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Cocktail

Paloma

A refreshing tequila highball with tangy grapefruit soda. Our home version makes the small pinch of salt optional.

Tequila · Citrusy · Bitter

3 min1 ServingHighball

Ingredients

Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.

Paloma · Highball
AI-generated illustration

Method

Build

Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Bar spoon

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the tequila and lime juice.
  2. Add a small pinch of salt if you like, then pour in the grapefruit soda.
  3. Stir gently once or twice to combine without losing the bubbles.

A small detail

Chilled soda stays lively longer. Pour it last and stir as little as possible.

Estimated strength

Medium

What does this mean?

Per serving: ≈ 11.7% ABV · ≈ 15.8 g alcohol

An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.

Added water from ice: 10%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.

Plan for a party

Prep the base

Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.

Guests: 6

Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.

One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.

Base only: 300 ml · Per serving: 50 ml. Use a container larger than the volume shown; allow room for fruit and stirring.

Prepare the base

  • 300 ml Blanco tequila

Keep separate for serving

  • 30 ml Lime (fresh juice)
  • 600 ml Grapefruit soda

Optional garnishes · Optional

  • 0.38 tsp Salt (a small pinch)

Water for the batch

No pre-added water. Chill the ingredients, build over fresh ice and add the cold sparkling mixer last, except where the original recipe specifies a different order.

Prepare and serve

  1. Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
  2. Prepare for today’s service. Label and refrigerate the covered base; follow ingredient storage labels. Keep ice out of the container and chill the glasses before serving.
  3. For each glass, use 50 ml of base in place of those ingredients in the original method. Add the separate ingredients at their per-serving amounts. Do not measure the base ingredients a second time.
  • Prepare fresh juice close to serving and keep it chilled separately unless it is explicitly in the base. Fresh batches are for this service, not an overnight storage promise.
  • Keep fizzy drinks cold and closed until pouring. Add them per glass; never shake or blend them.

The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.

Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator

Sources & inspiration

About this recipe

Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.

We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.

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