Blood Orange Paloma Cocktail

Fruity and fun this Blood Orange Paloma is a festive cocktail! Celebrate with Mexico's most famous drinkl! Easy to make and refreshing it combines tequila and grapefruit soda, cheers!!!

This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly.

Love this drink? For the next party be sure to serve The Last Word!

Jump to:

• Love this recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Equipment
• FAQ
• Things to know
• Tips
• More tequila cocktails
• Variations
• Serving suggestions
• Related Recipes
• Tequila cocktail recipes
• Paloma Cocktail Recipe
• Recipe Backstory

Love this recipe

Since the Paloma is the National Drink of Mexico, I think it's only fitting that we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Halloween or any party with this tasty cocktail!

✔️ Sweet, tart and festive!

✔️  No fancy cocktail shaker required.

✔️ Perfect for a party!

Ingredients

• tequila - silver, gold or an aged tequila; a great blanco tequila or silver tequila are terrific choices, but choose a good quality tequila that fits into your budget.
• grapefruit soda - Fresca, Squirt or Jarritos grapefruit soda, soda water.
• blood orange or ruby red grape fruit - freshly squeezed grapefruit juice or fresh lime juice.
• pomegranate arils - an optional pretty garnish! You can also garnish with grapefruit, lime slices or a slice of blood orange.

Instructions

It's so easy, check out how simple it is to make this popular cocktail!

1. Fill the glass with ice.
2. Add a shot of tequila and fresh grapefruit juice.
3. Top it off with grapefruit soda - or if you'd prefer add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
4. Finish it off with a squeeze of blood orange and spoonful of pomegranate arils. Garnish with an orange or grapefruit wedge. Stir to combine ingredients.
5. Optional - add a pinch of salt rim of the glass. Using a wedge of lime or grapefruit, run it around the rim of the glass and dip in kosher salt prior to assembling the cocktail.

How easy is that?

Equipment

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• The traditional glass for a Paloma is a highball glass, but you can really use any tall thin glass.
• A jiger also known as a shot glass measuring cup.

FAQ

Things to know

If you're sipping tequila, this is definitely when you get what you pay for. Nosotros Gold Tequila is a great choice for sipping.

If you're mixing tequila in a margarita or this Paloma Recipe, Legado is great for blending.

Do your research, and then when you're ready to purchase, here's what I recommend; go to a good liquor store and speak with one of the experts.

We went to Total Wines and More and spoke to one of the experts. He explained the flavor profiles and helped us pick a tequila that worked for our budget. I'd highly recommend if you are interested in learning more about tequila.

Tips

• A Poloma is typically served in a high ball glass which is tall and skinny.
• Check for canned blood orange juice if you can't find blood orange. Still no luck? Substitute pink grapefruit, orange soda, or squirt.
• If it's orange season, look for cara cara oranges. Serve garnished with orange wedges or an orange wheel on the side of the glass.
• Don't be shy, ain't nobody gonna judge when you're digging the pomegranate seeds out of the bottom of the glass! After soaking up all that goodness they are tasty!!!

More tequila cocktails

• How about a Strawberry Margarita or Mango Margarita. Still looking for more delicious choices?  
• Mariachi Mash Lemon Lime Cocktail - a blend of tequila, limoncello with a hint of mint.
• Tequila Cocktail - spicy and sweet, a twist on the classic drink.
• Tequila Sunrise - pretty as a warm sunrise on a hot summer's day.

Variations

• If you'd prefer to substitute the grapefruit soda, you can use club soda or sparkling water and grapefruit juice with a twist of lime and simple syrup.
• Garnish with a lime wedge, orange or grapefruit.
• Add a salted rim! Using a wedge of lime rim the glass and then dip in salt.
• The soda in this recipe takes the place of all those ingredients. Hey if you can make it taste just as good with fewer ingredients and less work. Why not, right?!!

Serving suggestions

• This recipe is great for a Halloween party or weekend fun! It's terrific with Mexican Foods like this recipe for Grilled Shrimp Tacos or Barbacoa Beef.
• Make it a party by serving terrific appetizers like loaded Velveeta queso dip, grilled shrimp or this yummy refried bean dip!
• Click here if you're looking for more Mexican party food recipes. You'll find 50+ great recipes!

Related Recipes

There are even more cocktail recipes on the blog!

• Enjoy a Lemon Drop Martini, Blue Ocean Cocktail or the classic - Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour - to name a few, cheers!
• A close cousin is the mezcal Paloma which has a smoky flavor.

If you'd prefer to enjoy a nonalcoholic drink then you'll love these recipes for Homemade Strawberry Lemonade or a Mango Madness Mocktail - delicious!

Tequila cocktail recipes

1. Strawberry Margarita or Mango Margarita - cheers!
2. Mariachi Mash Lemon Lime Cocktail - a blend of tequila, limoncello with a hint of mint.
3. Tequila Cocktail - spicy and sweet, a twist on the classic drink.
4. Tequila Sunrise - pretty as a warm sunrise on a hot summer's day.

I'd love to see your party pictures when you enjoy this delicious cocktail! Tag me at #bowlmeover or on Instagram with @bowl_me_over! I love to see your tasty creations!!

Recipe Backstory

I originally created this recipe for the Day of the Dead - now just to be clear, this isn't Mexican Halloween, but a holiday in remembrance of those who have passed.

It lasts from October 31 - November 2. The celebration originated in Southern Mexico. It is a holiday to make peace with the inevitability of death and to remember loved ones. 

The celebration has spread throughout much of the United States, resulting in parties and face painting, but I wonder how many folks really know the origination of the holiday?

Hmmm..... good question huh?

Anyway, when we were in New Mexico at the Santa Fe Farmers Market the ladies at the were busy braiding marigolds into beautiful long strands.

Native to Mexico, it is believed that the bright fragrant flowers help guide spirits to their altars. It's really quite fascinating. I wish I had taken more pictures!

I love the bright colors and festive spirit they bring to the celebration! I think it's fascinating and you can read more about it here.

First Published: Nov 25, 2018... Last Updated: May 2, 2022