Time for a Drink: The Paloma
Let's get this weekend started right. Here's a cocktail to kick things off. Need more than one? Here you go. Cheers!
If you were to take a pop quiz on mixed drinks, the average cocktail enthusiast would be able to rattle off at least a half-dozen gin libations; ditto for rum, and quite possibly for whiskey.
Tequila? Not so much. Go ahead and take a point for the Margarita—that’s an easy one; and then there’s the Tequila Sunrise, with its aura of floral shirts and Jimmy Buffett. Dedicated mixologists may cite the cassis-laden goodness of the Diablo, while others may guiltily offer up a Freddie Fudpucker or a Long Island Iced Tea. It’s OK; we’ve all been there at one time.
To this small list, add a delightful contribution to the summer-satisfaction arsenal: the Paloma. Commonly found in regions where tequila is produced as well as consumed, the Paloma seems deceptively simple. In truth, this drink manages to cover the bases when it comes to flavor receptors, and its lively taste and gentle effervescence make it a great seasonal refresher. You may have to hunt down one of the ingredients (depending on your proximity to the nearest bodega), but trust me—you’ll find more happiness with the Paloma than with any drink named Freddie.
Paloma
Fill a 10-ounce Collins glass with ice, and add:
2 ounces reposado tequila (be sure to use only 100 percent agave tequila)
The juice of 1/2 a lime
Pinch of coarse salt
The spent lime shell, for garnish
Top with grapefruit soda. Jarritos, from Mexico, works very well, but you can also try the Jamaican brand Ting. If you can’t find a suitable grapefruit soda, use Sprite or the like, and add a squirt of fresh grapefruit juice.
About the author: Paul Clarke blogs about cocktails at The Cocktail Chronicles and writes regularly on spirits and cocktails for Imbibe magazine. He lives in Seattle, where he works as a writer and magazine editor.
View other entries from Cocktail Concoctions.
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9 Comments:
I hate to even mention this but when you live both in the hinterlands and the poor house,(six kids), the Wal-Mart brand of Grapefruit soda with a squeeze of fresh lime works pretty good. And lets you save your money for the Tequila. I especially like the Jose Cuervo Traditional in the numbered bottles. My Wal-Mar liqour store has them for $17 and at that price they are a very nice resposado.
timjertson at 10:21PM on 07/27/07
Thanks for the tip, timjertson. I had a friend email me about where to get grapefruit soda, and now I can pass along this advice.
Adam Kuban at 12:19PM on 07/28/07
"How bout a Fresca? Huh?" - Judge Smails.
Anyone try it with a Fresca?
wfnugent at 5:54AM on 07/29/07
Dunno about Fresca, but the improbable combination of Squirt and Rose's Lime juice actually works quite well: 3 shots Tequila, 1 shot Rose's and 1 12-ounce can of Squirt. Pucker up!
andmore at 8:32AM on 07/30/07
Veering away from grapefruit, I'm a huge fan of Jarritos Tamarindo & tequila.
Oakland Aaron at 1:41PM on 07/30/07
Tried it with fresca over the weekend and did not like it at all. But I did not add fresh lime juice and I think that would have made a big difference. Trader Joe's makes a good grapefruit Italian soda - might be good in this recipe.
jcb33 at 7:31PM on 05/05/08
I was also thinking Fresca.....
Soup of The Day at 9:39PM on 05/05/08
This drink is one of my all-time favorites. It definitely needs a good, natural grapefruit soda -- Fresca, as much as I like it, won't do (esp. artificially sweetened as we get it here in America). Ting works great if you have any trouble finding Jarritos.
As for the tequila, I'll disagree a bit with Paul here. For drinks like a Margarita, 100% agave is a must. For this one, seeing as how you're mixing with a very sweet soft drink, I don't think it's necessarily required. A good quality "mixto" like El Jimador (made by Herradura) works great and is in fact the way Palomas are usually made in Mexico. If you want to use a 100% agave don't let me stop you, but honestly this ain't the place for anything remotely expensive.
Finally, as Anita over at Married...with Dinner notes, a nice big dash or two of Fee Bros. Grapefruit Bitters really brightens it up. I also like to add the salt at the very end, sprinkling it over the ice at the top of the finished drink.
Cheers!
Mike S at 1:59PM on 05/26/08
When I lived in Guadalajara, this was very common, and my drink of choice =). Although often made with Jarritos, it was also often made with Squirt. It is definitely something that I have since made many times at home.
Salud
blankplate at 6:20PM on 06/25/08