Cocktail Series: Paloma

Tequila , grapefruit, and lime juice. What more could you want from a refreshing drink that is perfect for the spring and summer seasons? If you’re looking for a cocktail with three main ingredients that won’t take up too much space on your ever-growing bar cart, then look no further than the Paloma. As we know from our previous cocktail series features, there are few cocktails with a definitive and undisputed origin story. One of the more well-known credits for the Paloma goes to Don Javier Delgado Corona. Corona ran the bar, La Capilla, in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico and is also known for creating the Batanga, which is a tequila-based drink mixed with Coke and lime juice. You could also thank destiny for the creation of this pink drink; grapefruit soda production was growing in the 1950s and naturally, was eventually mixed with tequila. Add some lime and salt, and the Paloma was born. Grab the tequila, a lime, salt, your favorite Grapefruit soda, and serve on the rocks. Some recipes call for grapefruit juice as well, but we’ll leave that decision up to you. Don’t forget to add a slice of grapefruit for garnish. Fun fact: if you’re not a fan of tequila, you can make the drink with gin or vodka, and you’ll have created another cocktail known as the Greyhound. Make sure to post all your Paloma pictures on Delectable!