Directions
The Paloma cocktail is to the Mexicans as the Gin & Tonic to the English, it is in other words the most appreciated cocktail in Mexico, thanks to its amazing pleasantness, which manifests itself in clear sensations of freshness and aromaticity. The ingredients to make the Paloma cocktail are few and simple to find: tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Usually, a pinch of salt is also added, to make the cocktail even tastier.
The Paloma is a classic Mexican cocktail as an aperitif, an all-day cocktail to be sipped at any time, just dose the tequila accordingly, just like the Gin Tonic: you can make a very light cocktail to drink as a thirst-quenching drink for the afternoon, or go down there. heavier with the dose of tequila, if you want to savor a more intense and alcoholic aperitif.
There is no codified classic recipe, the original recipe for the Paloma cocktail, the variations involve adding salt to lime juice or whether you use a yellow or pink grapefruit soda. They are small nuances that however make the cocktail different. For example, if you use pink grapefruit soda, the cocktail will be more delicate and aromatic and certainly aggressive on the acid-bitter front, since yellow grapefruit is much more grumpy.
For the salt, do as you wish, but a Paloma without salt is an incomplete drink, it lacks that binding element that bridges the tequila and lime. Just dissolve a pinch in the lime, before putting all the ingredients in the glass.
The history of the Paloma cocktail
Although it is almost a ritual, the cocktail that marks the passage of time in Mexico, nothing official is known about the origins of the Paloma cocktail, there are only urban legends about it, but no Pindaric theory. It would seem that the good old Don Javier Delgado Corona, patron and bartender of La Capilla, in Tequila, invented it. And given the name of the place where the restaurant is located, no one has any objection.
Ingredients and doses to make the Paloma cocktail
- 5 cl of tequila
- 1.5 cl of lime juice
- 9 cl of grapefruit soda
- salt, optional
How to make the Paloma cocktail
Squeeze the lime juice and strain the juice. If you want, add the salt and stir to dissolve it.
Pour in the ice, tequila, lime and finish filling with soda. Stir lightly and serve a large aperitif cocktail. A variation of this great Mexican cocktail is the Paloma with rosemary, great for adding an aromatic and pungent touch. Put a small sprig in the glass and mix.
Other Tequila cocktails you should try
If you are a tequila lover, here are some drinks to try: Tequila Sunrise, Agua de Vita, Bocca di Rosa, Sirenita Cocktail, Watermelon Margarita, Devil’s Tongue with chili pepper, tequila with salt and lemon, tequila boom boom and the classic Margarita.
Paloma Food Pairings
Milanese risotto, pasta with pesto, fish balls, salmon in teriyaki sauce, sweet and sour pork, Cantonese rice, carbonara, mixed paella, chili con carne, chicken curry.
