Cocktail Atlas

Zero-Proof Paloma

Pink grapefruit soda with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt over ice. The Paloma’s build, without the tequila.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Non-Alcoholic
Glass
Highball glass
Method
Built
Difficulty
Beginner

Riff on: Paloma

Spec: Adapted from the IBA Paloma, spirit left out

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Zero-Proof Paloma

Ingredients

Ingredients for Zero-Proof Paloma. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
1 tsp
1 pinch
5 oz

Steps

  1. Squeeze the lime juice into a highball glass.
  2. Add ice and the salt, then fill up with pink grapefruit soda.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime slice.

Garnish Lime slice

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 1¼ oz · 40 ml before ice.

Zero-Proof Paloma batch
AmountIngredient
1⅓ oz · 40 mlFresh lime juice
8 pinchesSalt

No added water: this drink takes its dilution from the ice in the glass. Chill the batch and build each glass over ice.

Fits one 750 ml bottle; a funnel helps.

Add at serving: 5 oz pink grapefruit soda per glass. Bubbles go flat in a batch, so they stay out of it.

Made it?

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Why it works

A Paloma gets most of its flavor from the grapefruit soda, so it holds up well without tequila. The soda brings sweetness, bitterness and bubbles; the squeeze of lime sharpens it; and the pinch of salt makes the grapefruit taste brighter and less bitter. Using a little more soda than the classic keeps the glass full and the drink long and refreshing.

Substitutions

  • No grapefruit soda? Mix 2 oz fresh pink grapefruit juice with ¼ oz simple syrup and top with soda water.
  • A salt rim works in place of salt in the drink.
  • A splash of non-alcoholic agave spirit alternative adds some of the tequila’s earthiness.

Variations

Questions

Why add salt?
A pinch makes the grapefruit taste brighter and rounder. It should not taste salty.
Which grapefruit soda is best?
One with real grapefruit flavor and a little bitterness. Very sweet sodas benefit from extra lime.

Making it: Zero-Proof Paloma

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