8 Tequilas That Are Perfect For A Paloma

Forbes

19-05-2025

When it comes to the most iconic tequila cocktail, most people will immediately think of the margarita as the quintessential one. While that is true in Mexican restaurants across the U.S. and in the many Mexican resorts that cater to foreign tourists, Mexicans have a different opinion - palomas are, by far, their tequila drink of choice.
Order a paloma at any bar in Mexico and chances are they'll present a highball glass with a salted rim, filled with tequila and ice topped with grapefruit soda. But as the popularity of palomas spread across the U.S., bartenders saw an opportunity to elevate the simple serve by using fresh grapefruit juice, perhaps enhanced with different liqueurs and other fruits, or substituting tequila with various Mexican distillates such as mezcal.
'The Paloma is Mexico's favorite tequila cocktail. It embodies what is Mexico is: simplicity full of flavor,' says Roberto Núñez Moreno, national brand ambassador for Patrón Tequila and a proud native of Jalisco. 'It's a reminder that you don't need to complicate things, that less is more. Freshness is always the best ingredient and Mexico is has it in abundance. Of course it had to be made with Tequila, the soul of Mexico.'
Using any of these eight tequilas will respect the essence of the paloma cocktail, keeping it refreshing and tequila forward, just as it's meant to be.
While a blanco tequila might be the first choice when crafting a paloma, don't overlook the more complex, sweeter finish of a reposado. "Since Patrón Reposado is only aged in barrels for 3-5 months and with the variety of barrels we use, it retains the fresh agave notes that the Silver has, but with a "little kiss" from the wood that gives it sweeter notes of orange, honey, and vanilla that play perfectly with the grapefruit," says Núñez Moreno.
Distilled by Melly Barajas and her all-female staff, this reposado is a fantastic option for a paloma. Tequila La Gritona is distilled twice, then aged in reused American whiskey barrels, which they use multiple times so most of the residual oak, whiskey, and color are gone, for only six months. The idea is to soften and round out the blanco tequila without adding other notes, resulting in a spirit that showcases the herbal agave flavors instead of masking them. This is the one and only expression that Barajas and her team make, so it's done with dedication and care to offer a true artisanal product.
Another female-owned tequila brand, Casa Dragones produces small-batch, high end tequilas, made from carefully selected mature blue agave, pure volcanic spring water and proprietary yeast. Developed by co-founder and CEO Bertha González Nieves, the first female Tequila Master certified by the Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters, Casa Dragones tequilas are exceptional for sipping, but can also work in craft cocktails.
In fact, González Nieves thinks Casa Dragones Blanco is ideal for a paloma. Her favorite way to enjoy this tequila is in an Old Fashioned glass, with a large ice cube and a grapefruit twist. Grapefruit, she says, is the best citrus partner for her blanco tequila as it balances the pepper and clove notes and the crisp, clean and smooth character of the spirit.
If you are a fan of a spicy margarita, why not try a spicy paloma? Developed by Chris Moran, a Boston bartender, Ghost Tequila is infused with ghost peppers to impart the right amount of balanced heat without suppressing the natural flavor of the agave. It is not a flavored tequila, but one that brings a spicy sensation to a cocktail without overpowering. A reposado expression, which launched last year, would be great for your spicy paloma.
Measure and pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into ice-filled glass with citrus sugar rim. Top with soda and garnish with the lime.
Although LALO Tequila is relatively new in the market, it comes from a legitimate tequila pedigree. It's named after co-founder Eduardo 'Lalo' González, the grandson of Don Julio González, of Don Julio tequila fame. Now, Lalo is carrying the torch as a third-generation tequila maker. Alongside founding partner David Carballido, he sought to return tequila to its roots by making only one expression: a truly pure blanco made by Mexicans, in the traditional style enjoyed across the country.
Made with just three ingredients, water, agave and Champagne yeast, without using barrels or additives, LALO Tequila embodies the best of the legendary agave spirit, setting the foundation for lighter, healthier cocktails such as the paloma.
Named Spirit of the Year 2025 by The Whiskey Exchange, this tequila is lively and beautiful, with notes of dried fruit, grilled pineapple and strong expression of the rich, 100% estate-grown, mature highland agave from which it's made. This, alongside proprietary yeast and natural spring volcanic water, gives Don Fulano Blanco it's agave-forward, herbaceous flavor which shines alongside the bittersweet grapefruit.
140 years ago, the great grandfathers of Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza, the founders and present-day distillers of Don Fulano, began cultivating agave. Today, Don Fulano is one of the last family-owned tequilas that is 100% self-sufficient in agave supply, allowing them to control the quality of their tequila from farm to bottle.
This tequila makes a brilliant paloma. Made by Maestra Tequilera Ana María Romero, one of the most widely respected and awarded tequila authorities in Mexico, Mijenta Tequila hails from the mineral-rich soils of the Jalisco Highlands. Romero uses a mix of traditonal methods and innovative approaches to craft a flavorful tequila with loads of cooked agave, citrus and vanilla. Its smooth character and velvety texture are not lost when mixed with the bittersweet taste of grapefruit, and the salted rim enhances the inherent minerality.
A new brand in the U.S. market, Laelia Tequila is a premium tequila from Amatitán in the lowlands of Jalisco founded by Fernando Pérez Ontiveros, who comes from family of fourth generation agave growers. Crafted from fully mature, tahona-crushed Blue Weber agave and distilled in handmade copper pot stills, Laelia Blanco is fruity, elegant and earthy, with a crisp, agave-forward profile and subtle notes of white pepper and citrus. Add a light vanilla and caramel finish, thanks to 14-days of ageing in American Oak barrels, and you have a perfect complement the paloma's vibrant character.