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Tequila Paloma

Spanish for “dove,” the paloma is a tequila-based classic cocktail known for using grapefruit soda. Now you can make this pretty pink drink bursting with even more color with Unicorn Tequila’s color-changing properties.

5 minutes

1 cocktail

Beginner

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila*
  • ½ ounce lime juice (about 2 lime wedges)
  • Grapefruit soda*
  • Kosher salt for rim (optional)
  • Lime wedge (optional)

Instructions

Fill a rocks or highball glass with ice. If you like a salted rim, rub a lime’s flesh around the edge of the glass. Then, with the glass at an angle, rotate the rim into kosher salt. Pour the tequila and lime juice into the glass and top with grapefruit soda. Stir to combine, then garnish with a lime wedge.

Pump up your paloma by making a Unicorn Paloma →

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Three pink paloma drinks, garnished with grapefruit wedges and sprigs of rosemary. The glasses are sitting atop a tea towel, silver serving tray, with lime and grapefruit wedges lying about

When was the paloma invented?

While it may have been concocted before, the paloma cocktail recipe was first officially published and credited to Evan Harrison in the 1953 pamphlet, “Popular Cocktails of The Rio Grande.” Some say Harrison stole the paloma drink recipe from Manuel Gonzales, a man who worked at Harrison’s rival tavern. It’s thought that Gonzales named the drink after his lover, since paloma sweetly translates to “dove.” Save the drama for your paloma?

*We use blanco tequila and mixto tequila in mixed drinks because its strong agave flavor pairs well with citrus, but any tequila can be used here. A few common soda brands are Fresca, Jarritos and Squirt. If you don’t have grapefruit soda, make your own with grapefruit juice and club soda.