Tequila highball recipe
Paloma
The Paloma is the taller tequila drink: blanco, lime, grapefruit soda, and a little salt if the glass wants it. Refreshing first, sweet never.
- Easy
- Built
- Grapefruit
- Highball
Why this spec
The Paloma works because tequila and grapefruit have room to stretch. Blanco tequila gives agave and pepper, lime sharpens the base, grapefruit soda brings bitter citrus and bubbles, and salt can make the whole drink snap into focus.
The build stays tall and simple. You are not trying to make a Margarita with soda; you are making a highball that lets grapefruit carry the refreshment.
The bottle and the rest
Use blanco tequila with enough agave character to stay visible. A very sweet grapefruit soda can make the drink soft, so lime and salt become more important.
Salt is optional but useful. A pinch in the glass can sharpen grapefruit without committing every sip to a salted rim.
The build
Build tequila and lime over ice
Build tequila and lime juice in an ice-filled highball.
Top with grapefruit soda
Top with grapefruit soda.
Stir briefly and salt if needed
Stir briefly and add salt if desired.
brief stir
Top with cold soda and keep the stir short. Carbonation is part of the drink.
Take it somewhere
Fresh grapefruit
Drier noteUse fresh grapefruit juice plus chilled soda when bottled soda is too sweet.
Salt pinch
Sharper noteAdd a small pinch directly to the glass when grapefruit tastes dull.
Mezcal split
Smoke noteSplit the tequila with a little mezcal for a smoky highball that still drinks bright.
Ranch water lane
Lighter noteUse sparkling water instead of grapefruit soda when you want a lean tequila-lime highball.
Where it goes wrong
Warm soda
Warm grapefruit soda loses bubbles and reads syrupy.
Too much salt
Salt should sharpen grapefruit, not turn the drink saline.
Weak tequila
If the tequila vanishes, the Paloma becomes grapefruit soda with a rumor of agave.
Questions, answered
Do I need grapefruit soda?
It is the easiest route. Fresh grapefruit plus soda works when you want a drier version.
Salt rim or pinch?
A pinch in the glass is cleaner for this spec. A light rim works if you want a stronger salt cue.
Can I use mezcal?
A small mezcal split works well. Full mezcal changes the drink into a smokier variation.
The taller agave answer
The Paloma is what you make when the Margarita lane wants more room. It should be crisp, cold, faintly bitter, and gone before the ice gives up.