Mezcal Paloma

The classic Paloma reimagined with mezcal: smoky, earthy agave depth against tart grapefruit soda and bright lime.

Mezcal Paloma cocktail made with mezcal, served in a highball glass
Base
mezcal
Glassware
Highball glass
Flavor Profile
sourearthyrefreshing

Ingredients

  • 2 oz mezcal
  • 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
  • Grapefruit soda, to top
  • Salt for rimming
  • Grapefruit wedge, to garnish

Instructions

  1. 1Rim a highball glass with salt and fill with ice.
  2. 2Add mezcal and lime juice.
  3. 3Top with grapefruit soda, stir gently, and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Origin & Story

Oaxaca, Mexico, 2010s

Once mezcal established itself as a cocktail spirit rather than just a sipping spirit, applying it to Mexico's most beloved cocktail template was inevitable. The Mezcal Paloma replaces tequila's grassy brightness with mezcal's smoke and earthiness, creating a fundamentally different drinking experience — more complex and regionally specific than its tequila counterpart.