Champagne Paloma Cocktail
Our Champagne Paloma Cocktail is the perfect grapefruit cocktail for spring or summertime! Full of tangy and bright citrus flavor, this tequila based cocktail is topped off with a bit of Champagne (or Prosecco). The first sip of this light and effervescent cocktail will likely put a smile on your face.
This tasty libation is best made with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. And, don’t forget the salted rim to finish off this unique and very drinkable cocktail. Find out more about the history of the Paloma Cocktail and all its variations in our Blog Comments & Tips below.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
CHAMPAGNE PALOMA COCKTAIL
Ingredients
Instructions
- Halve 1 fresh lime crosswise, and rub the rim of a 10 ounce old-fashioned cocktail glass with the lime. Then dip the rim of the glass into margarita salt, twist a little, lift, gently tap the glass to remove any excess, and set aside.
- Halve 1 fresh grapefruit crosswise, and slice one thin slice from the middle for the garnish. Cut slice into 4 wedges, and set aside. Using a citrus juicer, squeeze grapefruit juice. Then squeeze lime juice from the halved lime.
- To a cocktail shaker, add ice cubes, lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave nectar, and Tequila. Cover and shake vigorously. Fill prepared cocktail glass with fresh ice cubes, place a wedge slice of grapefruit on the rim of the glass, and strain the cocktail into the glass. Top with Champagne (or Prosecco), and serve!
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: Although this is a single serving recipe, it’s easy to make ahead of time when you are entertaining a crowd. Prep the garnishes in advance by rubbing the rims of all the glasses with lime (one at a time), then dip them into margarita salt, and set aside. Pre-slice all the grapefruit wedge garnishes, place them in a Ziploc bag, and refrigerate until ready to use. To prepare the paloma mixture in advance, just add the lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave nectar, and Tequila to a pitcher, and stir to combine. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve. As guests arrive, fill prepared cocktail glasses with fresh ice cubes, and garnish with grapefruit wedge slices. Then remove pitcher from the fridge, stir mixture well, pour up to two servings at a time into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, and shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glasses, top off with champagne, and serve!
- Makes 1 serving. Recipe can be increased and the amounts adjusted according to the number of serving you need.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
234.87Fat (grams)
0.14Sat. Fat (grams)
0Carbs (grams)
19.6Fiber (grams)
0.15Net carbs
19.47Sugar (grams)
17.33Protein (grams)
0.45Sodium (milligrams)
200.34Cholesterol (grams)
0Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods. Nutritional calculations include sugar rim, and kumquat garnish. If not including these ingredients, nutritional values will be reduced by 29 calories, 4 grams fewer sugars.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
Note: Although we used Prosecco for this photo shoot, we have made this recipe many times using Champagne or Prosecco. It really tastes delicious with either one.
STEP 1
Halve 1 fresh lime crosswise, and rub the rim of a 10 ounce old-fashioned cocktail glass with the lime. Then dip the rim of the glass into margarita salt, twist a little, lift, gently tap the glass to remove any excess, and set aside.
STEP 2
Halve 1 fresh grapefruit crosswise, and slice one thin slice from the middle for the garnish. Cut slice into 4 wedges, and set aside. Using a citrus juicer, squeeze 2 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice (¼ cup), and set aside. Then squeeze ½ ounce of fresh lime juice (1 tablespoon) from the halved lime.
STEP 3a
To a cocktail shaker, add 1 cup of ice cubes, grapefruit juice, lime juice, 1 ½ teaspoons agave nectar (or to taste), and 2 ounces Reposado Tequila (or blanco). Cover and shake vigorously.
STEP 3b
Fill prepared cocktail glass with fresh ice cubes, place a wedge of grapefruit on the rim of the glass, and strain the cocktail into the glass. Top with 2 ounces Champagne (or Prosecco).
SERVING
Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Note: For details on Make Ahead Instructions for a Crowd, see our Notes section below.
Notes:
Make Ahead Instructions for a Crowd: Although this is a single serving recipe, it’s easy to make ahead of time when you are entertaining a crowd. Prep the garnishes in advance by rubbing the rims of all the glasses with lime (one at a time), then dip them into margarita salt, and set aside. Pre-slice all the grapefruit wedge garnishes, place them in a Ziploc bag, and refrigerate until ready to use. To prepare the paloma mixture in advance, just add the lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave nectar, and Tequila to a pitcher, and stir to combine. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve. As guests arrive, fill prepared cocktail glasses with fresh ice cubes, and garnish with grapefruit wedge slices. Then remove pitcher from the fridge, stir mixture well, pour up to two servings at a time into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, and shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glasses, top off with champagne, and serve!
Makes 1 serving. Recipe can be increased and the amounts adjusted according to the number of servings you need.
VIDEO
How to Make this Refreshing & Easy Champagne Paloma Cocktail!
Blog Comments & Tips
A Refreshingly Sweet, Sour & Salty Cocktail!
Our Champagne Paloma Cocktail is a fresh take on the original paloma cocktail. Made with fresh squeezed grapefruit and lime juice, and good quality reposado tequila, our version is an elevated, but not stuffy, drink that is incredibly refreshing. Don’t be surprised if it becomes one of your favorite go-to cocktails!
Although many people consider the paloma cocktail to be the national drink of Mexico, it’s surprisingly not found in most bars or restaurants there. In Mexico, the paloma cocktail is a non-fussy, 2 ingredient drink made from tequila and grapefruit soda (Squirt). For many decades it’s been considered a simple cocktail that is primarily enjoyed at home or at a relaxed social gathering. This is a far cry away from the many fancy versions created by mixologists in recent years. The skinny version was made with Fresca, a grapefruit flavored, sugar free soda that became popular in the US in the mid 1960s.
As with most cocktails that have a long history, there is conflicting information about when and who created the paloma cocktail. Based on a number of sources, it’s claimed that this cocktail was originally created in the late 1800s by Don Javier Delgado Corona, who was a well renowned bartender and owner of La Capilla Bar in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico.
Others say that the Paloma was introduced to the US after the Prohibition, somewhere around 1938 (which is when Squirt was invented). Apparently Mexico didn’t start importing Squirt soda until after 1955, so that seems plausible. Whichever camp you are in, we should all give kudos to the elusive inventor of this refreshing cocktail!
Now you have the recipe, how do you ensure the best results from our recipe?
Our 3 tips to making a delicious Champagne Paloma Cocktail:
Use a great quality tequila, which will make a difference in the flavor of this cocktail.
Use fresh squeezed juice from organic grapefruit and lime. If you have a grapefruit tree, you must try this cocktail when grapefruits are in season! In our opinion bottled juice just doesn’t cut it for this drink, but if you are in a pinch, be sure to check out the Pimp Our Recipe Section below.
Don’t skip the salt rim or the Champagne topper! The balance of sweet, sour, salty, and bubbly, are what give this drink a wonderful flavor and effervescence that is unique.
Have any dietary preferences that won’t quite work with our recipe? It’s time to customize and Pimp Our Recipe.
Pimp Our Recipe:
Reposado or Blanco Tequila? We prefer Reposado Tequila for this Champagne Paloma Cocktail, and our tequila based recipes. We have also made this cocktail with Blanco Tequila and it’s delicious both ways! It’s really a personal preference whether you like a more aged tequila with reposado, or a cleaner taste with blanco.
Substitutes for Champagne: If you don’t have any Champagne on hand, a more affordable substitute is Prosecco. If you are only making a couple of drinks, try buying a split of Champagne or Prosecco. They are a quarter size of a regular 750 ml bottle. Or , top off the drink with club soda. Although it will dilute the flavor (Champagne & Prosecco add to the flavor profile), it will still give a sparkling element to the cocktail.
Grapefruit Not in Season? If you can’t find fresh grapefruit, then no worries. Just buy an organic and good quality bottled brand of grapefruit juice.
Yellow or Pink Grapefruits? Try pink grapefruit juice for a spin on our original version, which uses yellow grapefruit. Pink grapefruit is a little sweeter so you may want to taste test before adding too much agave nectar.
Make it Traditional and Non-Fussy: Omit the agave nectar, grapefruit juice, and champagne, and replace it with 4 ounces of Squirt soda. Add just a squeeze of lime juice.
Enjoy and let us know what you think by commenting below, rating our recipes, subscribing, following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Santé!
Mich
Footnote: Remember to use fresh squeezed juice when possible. It makes such a difference in this cocktail!
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