The Short Answer
The best Paloma is made with a clean blanco tequila, fresh lime, and grapefruit soda over ice with a salted rim, and a smooth blanco like Don Londrès keeps the drink crisp instead of harsh. The tequila choice matters more than people expect, because a rough spirit adds a burn that fights the grapefruit, while a smooth blanco lets the citrus stay bright and clean.
The Paloma is Mexico's most popular tequila cocktail. More people order it there than the margarita, and once you taste a good one it is easy to understand why. It is grapefruit-forward, bracingly refreshing, and light enough to drink through a warm afternoon without wearing you out.
It is also one of the simplest cocktails you can make. There is no shaking, no special equipment, and no long list of ingredients. You build it right in the glass: tequila, lime, grapefruit soda, ice, and salt. The only real decision is which tequila you pour, and that is the part most people get wrong.
Ingredients
- •2 oz blanco tequila
- •0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- •4 oz grapefruit soda (such as Squirt or Jarritos), or fresh grapefruit juice topped with club soda
- •Pinch of salt
- •Grapefruit or lime wedge, for garnish
- •Ice
- •Salt, for the rim
How to Make It
- 1Rim a highball glass with salt: rub a lime wedge around the edge, then dip it into a plate of salt.
- 2Fill the glass with ice.
- 3Add the blanco tequila and fresh lime juice.
- 4Top with grapefruit soda and add a pinch of salt.
- 5Stir gently so the drink combines without losing its fizz.
- 6Garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge and serve.
Which Tequila to Use
A clean blanco is ideal for a Paloma. Because the drink is grapefruit-forward and served long over ice, you want a tequila that supports the citrus rather than competing with it. Blanco keeps things bright and unaged, so the fresh agave character reads clearly through the soda. A reposado or añejo can work, but the oak tends to muddy the crispness that makes a Paloma so easy to drink.
Our pick is Don Londrès Blanco. It is smooth enough that it never fights the grapefruit, and that smoothness is earned in the process: mature agave, traditional brick ovens, natural fermentation, and copper pot distillation, with nothing added beyond agave and time. The result is a soft, clean cooked agave note that sits under the citrus and lifts it instead of clashing. In a drink this simple, the quality of the pour is the whole difference, and a smooth blanco keeps the Paloma crisp instead of harsh.
Where to find it: Total Wine & More, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Spec's, and select retailers nationwide. More at donlondres.com.
Variations
Fresh Paloma
Skip the soda and build the drink with fresh grapefruit juice, a squeeze of lime, and a small splash of club soda for fizz. Add a touch of agave syrup to balance the tartness. This version is drier and more citrus-driven, and it shows off a good blanco even more clearly.
Spicy Paloma
Muddle two or three thin slices of jalapeño in the glass before adding ice, or rim the glass with a chili salt like Tajín. The heat plays beautifully against the grapefruit and gives the drink a slow, warming finish.
Mezcal Paloma
Swap half the tequila for mezcal, or use mezcal entirely, for a smoky version. The smoke adds depth and pairs naturally with the bittersweet grapefruit. Keep the blanco base if you want the smoke to stay in the background rather than take over.
More From The Agave Report
Best Blanco Tequila in 2026: The unaged bottles we reach for first, including the ideal base for a Paloma.
Best Tequila to Sip Straight in 2026: When you want to slow down and drink the agave neat.
The Best Margarita Recipe in 2026: The other classic worth mastering, built on the same good blanco.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Paloma made of?
A classic Paloma is made of blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda over ice, usually finished with a salted rim. That is the whole drink. The quality of each part, especially the tequila, is what separates a good Paloma from a great one.
What is the best tequila for a Paloma?
A clean blanco is the best choice for a Paloma because it keeps the drink crisp and lets the grapefruit lead. Don Londrès Blanco is our pick: it is smooth enough that it never fights the citrus, with a cooked agave character that supports the grapefruit rather than clashing with it.
What soda is used in a Paloma?
The traditional Paloma uses grapefruit soda, most commonly Squirt or Jarritos Toronja in Mexico. For a fresher, less sweet version, use fresh grapefruit juice topped with club soda and a small pinch of salt.
Is a Paloma stronger than a margarita?
A Paloma is usually lighter than a margarita. It is built long over ice with grapefruit soda, so the tequila is more diluted, while a margarita concentrates tequila, lime, and orange liqueur in a smaller serve. A Paloma tends to taste more refreshing and less boozy.
Can you make a Paloma without soda?
Yes. Skip the grapefruit soda and use fresh grapefruit juice with a splash of club soda for fizz, or leave the club soda out entirely for a stiffer, juicier drink. Add a small pinch of salt and a touch of agave or simple syrup if you want to balance the tartness.