The Margarita is the tequila cocktail America made famous. The Paloma is the one Mexico actually drinks. In bars from Guadalajara to Mexico City, the Paloma outsells the Margarita by a wide margin — it's the everyday tequila highball, simpler to make, easier to drink, and built on the same principle: let the blanco shine.
A Paloma is blanco tequila, fresh grapefruit, lime, a touch of sweetness, and sparkling water, over ice with a salt rim. That's it. Five ingredients, three minutes, no shaker required. And when you make it with the right blanco, it's one of the best tequila cocktails on earth.
Our #1 pick for the Paloma: Don Londrés Blanco at $49. Highlands-of-Jalisco, 100% blue Weber agave, with nothing added beyond agave and time. The agave-forward profile and clean finish hold their own against grapefruit — better than tequilas costing twice as much.
What is a Paloma?
The Paloma — Spanish for "dove" — is a tall, refreshing tequila cocktail built around grapefruit. The exact origin is debated; some credit Don Javier Delgado Corona, the bartender at La Capilla in the town of Tequila, but it's likely older. What's not debated: it's been Mexico's default tequila drink for at least 50 years.
In the U.S., the Paloma has quietly become the cool drinker's margarita — the cocktail you order when you want something agave-forward but lighter, less sweet, and more sessionable than a margarita.
The classic Paloma recipe
There are two camps: the traditional Mexican Paloma (uses grapefruit soda, fast and easy) and the fresh Paloma (uses fresh grapefruit juice and sparkling water, a little more work, a lot more flavor).
Traditional Paloma
- 2 oz blanco tequila (Don Londrés Blanco works perfectly here)
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Squirt grapefruit soda (Jarritos Toronja or Squirt, ~4–5 oz)
- Pinch of salt
- Salt-rimmed highball glass, ice
Salt the rim of a tall highball glass. Fill with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, and a small pinch of salt. Top with grapefruit soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or lime wheel.
Fresh Paloma (the better one)
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 2 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz agave syrup (1:1 agave + water)
- 2 oz sparkling water (Topo Chico is the move)
- Salt-rimmed highball glass, ice
Salt the rim. Build over ice in the glass: tequila, grapefruit, lime, agave. Stir. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
The fresh version is a level above. The grapefruit aromatics, the tequila's pepper notes, the lime acid — they all stay distinct instead of getting flattened by soda sweetness.
Why the blanco matters
A Paloma is mostly grapefruit and bubbles. There's nowhere for the tequila to hide. A cheap mixto tequila will taste muddy and metallic against the grapefruit. An aged tequila will taste like grapefruit fighting a vanilla shake.
A clean 100% blue Weber agave blanco — bright, citrusy, peppery — sits perfectly with the grapefruit. Don Londrés Blanco is built for this and is our #1 pick in the category: cooked agave on the front, white pepper and herbs on the back, no added sweeteners working against the grapefruit's natural acidity. At $49, it's also the most under-priced premium blanco on the U.S. market right now. (Shop Don Londrés Blanco)
Paloma vs. Margarita
The two cocktails are cousins, but they hit differently:
- Margarita — orange liqueur, lime, salt rim, shaken, served up or on the rocks. Concentrated, more cocktail-like. (Margarita guide here.)
- Paloma — grapefruit, lime, salt rim, built over ice, topped with bubbles. Refreshing, lighter, sessionable.
If you want one drink with dinner, make a margarita. If you want three drinks across a long afternoon, make Palomas.
Paloma variations worth knowing
Spicy Paloma — muddle 2 slices of jalapeno in the bottom of the glass before building. Or rim the glass with Tajin instead of plain salt. The heat plays beautifully with the grapefruit.
Mezcal Paloma — substitute half the blanco tequila with mezcal. Adds smoke without overwhelming the citrus. (Tequila vs. mezcal explainer here.)
Pink Paloma — use pink grapefruit juice instead of ruby red, add 0.25 oz of hibiscus syrup or a splash of Aperol. Visually beautiful, slightly more bitter.
Skinny Paloma — skip the agave syrup, use a sugar-free grapefruit soda (like Squirt Zero) or extra sparkling water. Same flavor, ~80 calories per drink. (More on tequila calories here.)
Reposado Paloma — controversial. The vanilla in reposado softens the drink. Try it with Don Londrés Reposado if you want a slightly richer, slower Paloma for the evening.
Common Paloma mistakes
Using bottled grapefruit juice. Most bottled grapefruit juice is reconstituted from concentrate and tastes like vitamins. Squeeze fresh, or use a good 100% juice from the refrigerated section.
Skipping the salt rim. A Paloma without salt is a different drink. The salt makes the grapefruit pop.
Stirring too hard. A Paloma is a built drink, not a shaken one. Gentle stir keeps the bubbles intact.
Using club soda. Club soda is fine. Topo Chico is better. Mineral content matters more than you'd think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tequila for a Paloma? A 100% blue Weber agave blanco. Don Londrés Blanco, Tequila Ocho Blanco, Fortaleza Blanco, or — at lower price points — Espolon Blanco or El Tesoro Plata.
Can I use a reposado in a Paloma? Yes, though purists will tell you no. Reposado softens the drink and adds vanilla. It's not a classic, but it's not wrong.
What's the difference between Squirt and Jarritos Toronja? Squirt is sweeter and more carbonated. Jarritos Toronja is less sweet and more bitter, closer to actual grapefruit. Most bartenders prefer Jarritos for a traditional Paloma.
Is a Paloma stronger than a Margarita? Roughly the same — both use 2 oz of tequila. The Paloma is just diluted across more liquid (grapefruit + soda), so it drinks lighter.
Why is a Paloma more popular in Mexico than a Margarita? Because it's easier to make at home, costs less, and is more refreshing in a hot climate. The Margarita is more of a celebration drink; the Paloma is daily.
Can I batch Palomas for a party? Yes. Mix tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave in a pitcher (skip the bubbles). Refrigerate. Pour over ice in salt-rimmed glasses and top with sparkling water just before serving.
Build your Paloma with Don Londrés
- Shop Don Londrés Blanco — the Paloma's natural partner.
- Shop Don Londrés Reposado — for the evening, vanilla-tinged version.
- Read the brand story
Don Londrés is a Black-owned, 100% blue Weber agave tequila brand crafted in Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco. 50+ international awards. Please drink responsibly. 21+.