The Best Paloma Cocktail Recipe Using 21 Seeds Tequila

This post is going to show you how to make an amazing Paloma cocktail using 21 Seeds Grapefruit Hibiscus Tequila!

The Paloma is definitely my summer go to cocktail order. What’s not to like? Fresh squeezed lime juice, agave, tequila, and grapefruit? I mean… it doesn’t get much better than that.

Just when I thought the classic Paloma couldn’t be topped, I discovered the woman owned tequila brand 21 Seeds. Once I saw they had a grapefruit hibiscus infused tequila I KNEW I had to create a recipe! I played with the original ingredients and added a few new twists of my own.

This is an original Sweet Recipe  that I used to serve at my old bar and it was always a hit! I cannot wait for you to try this variation! I call this:

“Kam’s Paloma” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

The star of the show is going to be the Grapefruit Hibiscus Tequila from 21 Seeds. This tequila is so delicious and refreshing! The flavors are infused naturally and they shine through so brightly. I love this company because they are women owned, and have always strived to produce a top quality product. Trust me, there is nothing better to make a Paloma cocktail with than this right here! I highly recommend you always have one of these bottles at home. It’s delicious by itself and it’s also fantastic with a little ice and soda water! You will not be disappointed by the floral, bitter, citrus forward, and smooth notes this has to offer. I got my bottle at Total Wine and More, but you can find this at Bevmo, Whole Foods, and a few select Grocery Stores!

Next up is a secret ingredient. We will be using St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur! When I first tasted the notes of the grapefruit hibiscus tequila, I knew floral notes would go along with it very well. I mixed this liqueur with the tequila and together…..the taste was magic! St. Germain uses hand picked elderflower blossom to enrich this floral and sweet liqueur. It smells so aromatic on the nose and adds a bright twist to this Paloma cocktail recipe that you will love! I highly encourage you always have a bottle on hand for tasty Summer recipes. I got my bottle at Total Wine and More, but this will be available at Bevmo, Whole Foods, and most Liquor Stores!

Citrus and Other Ingredients:

For this Paloma cocktail we will of course be needing Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice! Fresh juices are definitely the way to go! You won’t ever be able to turn back once you start incorporating fresh ingredients into your cocktails. There’s such an immediate elevation that can’t be denied. The great thing is it’s really easy to do! The tool I am using in the photo above is a hand-pressed stainless steel citrus juicer. This is by far one of the coolest tools I have ever brought into my home bar. I’ve always found other juicers to be messy and hard to press. This one has an ease with the squeeze, ability to fit multiple pieces of fruit in at once, a handy pour spout, and never leaves any mess! I love this thing! If you want to check one out just like mine you can do so RIGHT HERE! Can’t recommend it enough.

To sweeten our Paloma cocktail we will be using Blue Agave! Agave nectar is a very sweet nectar that comes from the agave plant. The agave plant is also where tequila is made from! Hence the reason it is such an excellent sweetener to use whenever you are making cocktails that use tequila as a base. Agave can also be used to sweeten whatever you like such as tea and coffee! Agave has a high fructose concentration which gives it its extremely sweet taste. I got my bottle at Whole Foods but you can pick up agave at pretty much any grocery store! I know Trader Joe’s has some for a very affordable price.

Lastly, after our Paloma cocktail is strained into the glassware, we will be filling the glass with Fever Tree Sparkling Grapefruit. I LOVE this brand. You get such an intense grapefruit flavor with just the right balance of sweet and bitter on the palate. This element gives this cocktail its classic grapefruit taste and leaves a delightful sparkle on your tongue after every sip! I always have these at home for cocktails, but honestly I also drink them on their own. They are that good! I picked up my bottles at Total Wine and More, but you can pick this up at Whole Foods, Bevmo, Walmart, and most Grocery Stores!

Bar Supplies:

First thing you will want to have in order to make this Paloma cocktail is a shaker! I prefer to use Boston Shakers. I love the range of motion you get with this shaker and it is what I have always used in the bars! A Boston shaker comes with two tins, one large and one small. When you shake a cocktail you are diluting the ingredients with ice, and also growing the cocktails volume. There are lot’s of different methods for shaking various cocktails but for this Paloma we will be sticking to a regular shake with ice! Please use whatever shaker you have, but if you want one just like mine you can check it out RIGHT HERE!

Next item you will always want to have on deck is a Bar Jigger! Bar jiggers are the tool used to precisely measure the ingredients of a cocktail. You always want your end product to be consistent, perfectly balanced, and beautiful .This can all be attained by using a bar jigger! My jigger in the photo above ranges from 1/4 oz to 2 oz. If you want one identical to mine you can check it out RIGHT HERE!

When I first started making cocktails, I actually used a jigger that was a bit more rudimentary. It was very helpful for me to gain confidence with my pours! This jigger only has one side, a pour spout, and very clear measurements lines! If you are just starting and want to ease your way into things, I will attach the exact jigger I used RIGHT HERE! Cheers to learning and evolving your skills!

To strain our Paloma cocktail you will need to have a Hawthorne Strainer! A hawthorne strainer is necessary for transferring the contents of your shaking tin into your glassware. The hawthorne strainer will stop ice and any other large particles from getting into your finished cocktail. Definitely a must have tool for the home bar! Luckily these strainer are very affordable and easy to come by. You can check out one identical to mine RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge Ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you see above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. I will link an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal little Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginner Kit: HERE

Advanced Kit: HERE

Garnish:

We will be sticking to a very classic garnish for this Paloma Cocktail. We will be making a Salt Rim and a Lime Wheel. Salt and Tequila go WAY back and same goes for the lime garnish! Garnishes enhance cocktails and also sometimes give you a preview to what you may be enjoying inside. I will step by step show you how to make these easy garnishes!

First, you will want to get yourself a small kitchen plate and pour some salt onto it! For salt garnishes I like to use Coarse Kosher Salt. It sticks perfectly and has that aesthetic look that you will be looking for on a cocktail! You can find this salt at ANY grocery store.

You will then want to cut a perfect lime wedge. Give that wedge a little squeeze in between your fingers to release just a bit of juice. Then take that lime wedge and run it around the rim of your cocktail glass. The lime juice will act like a glue for the kosher salt!

Now that the rim of the glass has lime juice applied, you are ready to make the salt rim. Flip your glass upside down and press into the plate with the kosher salt. Press firm enough to make sure the salt will stick. Rimming your glassware can be very personalized to your own liking. If you like extra salt, apply more lime juice down the side of your glass! Remember YOU are drinking this cocktail so feel free to add your own touch!

Lastly you will want to make a Lime Wheel! This is one of the easiest garnishes out there, but at the same time adds a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing touch to your finished product. You will take a full lime and place it on its side. Horizontally cut the lime straight down. A perfect cut will leave you with a full circle of lime that has its inside flesh exposed on both sides. These garnish cuts looks so beautiful on a sunny day because the light shines through the lime like a little miniature sun! Take your knife and cut a small slice from the center of the lime and outward. This cut will sit on the rim of the glassware, holding it in place.

Let’s Build!