World Paloma Day

A Paloma made with grapefruit soda tends to be sweeter, less bitter, and more effervescent, since most commercial grapefruit sodas contain added sugar and carbonation.

Using fresh grapefruit juice with soda water or sparkling water produces a drier, more tart drink with more natural grapefruit bitterness and aroma.

The choice mainly comes down to personal taste: soda-based versions are easier and sweeter, while fresh-juice versions offer a brighter, more complex citrus flavor.  

The tequila style makes a noticeable difference. Blanco (silver) tequila, which is unaged or lightly aged, gives a clean, peppery, and citrusy profile that emphasizes the grapefruit’s freshness.

Reposado tequila, aged in oak for at least two months, adds notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice that can make the drink richer and slightly softer.

Most bartenders favor 100 percent blue agave blanco tequila for a classic, crisp Paloma, while reposado can be used for a rounder, more layered version. 

While the Margarita is very well known internationally, many drinks writers and spirits historians report that the Paloma is more commonly ordered in everyday settings in Mexico.

Simple highball-style tequila drinks with grapefruit soda or other carbonated mixers are widely enjoyed across the country, partly because they are refreshing in hot weather and easy to mix.

The Margarita remains iconic abroad, but the Paloma and similar long drinks are often described as more representative of how tequila is actually consumed in Mexico.  

Tequila is a protected designation under Mexican law and international agreements.

It must be produced from blue Weber agave grown in specific regions of Mexico, primarily the state of Jalisco and limited areas of several neighboring states, and it has to meet detailed production standards overseen by Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council.

For drinkers, this means a bottle labeled “tequila” should meet minimum quality and origin requirements.

Using a tequila made from 100 percent blue agave (rather than a mixto that includes other sugars) generally gives a cleaner, more agave-forward flavor in cocktails like the Paloma.  

Tequila is a type of mezcal but follows stricter rules: it must come from blue Weber agave and specific regions, and it is usually produced with modern industrial methods.

Mezcal can be made from many agave species and is often crafted using more traditional techniques, such as roasting agave hearts in earthen pits, which imparts a smoky, earthy character.

Substituting mezcal for tequila in a Paloma-style drink changes the profile from clean and bright to more smoky and savory, with roasted and mineral notes standing alongside the grapefruit’s tartness.  

Grapefruit juice can interact with a range of prescription medications by affecting how they are broken down in the body, which can increase or decrease drug levels.

Health agencies and medical references caution that people taking certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood pressure medications, and other prescriptions should check with a healthcare professional before consuming grapefruit or grapefruit-containing drinks.

The alcohol content of a Paloma adds an additional factor, so those on medication are advised to seek medical guidance rather than assume small amounts are harmless.  

National and international health authorities generally define moderate drinking for adults as up to one standard drink per day for women and up to two for men, on days when alcohol is consumed.

A standard drink in the United States is 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is about 1.5 fluid ounces of 40 percent ABV spirits such as tequila.

Since many Paloma recipes use at least that amount per serving, a single generous cocktail can equal one or more standard drinks.

Guidelines also stress that some people, including pregnant individuals, people under the legal drinking age, and those with certain medical conditions, should not drink alcohol at all.