Cocktail
Paloma
A refreshing tequila highball with tangy grapefruit soda. Our home version makes the small pinch of salt optional.
Tequila · Citrusy · Bitter
Ingredients
- 50 ml Blanco tequila
- 5 ml Lime (fresh juice)
- 100 ml Grapefruit soda
- 0.06 tsp Salt (a small pinch) (Optional)
Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.

Method
Build
Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Bar spoon
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the tequila and lime juice.
- Add a small pinch of salt if you like, then pour in the grapefruit soda.
- 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
- Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
- 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.
- 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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