This non-alcoholic paloma mocktail recipe is a refreshing drink full of grapefruit flavor without the typical tequila, so you can enjoy it today without feeling sluggish tomorrow! It’s made with homemade grapefruit simple syrup and grapefruit juice, so it packs a real citrus flavor punch!
After over a decade of crafting beverages at home, you pick up on some trends. Mocktails are increasing in popularity because, frankly, people want to have more choices when they’re going out or hosting guests. While most non-alcoholic drinks tend to be on the sweeter side, it’s easy to create balanced zero-proof bevvies at home, even when using ingredients like fruit-infused syrups.
This paloma recipe uses a homemade saline solution for drinks in combination with a flavorful grapefruit syrup which helps to round out the flavor of this fruity mocktail! It’s a great drink to serve with salty snacks like nachos or oven-baked tacos, and it’s a wonderful non-alcoholic option at any party where you’re also serving classic margaritas, too!
why this paloma mocktail recipe works:
🍊 grapefruit forward. Grapefruit can be a polarizing citrus because of the balance of bitter and sweet, but this drink plays up on those classic grapefruit flavors to take advantage of what the fruit is known for: being slightly sweet, slightly bitter.
🍹 twist on a classic. This nonalcoholic cocktail might just become a new favorite, especially if you’re a fan of margaritas and palomas to start with. By taking out the booze, you’re able to enjoy the flavor of a favorite drink anytime of day!
🤌 easy to customize. Creating mocktail versions of classic cocktails means you can customize the amount of alcohol in each adult beverage. Make a pitcher of this fun fruity beverage and give guests the option to add their own alcohol if they want!
🛒 ingredients
Optional Ingredient
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Rim half of the glass with salt.
Step 2: Add 1.5 ounces of grapefruit simple syrup to a highball glass with ice.
Step 3: Add the lime juice and grapefruit juice to your glass.
Step 4: Add in 5 drops of saline solution to your glass.
Step 5: If you’re using an alcohol alternative spirit, add it in next.
Step 6: Top your glass with seltzer water.
Step 7: Garnish with a lime wheel, grapefruit slice, or grapefruit peel.
Step 8: Stir gently with a cocktail spoon to incorporate the ingredients and serve immediately.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
- party ready – this mocktail works well any time you’d typically enjoy a tequila-based cocktail, such as Taco Tuesday, a beach barbecue, or even a holiday gathering like Cinco de Mayo or New Year’s Eve.
- big batch – make a pitcher of virgin palomas and allow your guests to choose whether to add tequila or not!
Choose your glass
- Highball glasses are typically used to serve palomas. Opt to use a glass that has at least a 12 – 16 ounce capacity, as it will be filled with ice cubes.
Garnish
- lime or grapefruit
You can garnish the drink with a dehydrated lime wheel, fresh slice of lime, or even a slice of grapefruit or grapefruit wedge.
- a pinch of salt
Traditionally, palomas are served with salt on the rim of the glass. To do this, use a lime wedge to rim half of the glass, then dip it in salt. Want even more flavor? Try using lime flavored salt!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too bitter – if your drink is too bitter, you can add in a few more drops of saline solution.
- too sweet – saline solution can also help balance out a drink that is too sweet! (No, I’ll never stop talking about this stuff!) Add a few more drops until you get the balance of sweetness you like. You can also add in more lime juice to balance out the sweetness.
- not enough grapefruit flavor – squeeze in a wedge of fresh grapefruit to add in a bit more grapefruit flavor. Alternatively, you can add in a bit more grapefruit simple syrup.
🔆 top tip
Avoid the urge to rim the whole glass with salt. Doing so allows salt to fall into the drink and ruin the balance of flavor you achieved. It’s also messy for guests. On top of all of that, some people don’t like drinking from a salted rim, so give your guests the choice by only garnishing half the glass.
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♻️ substitutions & variations
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- grapefruit soda – If you don’t have the time to make your own grapefruit simple syrup, or you don’t want to make it, you can use a store bought grapefruit-flavored soda. Brands like Betty Buzz and Fever Tree are good options. Each brand has a distinctly different flavor though, so make sure you taste it before using it in your drinks.
- grapefruit juice + seltzer – in a pinch, you can combine grapefruit juice and seltzer to make a makeshift grapefruit soda!
- agave simple syrup – Use an easy agave simple syrup instead of grapefruit syrup. Of course, you’ll also want to add in some fresh grapefruit juice so you get the classic paloma flavor.
- rosemary paloma – rosemary and grapefruit are BFFs! Try making this mocktail using a half and half mix of rosemary infused simple syrup and grapefruit simple syrup. You can also muddle some fresh rosemary in with the grapefruit syrup and lime.
- low-abv – want to make a lower abv version of this mocktail? Add in 0.5 – 1 ounce of your favorite blanco tequila for a lower-alcohol version of the classic cocktail.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 storage tips
As with most beverages containing carbonation, it is best to enjoy this drink shortly after making it. If you are preparing it in advance of a party, be sure to store it in an airtight storage bottle that can contain the carbonation. Use caution when opening the bottle next, as pressure can build inside the container!
💬 q+a
Do I need to use an alcohol alternative in this mocktail?
No way. While the market is expanding for alcohol alternatives, many of them are still quite expensive (think $25 – $50) and they are perishable. This doesn’t make it cost effective to stock up on the options unless you’re using them within 2-3 months. I like using brands like Seedlip that can be used for a variety of drinks from mules to margaritas! But you can totally skip the alcohol free spirit if you like.
What kind of grapefruit should I use in palomas?
Pink grapefruit have a good balance of sweetness and bitterness. Ruby-red grapefruit can also work, but they can be more bitter. Avoid using grapefruit that don’t have their variety marked on them, as they can vary widely in bitterness.
How is a paloma different from a margarita?
A paloma is made with grapefruit soda, tequila, and lime juice. A standard margarita is made with lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and agave nectar.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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Non-Alcoholic Paloma Mocktail (with Grapefruit Syrup)
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Equipment
- 1 cocktail glass such as a highball glass or collins glass
- 1 citrus juicer
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Alcohol Alternative Spirit optional, such as Seedlip Grove 42
- 1.5 ounces grapefruit simple syrup
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- 5 drops saline solution
- seltzer water to top
- lime slices for garnish
- grapefruit slices for garnish
- lime salt optional, for rimming glasses
Instructions
- Juice one lime and half a grapefruit to get 1 ounce of juice, each.
- Garnish your glass by using a lime wedge to rim the glass, then pressing it in a small dish filled with homemade lime salt or coarse salt.
- Fill your glass with ice.
- Add 1.5 grapefruit simple syrup to glass.
- Add 1 ounce of lime juice and 1 ounce of grapefruit juice.
- If using, add 2 ounces of alcohol-free spirit alternative.
- Add in 5 drops of saline solution.
- Top with seltzer water to fill the glass.
- Garnish with lime slice and grapefruit wedge.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
I made this non alcoholic paloma the other week for my husband to try, since the flavor of palomas are my favorite. It was so fresh and delicious! I didn’t even need the saline solution since it tasted perfect as-is, but that’s such a great tip that I’ll be saving for the future. Thank you so much for making a NA version of my favorite cocktail, I’ll be making this on repeat now!!
I smiled so big reading your review, Carissa! Happy the flavor was well-balanced for you without the saline solution, too! I’m so glad you loved this drink; thank you for your thoughtful review!!!