This Paloma Cocktail Recipe is a refreshing, citrus cocktail made with tequila and a splash of soda water. Serve it on the rocks with a salted rim and enjoy!
The Paloma is one of my favorite tequila-based cocktails right up there with all my favorite margaritas – like these Italian Margaritas, Grilled Pineapple Margaritas, Hibiscus Margaritas, and St. Germain Margaritas.
It’s the perfect summer cocktail. Bucket list =Â spend time on the patio, with a few good magazines to sink into and at least one of these paloma cocktails!
What is a Paloma?
It’s a tequila cocktail that’s light and refreshing with just a bit of effervescence. My version of the traditional paloma cocktail is naturally sweetened with a honey simple syrup and served on the rocks with a citrus salt rim.
I’m a huge fan of using honey in cocktails. It adds sweetness without using refined sugars, plus it lends an extra element of richness and a creamy flavor. To make the honey simple syrup for this recipe, you simply combine equal parts honey and water in a saucepan. Heat it until the mixture is combined and smooth and then let it cool. That’s all there is to it! (Here’s a whole post on how to make simple syrup.)
We’re going to add in two teaspoons of the honey simple syrup to each paloma cocktail. And you’ll definitely have plenty of honey simple syrup on hand to make cocktail after cocktail. If you have leftover honey simple syrup, it will keep in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. It’s great in iced tea, hot green tea or drizzled on top of sorbet. It also goes into this yummy cocktail, The Bees Knees.
What’s in a Paloma Cocktail?
- Tequila
- Grapefruit Juice
- Lime Juice
- Soda Water
- Honey Simple Syrup
How Do You Make a Paloma Cocktail?
- Rim your glass with salt. My preference is using my own homemade citrus salts (which are so easy to make and make perfect gifts).
- Fill your glass with ice .
- Add tequila, soda water, grapefruit juice, lime juice and a bit of the honey simple syrup.
- Stir and enjoy!
I hope that you all enjoy this paloma cocktail as much as I do! I love it’s pretty pink color and the combination of the salted rim with that bitter grapefruit and the tangy lime juice. I like to think of it as the answer to when you want a tequila cocktail, but you don’t want something as syrupy sweet as a margarita… Cheers!
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Cocktail Recipes:Â
Paloma Cocktail
Ingredients
Honey Simple Syrup
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup water
Cocktail
- 2 ounces tequila
- 2 ounces soda water
- 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey simple syrup
- ice (as needed)
- grapefruit wedges (for garnish)
- salt (for rimming )
Instructions
Honey Simple Syrup
- Combine water and honey in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring often, until the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Cocktail
- Moisten the rim of serving glass with a grapefruit wedge. Pour salt into small dish. Turn your glass upside down and twist glass around to salt the rim.
- Fill serving glass with ice.
- Pour in all ingredients and stir to combine.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Nutrition
I HAD to pin this one because it’ll be such a fun summer cocktail! My in laws are coming to visit in a few weeks and I know my mother in law would love this!
What a gorgeous cocktail! I’m always looking for new cocktail ideas for by the pool in the summer! Adding this one to the menu!
Thanks Michelle – This one definitely makes me think of warmer weather!
This one is definitely on my list for patio cocktails – as soon as it gets warm enough for the patio!!
I’m hoping that happens any day now Kathryn!!!
My favorite summer cocktail! Adding honey simple syrup sounds amazing. Definitely pinning this for this weekend!
I hope you love it Hillary – Cheers!
That looks delicious! I wouldn’t have thought to use fresh grapefruit in a cocktail apart from a Consuelo, but I might have to try this!
Looks delicious! I’ll have to give this a try!
I hope you enjoy Summer!
So smart, Ive never thought of using honey instead of sugar for simple syrups, doh!!
It ends up being pretty delicious Pech – Just another layer of flavor!
Yes! I just used honey simple syrup in one of my recipes and I love it. It makes me feel so much better about having a little sugar when it’s not refined. These sound super refreshing!
Thanks so much Jenni – I hope you enjoy!
Oh these are SO pretty, Erin!! I am normally not a fan of grapefruit, but I do love that flavor in cocktails. What a fabulous summer drink. Cheers!
Thanks Marlynn – Cheers to you too!