How to Build Your Perfect Paloma

We’ve teamed up with Patrón Tequila for a step-by-step guide to building your perfect paloma—and it all starts with their high-quality, handcrafted tequila. From amber Reposado to crystal-clear Silver, Patrón’s tequilas are the flavorful foundation for a summery sip.

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The paloma is one of those perfect cocktails. It’s floral but not too sweet, packs a punch but isn’t too strong, and is simple enough to make at home without having an especially robust home cocktail setup. Start with the basic building blocks of a classic paloma—grapefruit, lime, tequila—and use it to find a formula that suits your needs. Prepared to make your own simple syrup and juice fresh fruit? You go! Only have agave syrup and grapefruit soda on hand? That’ll do just as well. Use any type of tequila your heart desires, like a lightly floral reposado or a smooth-drinking silver from our friends at Patrón—when it comes to tequila these folks know their stuff.

Patrón’s Perfect Paloma is so simple to shake up you might even have everything on hand right now. Here’s how to make one: Combine 1 ½ ounces Patrón Reposado with 3 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, ½ ounce fresh lime juice, and ½ ounce agave syrup in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Give it a good jiggle until the shaker is frosty, then pour the paloma base into a tall glass (rimmed with salt if you know what’s good!) filled with fresh ice, then top the drink with sparkling water.

If you like to have a little fun with new flavors as well as the classics, try switching things up with the summery ingredients in a simple syrup. Start with a 1:1:1 ratio of water, granulated sugar, and something extra like fresh berries, citrus peel, or fragrant herbs. Bring everything to a boil to dissolve the sugar, then let the syrup cool. Strain out the solids and refrigerate the syrup in an airtight container for weeks. If you’re looking for a recipe that follows this concept, check out our Tropical Sage Paloma or a Watermelon-Basil Paloma.

You could easily make individual palomas at your next dinner party or barbecue, but if you’d like things to be a bit more hands-off, just multiply your formula to put together a pitcher of a paloma base. Have your friends fill glasses with ice, pour in the base, and top each drink with bubbles. We like to set up an ice bucket and small cans or bottles of sparkling water (or grapefruit soda, depending on the recipe) to ensure everyone’s drink is as fresh as possible.

1. Paloma

Let’s start with a tried-and-true paloma: grapefruit, lime, and tequila. In this recipe, you’ll make a quick grapefruit syrup using the fruit’s zest and juice, plus sugar, then rest it overnight. From there, it’s easy-peasy—shake the syrup, lime juice, and tequila, then top with a splash of club soda.

2. Tropical Sage Paloma

The best part of this fragrant cocktail is that it utilizes a pineapple juice and fresh sage syrup, which you can make in a large batch and stash in the fridge for weeks. From there, the cocktail (just one or a whole pitcher if you’re having a party) is as simple as shaking the syrup with Patrón Reposado and lime juice, then topping each drink with grapefruit soda.

3. Watermelon-Basil Paloma

If you’re not drinking watermelon juice in summertime, please start. The floral, refreshing juice—which you can make yourself by blending and straining fresh watermelon, or buying a bottled version at the grocery store—is obviously dreamy solo, but absolutely sings in a paloma when paired with Patrón Reposado, lime, a bit of earthy basil simple syrup, and grapefruit soda.

4. Rosemary Paloma

This rosemary paloma was designed with Patrón Silver and chillier weather in mind. First, you’ll make a rosemary syrup using the woody herb, sugar, and water. Shake that up with tequila and lime juice, then top with plenty of grapefruit soda and a few dashes of orange bitters.

5. Smoky & Spicy Paloma

Another grapefruit syrup cutie, this paloma recipe skews a bit spicy thanks to fresh jalapeño in the mix. Combine the syrup with both tequila and mezcal (for smoky vibes) and a splash of grapefruit liqueur or Triple Sec, plus fresh lime and grapefruit juice.

5. Red, White & Blue Paloma Slushies

These colorful drinks are what happens when a frozen margarita meets a classic paloma: blend limes, agave, grapefruit juice or fresh berries with tequila and ice until smooth. Perfect for those swelteringly hot summer afternoons, this frozen drink is best served as soon as it’s made.

7. Pineapple Paloma

This blush-colored pineapple paloma is a dream on a hot evening. Plus, it’s built right in the serving glass, so no one needs to play mixologist if they don’t want to. Tangy-sweet pineapple juice, lime, tequila, then finish things off with a good splash of grapefruit soda.

8. Ginger Paloma

Classic with a warming twist, this ginger paloma boasts reposado tequila, grapefruit juice, and ginger liqueur. If you can’t find the ginger liqueur, try making ginger syrup with grated fresh grapefruit, water, and sugar, and adding a bit of extra tequila.

9. Paloma’s Paletas

For those who prefer to eat their palomas, meet Paloma’s Paletas: though the sweet lime and grapefruit pops don’t actually contain alcohol, recipe developer Alison Clare Steingold recommends serving them with shots of tequila at sunset—sign us up.

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Which paloma recipe will you make first? Tell us in the comments!

Our friends at Patrón Tequila have been distilling their 100 percent Blue Weber Agave tequilas in Jalisco, Mexico for over 30 years. Each one of their handcrafted tequilas starts with high-quality raw ingredients—from smooth, citrusy Patrón Silver to ultra-sippable, oak barrel-aged Patrón Añejo. To add flavorful depth to your next cocktail, snag a bottle of Patrón at a retailer near you.