Say “Cinco de Mayo cocktail,” and most people will say “Margarita!” We’d like to offer a different suggestion this year: the Paloma. The Paloma cocktail recipe is below, along with lots of food and drink recipes for Cinco de Mayo.

In Mexico, the Paloma, not the Margarita, is Mexico’s favorite cocktail.

It couldn’t be easier to make: Combine tequila and grapefruit soda (or in a more sophisticated form, grapefruit juice).

In addition to the Paloma, there are many more Cinco de Mayo recipes below. But first:
 
 
PALOMA COCKTAIL HISTORY

Even though it may be the most popular tequila-based cocktail in Mexico according to Taste Cocktails, the history of the Paloma is murky.

There are two leading contenders:

 
 
RECIPE: PALOMA COCKTAIL

In Mexico, the classic Paloma is made with tequila and grapefruit soda. In the U.S., the Mexican brand Jarritos can be found in Latino markets. In the U.S., Fresca is the most available brand, with the benefit of Diet Fresca avoiding the sugar. Many supermarkets also carry Squirt.

But smaller brands also make grapefruit soda. Look for Fever Tree, Izze, Q, Spindrift, and others. Pink grapefruit soda adds welcome color to the drink: a Pink Paloma.

However: We prefer fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice—particularly pink or red grapefruit juice. You can add club soda to approximate the fizziness of the soda.

Reposado tequila provides a more complex flavor.

A grapefruit wedge is the classic Paloma garnish, but consider adding a second garnish: crunchy cucumber and delicate microgreens, for example.

Some people prefer the salt on the rim of the glass, some shake it into the drink itself, and some omit it entirely.

And a rim on the glass can add some sweet heat.
 
Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. RIM a tall glass. Add the tequila and lime juice. Add the ice, top off with the grapefruit soda (or the grapefruit juice and club soda), and stir.
 
 
85 MORE CINCO DE MAYO RECIPES

Also check out:

 
 
DRINKS

 
 
LUNCH

 
 
APPETIZERS – FIRST COURSES

 
 
MAINS & SIDES

 
 
DESSERT

[1] A Paloma with pink grapefruit juice and a flavored salt rim (photo © X Bar | Hyatt Regency Los Angeles).

[2] A Paloma is typically a tall drink… (photo © Don Julio Tequila).

[3] But you can serve it in a rocks glass (photo © Taste Cocktails).

[4] In Mexico, the Paloma is mixed with grapefruit soda, like Jarritos (photo © Oowyui Jiwa | Unsplash).

[5] Here’s what the cocktail looks like with regular (not pink) grapefruit soda or juice (photo © ).

[6] You can add to the classic grapefruit wedge garnish. Here, crunchy cucumber and microgreens add more layers of flavor (photo © Brooke Lark | Unsplash).

[7] Food fun: The Mockingbird restaurant in Nashville makes Paloma “frozen cocktails” with ice pops (photo © The Mockingbird).