How to Make a Grapefruit Paloma Cocktail with a Japanese Twist

Megumi Moriya
by Megumi Moriya

Try a Japanese twist on the classic Mexican Paloma, made with Japanese grapefruit drinking vinegar for a sweet-tart flavor and Japanese sparkling water for an extra-refreshing fizz!

3 min read
How to Make a Grapefruit Paloma Cocktail | Japanese-Inspired Recipe
RefreshingCitrusyTequila CocktailEasyFizzy

Paloma is a refreshing tequila-based cocktail that combines the bright, citrusy flavor of grapefruit with lime and a subtle hint of salt. Traditionally, it is made with grapefruit soda, but grapefruit soda can be difficult to find in Japan. So, I created my own version using ingredients that are easier to find here. To my surprise, I found this version even more refreshing, with a fresher grapefruit flavor that I think you’ll enjoy just as much as I did.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Paloma puts a Japanese-inspired twist on the classic Mexican cocktail by using Tokiwa Japanese Drinking Vinegar Pink Grapefruit Flavor in place of the usual grapefruit soda. A traditional Paloma uses tequila + grapefruit soda + lime + salt.  My version use: Tequila + grapefruit drinking vinegar + sparkling water + lime + salt + ice. 

Since the drinking vinegar already provides grapefruit flavor, acidity, and sweetness, you don't need separate grapefruit juice or sugar syrup. 

Ingredients Overview

Tequila - I used Blanco or Silver type. This is either unaged or aged for less than 2 months. It has a pure, bright agave flavor.

Grapefruit Juice - I recommend fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice when possible. But for a quicker option, bottled grapefruit juice also works. You can also use Tokiwa Japanese Drinking Vinegar Pink Grapefruit Flavor as a substitute for grapefruit juice and sugar syrup.

Lime - While a bottled lime juice is convenient, I recommend fresh lime juice whenever you can. It is also one of the key ingredients for Paloma cocktail, adding a bright, fresh citrus flavor.

Salt - I used finely ground pink salt for creating salted rim. It enhances the citrus flavors and balances the slight sweetness from the grapefruit, giving the cocktail a more refreshing and well-rounded taste.

Tips to Know Before You Start

One thing that you need to be careful about is when stirring the cocktail at the end, be careful not to stir too much, or the carbonated water will go flat. For a Japanese twist, replace the lime with yuzu. Since Paloma has a refreshingly tart, citrus taste, it also pairs nicely with herbs like rosemary or mint. You can enjoy this Paloma cocktail both with meals and as a refreshing accompaniment to dessert.

If you enjoyed this refreshing Paloma, you may also like these Japanese-inspired cocktails and fizzy drinks:

Instructions

1) Gather the Ingredients

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There are several types of Tequila. Choose “Blanco” or “Silver” for this recipe.

For grapefruit juice, I recommend using fresh pink grapefruit juice. In that case, you’ll need half of a fresh grapefruit. Remove the core and peel of the grapefruit to make it easier to squeeze. Use your hands to squeeze the grapefruit instead of a juicer or squeezer, as this method creates a clean, crisp taste without the unwanted bitterness.

For another option, you can use grapefruit drinking vinegar, instead of sugar syrup and grapefruit juice. It adds a mild vinegar tang that makes this cocktail more refreshing and invigorating.

2) Prepare a “Salted Rim”

Use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of a glass. Then, press the moistened rim into the salt on the plate. And twist gently to coat it evenly.

Expert's Tip

P-2-YKWA-BARSPN-Yukiwa Japanese Bar Spoon Stainless Steel Cocktail Stirrer-2023-09-20T00:11:29.jpg

When finishing your Paloma, stir it gently so you don’t lose too much carbonation from the sparkling water. This stainless steel cocktail stirrer makes it easy to reach the bottom of a tall glass and combine the ingredients with just a few gentle stirs.

3) Add the Ingredients to the Glass

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Squeeze the lime wedges into the glass. Add the grapefruit juice, tequila and sugar syrup. Then, add the ice.

Fill the glass with sparkling water.

4) Enjoy!

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Before drinking, stir gently from the bottom.

Enjoy freshly made Paloma cocktail!

Megumi Moriya
Megumi Moriya

Megumi is a recipe writer based in Chiba, Japan. She carries a Bachelor in the Faculty of Foreign Studies and is interested in creating content about Japanese cuisine and traditional confectioneries. Megumi is most interested in making Japanese recipe content, and in her free time, she likes to play the piano, make handcrafted goods, and hula dance. She hopes to inspire Japanese Taste readers to make Japanese recipes at home and of course share more about Japanese culture.

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