Mezcal Paloma
Mezcal, grapefruit, lime and salt in a tall glass. Smoke against bitter citrus — arguably a better drink than the tequila original.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Salt half the rim of a collins glass if you want a rim, then fill the glass with ice.
Add the mezcal, lime juice and a pinch of salt.
Top with grapefruit soda and stir once, gently, from the bottom.
Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
A thoughtful finish
- Put a pinch of salt in the drink as well as on the rim. Salt suppresses bitterness and makes grapefruit taste sweeter and rounder — it does far more inside the glass than on it.
- Fresh grapefruit juice topped with soda makes a sharper, better drink than grapefruit soda, which is sweeter. Both are authentic.
- Salt only half the rim so the drinker can choose.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the salt entirely, which leaves the grapefruit harsh and one-dimensional.
- Using a wild-agave mezcal, which is wasted in a long drink with soda.
- Over-stirring after topping and knocking the carbonation out.
A few good questions.
Grapefruit soda or fresh juice?
Both are correct. Soda is the traditional Mexican build and is sweeter and simpler; fresh juice with soda water on top is sharper and more complex. Try both.
Why does salt help?
Sodium suppresses the perception of bitterness, so a pinch of salt makes grapefruit read as sweeter and fuller without adding sugar. It is the single most useful trick in this drink.
Is this better than a tequila Paloma?
Many people think so. Grapefruit and salt both stand up to smoke well. The tequila version is brighter and more refreshing; this one is deeper and more savoury.
Can I make it with a split base?
Yes — an ounce and a half of blanco tequila with half an ounce of mezcal gives a gentler version and is how many bars serve it.
Variations
- Paloma — Blanco tequila in place of mezcal.
- Ranch Water — Tequila, lime and sparkling water.
- Spicy Paloma — Adds muddled jalapeño.
- Mezcal Mule — Mezcal, lime and ginger beer.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · Mexico
A modern variation on the Paloma, which is Mexico’s most-drunk tequila cocktail and typically built with grapefruit soda rather than fresh juice. No single author is documented. Swapping mezcal for tequila works unusually well because grapefruit’s bitterness and the salt rim both stand up to smoke in a way that most mixers do not, and because the Paloma is a long drink where mezcal’s intensity has room to spread out.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Paloma variations, current (reference)
- David Alan, Tipsy Texan, 2011 (book)
Strength. About 1.5 US standard drinks at an estimated 12% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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