In the summer, nothing is more refreshing than a Grapefruit Paloma. They're fruity, tart, and perfectly sweet. A combination grapefruit soda and freshly squeezed grapefruit is the key. Grapefruit juice gives the cocktail fresh and bright flavor. And, grapefruit soda makes the drink fizzy and sweet—without the need for simple syrup.
If you're entertaining, these easy Grapefruit Palomas are sure to be a hit. You could also pair it with other fruity tequila-based cocktails, like a: Spicy Mango Margarita, Raspberry Mule, Spicy Pineapple Margarita, or Frozen Mangorita.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy: This recipe is ridiculously simple to make, so it's great for entertaining.
- Refreshing: Grapefruit palomas are sweet, tart, and bubbly. They're the perfect cocktail to sip all summer long!
- No Simple Syrup: Some paloma recipes call for simple syrup—which is an extra ingredient you'll need to prepare in advance. Instead, our recipe relies on grapefruit soda for just the right amount of sweetness.
- No shaker or special tools needed: This cocktail recipe gets assembled right in the serving glass. So, you won't need any special cocktail equipment!
Ingredients (and substitutes)
You only need 4 ingredients to make these refreshing Grapefruit Palomas.
- Grapefruit Soda: The key ingredient to a classic Paloma. Choose a grapefruit soda that you'd enjoy drinking straight from the bottle. Some brands are more pink than others, but focus on the flavor! Fever Tree, Ting, and Jarritos were 3 brands we tried with this recipe—and they all worked well.
- Fresh Grapefruit Juice: Fresh juice elevates this cocktail by adding a brighter, more tart flavor than using soda alone.
- Fresh Lime Juice: A squeeze of lime helps the flavors pop and balances the sweetness from the grapefruit soda. We tested the recipe with and without lime juice. Although the difference is subtle, we preferred the version with lime.
- Tequila: A Blanco (Silver) tequila has a clean taste that works well with cocktails. But, feel free to use your favorite!
- Salt (optional): Use Kosher salt to rim the cocktail glasses, if you'd like. Or, you could do a 50-50 mix of salt and sugar, like in these Strawberry Jalapeno Margaritas.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Love grapefruit? Make Grapefruit Honey Mint Tea or Citrus Black Rice Salad.
How to make (step-by-step photos)
These grapefruit cocktails are so easy to make! You don't need any special cocktail-making supplies either. Here's how to make them:
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Tips
- Try a salt and sugar rim: Palomas and margaritas are often served with a salt rimmed glass. But have you ever tried using a mix of salt and sugar instead? It's a delicious twist that's both sweet and salty! (We do this for our Strawberry Jalapeno Margaritas too).
- Experiment with different grapefruit sodas: If you don't already have a favorite brand of grapefruit soda, try out a couple and see what you like best! (See FAQ's for our taste testing findings).
- Add the soda just before serving: Top the cocktails with grapefruit soda right before serving. This way you can enjoy the fizz.
- Use extra grapefruit for garnishing: You'll likely have a bit of extra grapefruit leftover after juicing. So, slice it up and use it as a pretty garnish!
- Make it a mocktail: You can easily make this grapefruit paloma alcohol-free. Simply leave out the Tequila—or use a non-alcoholic tequila substitute.
Recipe FAQs
The best grapefruit soda is the one you like best! In our testing, we found that Fever Tree made for the prettiest pink cocktail. But we really enjoyed the tart, slightly sweeter flavor of Ting. If you like things more sweet, then you may prefer Jarritos. Both Ting and Jarritos make for a lighter pink cocktail (vs. Fever Tree), but the grapefruit flavor will still come through.
Yes, you can partially make these Grapefruit Palomas in advance. Simply combine all the liquids—except for the grapefruit soda. Cover and store in the fridge. Then, just before serving, top with the grapefruit soda to preserve the bubbles.
Yes, you could use Mezcal instead of Tequila if you prefer. Or, if you want to make a Virgin Grapefruit Paloma Mocktail, use a non-alcoholic Tequila or leave it out entirely.
What to serve with Grapefruit Palomas:
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📖 Recipe
Grapefruit Paloma Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons tequila (0.75 fl oz, see note 1)
- 3 tablespoons fresh grapefruit juice (see note 2)
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- ½ cup grapefruit soda (see note 3)
- Kosher salt (for serving, optional, see note 4)
- Ice
Instructions
- Prepare glass: If rimming the glass, run a small piece of grapefruit along the edge of the glass. Then, dip in salt. Fill glass with ice.
- Mix: Pour tequila, grapefruit juice, and lime juice over the ice. Stir to mix. Top with grapefruit soda. Quickly stir, then serve.
Notes
- Tequila: We recommend using Blanco tequila if you can. It has a light flavor that works well in mixed cocktails.
- Grapefruit: Freshly squeeze grapefruit for the best flavor. Use Ruby Red grapefruit for the nicest color. One grapefruit yields about ¾ cup (12 tablespoons) of juice. Cut up remaining grapefruit for garnish.
- Grapefruit Soda: The recipe photos use Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit soda. This brand of grapefruit soda has a pretty pink color and is low on sugar. If you prefer a slightly sweeter (vs. tart) cocktail, you make prefer Ting or Jarritos.
- Garnish ideas: You don't need to rim the cocktail glass with salt, but it does make the drink look pretty! Or for a sweet and salty finish, try a 50-50 mix of salt and sugar to rim the glass. You can also garnish the cocktail with sliced grapefruit and/or mint.
- Make ahead tips: To make this cocktail in advance, combine the tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours. To serve, prepare the glasses with ice, add the premixed liquids, then top with grapefruit soda.
Natalie says
Made this for a friends birthday and they were a big hit. Didn't have grapefruit soda so we just used ginger ale, it was still great.
bri says
Hi Natalie! Glad this was a hit at your friends bday! We're honored you chose to make our recipe for it:)
Frannie says
Made these for 4th of July weekend they were a huge hit with everyone!
bri says
So happy to hear that Frannie! Glad to hear everyone enjoyed these Palomas. Hope you had a great long weekend!
Darcy says
Made them for the long weekend. So yummy!
bri says
Hi Darcy - So glad you enjoyed these palomas! Hope you had a lovely long weekend.
Dianne says
So refreshing! I made these for book club and the ladies loved them. Thank you!
bri says
Hi Dianne - So glad you and your friends enjoyed these Palomas! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Have a great rest of your week!