A Paloma Mocktail With All the Grapefruit Bite
If you’ve never had a Paloma, here’s the short version: it’s Mexico’s most popular cocktail, and in my opinion, more interesting than a margarita. If you’re a fan of that tart grapefruit bite, or the salted rim alone is what’s calling your name, this mocktail version holds up beautifully.
Pregnant, sober, taking a break from alcohol, or just in the mood for something tart without the tequila — there’s no need to justify it here. The grapefruit does so much of the flavor work in the original that this one barely feels like it’s missing anything.
I started making this for myself on nights I wasn’t drinking and ended up making it for everyone, because it turns out the salted rim and the bite of fresh grapefruit were really the whole appeal all along.
Intro Describe
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Want more citrus-forward sips? Browse our mocktail recipes collection.
Equipment You Will Need
- A citrus juicer
- A small plate, for the salt rim
- A highball glass
Why Grapefruit Does Most of the Work Here
This is one of the easiest cocktails to mocktail-ify, because grapefruit’s natural bitterness already does a lot of what alcohol usually provides in a cocktail — it’s what makes the drink taste “grown-up” even without tequila. Several bartenders who’ve developed mocktail versions agree on this: fresh grapefruit, lime, a touch of sweetness, salt, and fizz really is the whole drink, with tequila mostly adding warmth on top.
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A Paloma Mocktail With All the Grapefruit Bite
A tart, refreshing, completely alcohol-free version of Mexico’s favorite cocktail.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz agave nectar or honey, to taste
- Small pinch of salt
- 2 oz club soda or grapefruit soda
- Coarse salt, for the rim
Instructions
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip it into a small plate of coarse salt.
- Fill the glass with ice. Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave, and a small pinch of salt; stir until the agave dissolves.
- Top with club soda, give a gentle stir, and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Notes
- Taste and adjust the agave to your liking — grapefruit juices vary quite a bit in sweetness and tartness depending on the variety.
- Make this in a pitcher for a crowd by multiplying everything but the club soda, then topping each glass off individually so it stays fizzy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
A Few Notes on Substitutions
- That pinch of salt in the drink (not just the rim) is a trick several mocktail developers use to replace the savory depth tequila usually brings — it sounds unusual, but it really does round out the tartness.
- For more of that “tequila” warmth, muddle a couple of thin jalapeño slices into the grapefruit juice 10–15 minutes ahead of time.
- If you can find grapefruit soda (Jarritos or Squirt are the classic picks), swap it in 1:1 for the club soda for an even closer match to the original.
This one’s a natural pairing with our Watermelon Mint Cooler Mocktail, or if you love that citrus twang, try our Pink Grapefruit & Rosemary Gin Mocktail.
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