Paloma - recipe for the most popular tequila cocktail in Mexico

Paloma - Mexico's most popular tequila cocktail

The margarita is the most popular tequila drink in the United States. According to a 2008 survey by Brown-Forman, 185,000 margaritas are consumed every hour. In Mexico, however, the most popular tequila cocktail is the Paloma, with 100,000 consumed each hour.

Spanish for “dove,” the Paloma is a refreshing cocktail that is made with tequila and grapefruit soda. According to the Daily Olive, the drink “was developed at a little cantina called La Capilla in the town of Tequila,” but the claim cannot be verified. No matter who invented the drink, it is a great tasting, wonderfully balanced classic cocktail: sweet, sour, salty, with just a little bitterness. It complements the flavor of tequila perfectly.

If available in your area, you can use a Mexican grapefruit soda. (Jarritos is a popular brand). Suitable substitutions include any other grapefruit-flavored soda like Fresca, Squirt, Citra, or Hansen’s. For the tequila, any blanco (silver) tequila will work great; I used PaQui Silvera tequila, and it really brought out the tequila’s spicy agave and sweet citrus flavor.

Paloma

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila blanco (silver)
• 5-6 oz grapefruit soda
• Juice of half a lime (about 1/2 oz)
• Pinch of salt
   

Directions:

1. Combine tequila, lime juice, and a pinch of salt into a highball or Collins glass.
2. Add ice and top with grapefruit soda. Stir gently.
3. Throw in the spent lime shell for garnish.
    

Here’s an alternative recipe for a Paloma that uses grapefruit juice instead of soda. Sino Tequila (silver) works wonderfully in this recipe; it stood up very well to the strong flavor of the grapefruit juice.

Paloma (alternate)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila blanco (silver)
• 3 oz white grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• Club soda
• Pinch of salt
   

Directions:

1. Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave nectar, and salt into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a highball or Collins glass filled with ice.
3. Top with club soda and throw in the spent lime shell.