Paloma Mocktail
If you’re searching for a refreshing and flavorful non-alcoholic beverage, look no further than this Paloma mocktail. This drink is perfect if you want a sophisticated sipper without the buzz of alcohol.
This recipe calls for Jarritos grapefruit soda for an authentic Mexican touch. If you can’t find Jarritos or prefer to use a different grapefruit soda, substitute it with your favorite brand or even sparkling water with grapefruit flavor.
With a combination of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and lime juice and a hint of sweetness from basic simple syrup, this mocktail will be your new favorite go-to for warm, sunny afternoons. If you’re a fan of fruity mocktails, you might also love my raspberry margarita mocktail recipe, which is practically made for hot, sunny patios.
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Ingredients To Make A Paloma Mocktail
- Coarse Salt: You can skip the salt rim if you want; however, I highly recommend that you don’t. A salted rim adds a savory contrast to the mocktail’s sweet and tangy flavors.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Lime juice enhances the overall taste of this mocktail. Freshly squeezed lime juice is brighter and has a more vibrant flavor than bottled, but you can use bottled if needed.
- Grapefruit Juice: Grapefruit is the star ingredient in this drink. You can use store-bought juice if you want, but freshly squeezed will have the best balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Jarritos Grapefruit Soda: This Mexican soda brand adds effervescence and a bubbly burst of grapefruit flavor. If you can’t find Jarritos, substitute it with your favorite grapefruit soda or sparkling water.
- Simple Syrup: Simple syrup balances the tartness of the grapefruit and lime, and you can use as much or as little as you want. Basic simple syrup can be made ahead and stored in the fridge, and it lasts for a long time. It’s so much cheaper to make it at home than to buy it at the store.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of this post, or scroll to the bottom to see the PRINTABLE recipe card with ingredient measurements and complete instructions.
How To Make A Paloma Mocktail
STEP 1: Lightly moisten the edge of a highball glass with a piece of grapefruit. Dip the edge of the glass in coarse salt to rim it.
STEP 2: Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to the glass and stir well to combine.
STEP 3: Fill the glass with ice.
STEP 4: Top the ice with grapefruit soda, then stir gently with a long spoon to mix. Add a slice of grapefruit for garnish (optional) and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
1. Use freshly squeezed citrus for the brightest flavor.
2. Adjust the amount of simple syrup to your preferred sweetness level.
3. If using store-bought grapefruit juice, choose juice with no added sugar.
Recipe Notes
- For an extra pop of flavor, rim your glass in a 50/50 mixture of coarse salt and either coarse or granulated sugar.
- Kombucha is a great substitute for grapefruit soda!
- If you’re hosting a gathering, or you want to have your Paloma mocktails ready in advance, you can make a larger batch by scaling up the recipe in a pitcher. Just remember to add the soda right before serving to maintain fizziness.
More Citrus Recipes
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Printable Recipe Card
Paloma Mocktail
Special Equipment
- Knife and cutting board
- Citrus squeezer
- Highball glass or any other glass you like
- Long spoon
- Measuring cup or shot glass
Ingredients
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed, about one lime
- 1 ounce basic simple syrup, 1:1 sugar-to-water ratio
- 1 bottle Jarritos grapefruit soda, or any other grapefruit soda or grapefruit sparkling water
- Ice
- Coarse salt, optional for rim
Looking for ingredient notes, substitutions, or step-by-step photos? Scroll up in the post for tips and images.
Instructions
- Lightly moisten the edge of a highball glass with a piece of grapefruit. Dip the edge of the glass in coarse salt to rim.
- Add grapefruit and lime juices, and simple syrup to the glass. Stir well with a long spoon to combine.
- Fill the glass with ice and top with grapefruit soda. Add a slice of grapefruit for garnish (optional) and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- For an extra pop of flavor, rim your glass in a 50/50 mixture of coarse salt and either coarse or granulated sugar.
- Kombucha is a really great substitute for grapefruit soda!
- If you’re hosting a gathering, or you want to have your Paloma mocktails ready in advance, you can make a larger batch by scaling up the recipe in a pitcher. Just remember to add the soda right before serving to maintain fizziness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided as a courtesy. For precise nutritional data, please calculate it independently using your preferred nutrition calculator.
