Paloma Mocktail

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This grapefruit paloma mocktail packs a zesty citrus punch with a refreshing fizz. It’s the perfect non-alcoholic Mexican drink for Cinco de Mayo or for a warm summer night.

This mocktail is a virgin version of the traditional paloma cocktail, which is a Mexican drink made with grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and club soda. 

It’s easy to make non-alcoholic versions of most classic cocktails, such as this non alcoholic strawberry mojito or this espresso martini mocktail.

For more fruity mocktails, try this cranberry mocktail, this watermelon basil mocktail, this sunrise mocktail or this guava mocktail.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy — This paloma mocktail is simple to make. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and you only need 4 ingredients.
• Mexican-Themed — It’s the perfect mocktail for taco night, or Cinco de Mayo. 
• Customizable — Use a flavored simple syrup to make a unique variation on this drink, or try making a spicy paloma mocktail.
• Large Batch — If you want to serve a group of people, it is easy to turn this into a large batch mocktail to serve in a pitcher.

Ingredients

• Grapefruit Juice: If you have the time, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for the best flavor. If you are using store bought grapefruit juice, use a blend that is 100% grapefruit and choose a pink ruby red grapefruit juice for the best color. 
• Lime Juice: Lime juice adds a bit of tanginess to this mocktail. Use freshly squeezed lime juice rather than a bottled one. 
• Agave Syrup: You should be able to find agave syrup in your local grocery store or online. If not, you can replace this with simple syrup or maple syrup.
• Soda Water: A dash of soda water or sparkling water gives this drink a bit of fizz. If you can find a grapefruit flavored soda (such as Jarritos), you can use that instead for even more grapefruit flavor.

Equipment

• If you are planning to use fresh grapefruit juice, a citrus juicer is the most efficient way to juice grapefruits. 
• You will need a cocktail shaker to make the mocktail in. 
• Serve the drink in lowball cocktail glasses, or use a pitcher for a large batch.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well for 10 seconds until the outside is frosted. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh ice.

Step 2: Top with the soda water and add any optional garnishes.

Garnish Ideas

Garnish is always optional, but if you are serving this mocktail to guests, it can make the drink much more presentable. Here are some garnish ideas that work well with this paloma mocktail:

• Grapefruit Slices — Add a grapefruit wheel or wedge on the edge of the glass or in the glass itself. 
• Herbs — Add a sprig of rosemary, thyme or mint. Herbs complement the citrus flavor and add a subtle earthy note. 
• Lime Slices — Add a slice of lime or some lime wedges to the edge of the cocktail glass. 
• Rim the Glass — Run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass before dipping it into salt or sugar for a sweet or spicy rim. 

Expert Tips

• Make it a pitcher. If you are serving this mocktail to a group of people, multiply the ingredients accordingly and mix everything together in a large pitcher, instead of in a cocktail shaker. Serve in individual glasses filled with ice. 
• Use an herby simple syrup. For a creative variation on flavor, replace the agave syrup with an herb-flavored simple syrup for a unique taste. Try this basil simple syrup, this rosemary simple syrup or this thyme simple syrup.
• Make it a spicy paloma mocktail. For a spicy variation, replace the agave syrup with this jalapeno simple syrup. Line the rim with tajin seasoning for an extra kick.

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