  • Seltzer

Directions

  1. For the Salted Grapefruit Cordial: Bury grapefruit peel in sugar in a pint-sized container. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

  2. The next day, add grapefruit juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, water, and salt to sugar and stir or shake until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove grapefruit peel and refrigerate cordial, which will last for several weeks.

  3. For the co*cktail: In a co*cktail shaker, combine tequila, 1 ounce of cordial, 3/4 ounce of lime juice, and Campari. Fill shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top with soda to taste. Garnish with a grapefruit twist if desired.

Notes

Since you need the grapefruit peel on day 1 and the juice on day 2, you can peel 1 grapefruit on the first day, then store the peeled grapefruit in the refrigerator overnight until you are ready to juice it the next day.

  • Tequila
  • Grapefruit
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
258Calories
0g Fat
31g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories258
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 238mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 31g11%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 15mg73%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 61mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Upgraded Paloma Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is a paloma sour? ›

A paloma is a type of sour, and it's one of our favorite classic co*cktails. A paloma is super simple—just fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, blanco tequila, simple syrup and a little seltzer for fizz.

How do you serve Paloma? ›

Where did the Paloma come from? ›

THE MYSTERY OF THE PALOMA

The history of the drink is obscure and hard to track and, even today, historians can't agree on where or how the drink was first created. Don Javier Delgado Corona, owner of La Capilla, the oldest bar in Jalisco, Mexico, was credited as the inventor of the Paloma for years.

What is Mexico's #1 tequila? ›

Gran Centenario Tequila - The Guardian of Tradition and Mexico's #1 Tequila.

What is the most high end tequila? ›

925 Diamante – $3.5 million. Tequila Ley claims its . 925 Diamante tequila is the most expensive bottle of tequila in the world.

How do you order a Paloma at a bar? ›

Assuming they have grapefruit juice—and most bars actually do—you can order yourself a nice Paloma. Normally made with tequila and grapefruit soda, you can juke your Paloma by asking for tequila and grapefruit juice topped off with soda water. If you're a bourbon lover, don't despair.

What is the best juice to mix with tequila? ›

"I always recommend grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which is very traditional," Umolu says. "Though in some blanco tequilas you'll definitely get earthiness, you'll also almost always have some citrus notes." Orange, lime, key lime, and other citrus varieties are a good go-to when it comes to tequila blanco.

What does Paloma drink mean in spanish? ›

The Spanish name “la paloma” translates to “the dove” (and perhaps making one will bring you some peace), but some suggest the origin of this tequila co*cktail's name is related to the similar-sounding “pomelo,” Spanish for grapefruit and the flavor at the heart of the drink.

Can you ask for a Paloma at a bar? ›

Paloma. If you've never had a Paloma, get yourself to a bar ASAP. "It's made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda," explains Goto. And if you can find a bar serving it up with fresh grapefruit juice, even better.

What alcohol goes with Paloma? ›

Blanco tequila is the traditional choice, but lightly aged reposado also makes a fine drink. It's best to keep the añejo capped for this co*cktail, as the well-aged expression's oaky profile disrupts that clean, refreshing taste you want in a Paloma.

Is a Paloma healthier than a margarita? ›

A paloma can be better for you

A push toward simple, fresh-tasting ingredients may be part of the reason the paloma is in the spotlight lately. In contrast to the often pre-mixed margarita, a paloma can be concocted with effervescent and less sugary grapefruit soda or even fresh juice (via The Takeout).

Is Paloma Spanish or Mexican? ›

Paloma is a Spanish female given name, derived from Latin "palumbus", which means "dove", a symbol of peace. The name also can be understood as the Holy Spirit symbolized in this bird.

What is the national drink of Mexico? ›

Tequila is all the rage; make no mistake about it. Mexico's national drink is now one of the world's top three selling liquors, with 600 brands, its own club of devoted connoisseurs and an ever-increasing number of converts. Never tasted it?

What is the English word for Paloma? ›

Translation of paloma – Spanish-English dictionary

pigeon [noun] any of several kinds of bird of the dove family.

Is tequila or mezcal better for palomas? ›

You can use blanco or reposado tequila, but don't overlook mezcal. Try one of our top picks for a tasty Paloma co*cktail! Introduced in 2010, Del Maguey VIDA Mezcal is an artisanal single-village organic mezcal made from espadín agaves. These agaves are harvested from the village of San Luis del Rio in Oaxaca.

Is Casamigos good for palomas? ›

For a smoky alternative

Mezcal is a delightful agave-based spirit, of which tequila is a type. Casamigos Mezcal Joven has a smoky flavor that will add a whole new element to your paloma.

What is the smoothest tequila to take shots of? ›

Patrón Silver

There are few tequilas as immediately recognizable as Patrón. And Patrón Silver has earned its reputation as a go-to. When you fill your shot glasses with Patrón Silver, you're getting a smooth and sweet shooter.

Is Reposado good for palomas? ›

Signature Serve

PATRÓN Reposado perfects this classic co*cktail alongside refreshing grapefruit juice and sparkling water.

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