Modern Paloma
A fresh tequila cocktail with freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime, rounded with agave and a splash of soda water.
Ingredients
- Blanco tequila60 ml
- Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed60 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed15 ml
- Agave syrup, to taste7.5 ml
- Soda watertop up
- Salt, for the rim (optional)1 pinch
- Lime, to garnish (optional)1 wedge
Method
- Moisten the rim of a highball glass with a grapefruit or lime wedge and dip it in coarse salt.
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes and pour in the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds, until the shaker is ice-cold.
- Fill the salt-rimmed glass with fresh ice and strain the drink into it.
- Top with soda water for the right sparkle and a thirst-quenching finish.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime or grapefruit and serve at once.
About this drink
The Paloma comes from Mexico, where it is traditionally mixed with grapefruit soda and is far more popular at home than the Margarita. The modern version swaps the sweet soda for freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and soda water, making the drink brighter and tarter and giving the tequila more room. A pinch of salt, on the rim or in the glass, ties everything together and lifts both sweetness and acidity.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a Modern Paloma and a classic Paloma?
This version uses freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and agave syrup instead of grapefruit soda, which gives more control over the sweetness and a cleaner, less artificial flavour.
Can you use grapefruit soda instead of soda water?
It is actually the more traditional route. Just turn down the agave syrup, as the soda is already sweetened.
