Two paloma cocktails garnished with lime wheels.
Beverages,  Easy,  Recipes,  Vegan,  Vegetarian

Happy Hour Cocktail: La Paloma

We bought a new bottle of Patrón, and I wanted to try out a new cocktail. I did a quick survey of some friends, and this cocktail was the one that won my vote. I used Izze Sparkling Grapefruit. I love that stuff because they don’t use any high fructose corn syrup or other unnatural ingredients. We aren’t big soda drinkers in my house, so when we do, we get the good stuff. Anyway, this cocktail is really crisp and refreshing – perfect for the end of summer. I found this recipe on Esquire’s site – if you check it out there, they have a great commentary on the drink from their resident cocktail historian. Pretty funny stuff! La Paloma is Spanish for “The Dove” – not sure why, maybe because it makes you feel nice and peaceful at the end of a long summer day…

Two paloma cocktails garnished with lime wheels.

La Paloma
Esquire

2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce lime juice
pinch of salt
grapefruit soda

Combine the tequila (reposado, preferably), lime juice, and salt in a tall glass. Add ice, top off with grapefruit soda, and stir. The soda can be hard to find; we prefer the Mexican Jarritos brand, but anything will do, even, at last resort, lemon-lime soda with a splash of grapefruit juice. Some prefer the salt on the rim of the glass, but we say just throw it in. Others omit it entirely. Don’t.

Big Flavors Rating: 4 Stars

Ashley Covelli is a food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in Ossining, New York. She loves helping people become enthusiastic and adventurous in the kitchen so that they can build skills and confidence to cook for themselves and their loved ones. She can almost always be found with at least 3 different beverages within arm's reach.

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