Paloma Recipe

History Of The Paloma

The Paloma, unlike many of the classic cocktails on the market today, did not exist prior to the prohibition era, and  arrived on the scene in the mid-1900s with the creation of Squirt, the original grapefruit soda used to mix the cocktail. Deemed The National Drink of Mexico, the Paloma has a complicated history surrounding who exactly it was that first created the drink, and why they decided to call it the Paloma.

For years, the creation of the cocktail was attributed to Texan bartender Evan Harrison, who allegedly wrote the first recipe for the Paloma in his pamphlet “Popular Cocktails of the Rio Grande.” An excerpt from the cocktail’s Wikipedia page (which has since been deleted) even read:

“The first published recipe for The Paloma is attributed to Evan Harrison in a 1953 pamphlet entitled, “Popular Cocktails of The Rio Grande,” but it was thought to be created by rival tavern manager Manual Gonzales who created it for his true love. Manuel had courted her for many years but when Evan published the drink in his pamphlet Manuel, in a fit of jealous rage, arrived to her small pueblo of La Guadalupe del Tortugas and shot both her and himself in front of her family as her fiesta de quince años. Legend has it his last words were ‘con limón, no es pomelo.” 

While there is in fact a Texan bartender named Evan Harrison in the Rio Grande area, given that the pamphlet was never registered with the copyright office and the Wikipedia entry with this outlandish tale was removed, it’s likely this version of events never truly occurred. Paired with the fact that the Paloma would have been invented 50 years before Evan Harrison was even born, it becomes impossible. It’s likely that Harrison and his friends thought they would get a laugh from this story and later deleted the entry when they realized how seriously people were taking it.

The most plausible story behind the creation of the Paloma can be traced back to Don Javier Delgado Corona, the owner of La Capilla bar in Tequila, Mexico. Provided that he is also credited with creating the Batanga (a mixed cocktail of tequila, Coca-Cola, and lime juice), it’s not a far stretch to credit him with the creation of the Paloma.

The Paloma, which traditionally was made with a shot of tequila and Squirt, has evolved to become the mixture we know today: tequila, grapefruit juice, lime, and salt. Popular celebrities including actress and model Molly Sims and comedian Amy Schumer have even put their own spins on the refreshing combo.

Paloma Variations To Try:

• The Diamond Paloma - This riff on the classic Paloma cocktail features mezcal and was inspired by a Miami Beach hotel.
• The Pisco Paloma - This Pisco cocktail has the grapefruit and lime flavors of a Paloma, the classic Mexican tequila drink.
• The Paloma Paradiso - In this impossibly elegant take on the classic Paloma, cherry heering and fresh lime and pineapple juice complement tequila blanco.
• The Winter Paloma - Our seasonal spin on a traditional Paloma, made with grapefruit soda, tequila, and mezcal, features winter fruits like cranberry and pomegranate.
• Blood Orange Paloma - This Blood Orange Paloma is a riff on the classic cocktail, substituting blood orange soda for the traditional grapefruit for a refreshing alternative.
• The Peruvian Paloma - By swapping Peruvian Pisco for tequila in this traditional Mexican cocktail, contributor Natalie Migliarini creates something new, bright, and delicious.