The Paloma’s origins are hazy. Some attribute an 1869 folk song to its creation, but it was the addition of Squirt, a US-made grapefruit soda that reached Mexican shores in the 1930s, that gave it the refreshing flavour we know today.
With its blend of Mexican tequila and US-made soda, the Paloma is more than just a cocktail: it’s a fusion of two cultures, and it wouldn’t exist without one or the other. In the spirit of Paloma’s shapeshifting heritage, here are 5 twists on the classic.
Beach Life Paloma
Tequila, grapefruit, tonic. A laid-back Paloma that requires beach-bum levels of energy to construct. Tonic instead of the grapefruit soda adds a quinine kick that brings out the citrus notes in Jose Cuervo Tradicional Plata, our award-winning 100% blue agave tequila. This one’s best served ice-cold, so store all your components in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before pouring.
Ingredients
- 60ml Jose Cuervo Tradicional Plata
- 120ml tonic
- 30ml grapefruit juice
Garnish
- Grapefruit wedge
How to make it
- Add a generous helping of ice to a highball glass and pour in the ingredients.
- Stir and garnish with grapefruit wedge.
- Enjoy.
1800® Cristalino Paloma
Grapefruit juice and vanilla syrup bring out those same flavours in 1800 Cristalino, a crystal clear añejo tequila finished in port wine casks. It’s a sophisticated version of the classic that’s perfect for wowing friends, with bubbles and rich vanilla adding a luxurious edge. It’s undeniably more labour-intensive than the original, but so worth it.
Ingredients
- 60ml 1800® Cristalino
- 30ml fresh grapefruit juice
- 7ml lime juice
- 15ml vanilla syrup
- Sparkling water, champagne, or prosecco
Garnish
- Dehydrated grapefruit wheel
- Madagascar vanilla bean
How to make it
- Add all ingredients except sparkling water, champagne, or prosecco to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake.
- Strain into a coupe glass over ice and top with sparkling water, champagne, or prosecco.
- Garnish with a dehydrated grapefruit wheel and Madagascar vanilla bean.
1800 Paloma
Hot days demand refreshing drinks, and this one fits the bill. Plus, it’s easy to make – ideal for when you have thirsty friends over. Tangy grapefruit and lime pack a punch, which is why we add the salt: it curbs cheek-sucking sourness while elevating floral, zesty notes.
Ingredients
- 50ml 1800® Silver
- 5ml lime juice
- Grapefruit soda
Garnish
- Salt
- Pink grapefruit wedge
How to make it
- Salt the rim of the highball glass.
- Add ice, lime juice and 1800® Silver.
- Top up with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with a pink grapefruit wedge.
Cuervo Paloma
Made for summer evenings, this refreshing riff on the classic adds tart lime juice and tangy salt to the mix. It may lose its claim to being ‘the lazy man’s margarita’ with the addition of the latter, but when it tastes this good, do you really care? This is thirst-quenching perfection with a boozy kick.
Ingredients
- 50ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver
- 5ml lime juice
- Top up with grapefruit soda
Garnish
- Pink grapefruit wedge
- Salt
- Lime
How to make it
- Use lime to wet the rim of a highball glass. Dip the rim into salt.
- Add ice, Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, lime juice.
- Top up with grapefruit soda, and serve with pink grapefruit wedge.
Silver Leaf Paloma
This beautifully balanced drink adds glitz to any gathering, thanks to the addition of bubbles and silver shimmer. Impressive? Yes. But forget mixology lessons and dry ice – it’s deceptively simple to make. Flavour-wise, it’s a crowd-pleaser, with grapefruit and lime elevating the citrus notes in 1800 Cristalino, a crystal-clear tequila that has the depth of an añejo with the smoothness of a blanco.
Ingredients
- 50ml 1800 Cristalino
- 10ml lime juice
- 15ml grapefruit juice
- 15ml simple syrup
- 60ml sparkling wine
Garnish
- Grapefruit peel
How to make it
- Use a slice of lime to wet the edge of a coupe glass. Roll the rim in salt.
- Add your ingredients except the wine into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass.
- Top your drink up with sparkling wine and enjoy.
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