A simple and sweet twist on the tart and tangy summer cocktail.
There’s no clear history regarding the origin of the Paloma cocktail, which is considered the most popular tequila-based drink in Mexico. One story that many people believe, is that the cocktail is named after the popular folk song from the early 1860’s entitled “La Paloma”, which means “The Dove”. And the Blackberry Paloma is a delicious, simple version of this romantic, musical drink.
This past summer was the first time I had a Paloma; it was at a James Bond fan event in Burbank, California, and the drink was chosen for a particular Bond Girl’s namesake… from now on, whenever I drink any variation of this cocktail, I’ll be picturing actress Ana de Armas stylishly dispatching dangerous villains while wearing a cocktail dress.
The classic version of the Paloma is already full of robust flavor, mixing tequila with mouthwatering lime and grapefruit. Muddling some blackberries and mint brings some very welcome sweetness that blends effortlessly with the tanginess of the other fruit flavors.
One of the reasons the Paloma is so popular the world over is it’s incredibly versatile. Twist and Toast, we already have a few more Paloma recipes for you to try, like the spicy heat of the Serrano Paloma, or add some Mezcal to get a Smoky Paloma.
What’s the best tequila to use?
For the Blackberry Paloma I would recommend using a white/silver tequila, or “Blanco tequila”. This particular spirit is considered “unaged” and has more of the tequila’s natural taste, which tends to work better mixing with other flavors and drinks. Some versions of the Blackberry Paloma are made with “anejo” tequila, which is usually aged for a year or more and tends to have smoky, caramel flavors that are better suited for sipping rather than mixing.
What is the best Paloma Recipe to Use?
Some Paloma recipes go for a very simple, direct method. For example (and I mention this later) some folks make this drink with a grapefruit flavored soda, which is just fine. The drink tastes just as good when prepared this way.
But I much prefer the method we show you here, which suggests using grapefruit juice and club soda as separate ingredients. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is the absolute tastiest way to go, and since you can’t squeeze fresh club soda, I suggest Fever Tree, which is the next best thing.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver Tequila
- 1 ounces pink grapefruit juice fresh would be great
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup equal parts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, then cooled
- 6 fresh blackberries
- Club soda to top off
- Ice cubes
- Kosher salt for the rim
- Lime wedges and additional blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the blackberries.
- Add in the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake until everything is well combined.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, then roll in salt. Fill the glasses with ice, pour over your cocktail mix, leaving some room. Top off with a splash of club soda for that fizzy finish.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and extra blackberries.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
A highball or rocks glass, something tall that will hold a lot of ice. A wedge of grapefruit on the rim and a few blackberries floating on top are the ideal capper to this tasty cocktail.
If you’re going to store the drink’s mixture for later, doing so in the fridge is the easiest and best method. And I would recommend not adding anything carbonated until you’re ready to serve and drink.
The Blackberry Paloma is pretty average in terms of calories, clocking in at 194… While the drink isn’t necessarily light, the mix of blackberries, lime and grapefruit at least give you a good dose of vitamin C and antioxidants.
One popular way of mixing up a Paloma, and the Blackberry version is no different, is to use a grapefruit flavored soda, like Squirt, in place of the grapefruit juice and club soda.
The mix of lime and grapefruit is a little intense for some people, but the solution is simple… Simple syrup! The recipe already calls for this ingredient (some folks like to use sugar), so all you have to do is add a little bit more until you find your perfect flavor. Don’t start with too much, though! Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t add less.
Blackberry Paloma Recipe Variations
Blackberry Palomas are very popular during the hot months of summer, and for good reason. They’re full of sweet and tangy flavors, so if you’re looking for other similar tastes to try out, here are a few other options to wet your whistle:
- Mexican Sunset – amaretto and peach schnapps mix together with tequila to create a drink that looks like its name.
- Strawberry Pineapple Agua Fresca – no alcohol in this one! Just mix agave and lime with the strawberries, pineapples and water for a healthy alternative to lemonade.
- Blackberry Paloma Mocktail – taking a break, but still want a drink? Instead of tequila, add some Hella Chili bitters to get that smoky, Mezcal-like flavor.
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