Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail

This is sooooooo summer in a glass. I mean once you lay your eyes on these you are transported to the beach of your dreams, with your feet propped up and this Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail in your hand. I love this recipe so much because it takes that classic Paloma recipe and gives it this watermelon twist! Honestly, when I approached this combo and told my dad about it, he goes “hmmmm I am not sure if they will work together. I feel like the grapefruit will over power the watermelon.” I agreed with him, it could– so let’s try! I tried a few variations and handed him the glass. His eyes popped! He goes… ” I was completely wrong, I could see myself drinking this all summer long!”

Therefore. We have a winner! That is always my favorite thing when creating recipes, seeing your faces light up when you dive into one of my recipes. Therefore this Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma is going to be your fun new bestie this summer.

So What Makes This Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail… Special?

Now the most celebrated cocktail among Mexican restaurants or when touring Mexican Resorts might be the Margarita, but it isn’t the most loved cocktail in Mexico. In fact it is known that the Paloma cocktail is actually the most celebrated in Mexican culture.

The organ on the Paloma is a little bit all over the place, but from what I gathered from multiple articles is that is arrived on the seen after 1938. However, it wasn’t until the Squirt soda was invented in 1950s in Arizona, that it got its traction in the United States. Because simply put the Paloma Cocktail is: tequila and a type of grapefruit soda. It has since evolved from there! It was thought if you added lime juice to it even it would be considered quite “posh” (which is a fancy word for luxurious!). The Paloma has sense evolved from there!

Now I think they would find this recipe VERY posh. We definitely add a bit more than lime juice to our recipe, but this recipe is just posh enough to make it absolutely delicious! Plus being more posh, is more fun right? 🙂

How Do We Make This Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail

Ingredients:

Serving: 3 cocktails

• 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 5 oz silver tequila
• 9 grapefruit ice cubes ( frozen grapefruit juice)
• 1 cup frozen watermelon in cubes
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 4 tsp simple syrup
• 1 tsp Grand Marnier

You will need at least 4 grapefruits and 1/2 seedless watermelon for the quantity above

Directions

1. Juice your grapefruits and reserve 4 oz grapefruit juice for the cocktail and fill your ice cube tray with 9 cubes of grapefruit juice. Then dice up your seedless watermelon into bite sized square cubes and place in sealed bag and freeze. Freeze for at least 3 hours. This is great to do the night before you plan on making the cocktails, because the rest is so simple.
2. In high power blender add 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 5 oz silver tequila, the froze grapefruit ice cubes and the 1 cup frozen watermelon cubes, 1/2 lime juiced, 4 tsp simple syrup & 1 tsp Grand Marnier.
3. Blend on medium speed increase if need be for a good 10-20 seconds. You want the grapefruit ice cubes and watermelon cubes to be fully incorporated.
4. Sugar the rims of your cocktail glasses ( wet the rims and twist in granulated sugar of choice), place ice cubes in the cocktail glass, pour over the ice.
5. Garnish with a triangle of grapefruit, cheers & enjoy your patio/beach/couch.. wherever you are enjoying!

Watch How To Make The Fresh Watermelon Grapefruit Paloma Cocktail Below!

Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail Recipe Tips

Grapefruit Bitterness:

Grapefruit can be bitter! So a Paloma cocktail can have quite a bitter after taste. Thats why in my recipe you want to make sure you have the watermelon to really give it this delicious balance of the taste of grapefruit without being overly bitter. With also this wonderful sweetness from watermelon & the simple syrup balances that out as well! If you want you can add more watermelon if need be

Cocktail is a Bit Too Strong:

If the cocktail is a bit too strong, you can add in more of the juice and watermelon or you could wait till some of the ice melts out a bit in the drink. However, next time you can always make with less tequila as well. I urge to keep the grapefruit and watermelon ratio the same though, because it has the perfect balance of bitter sweet from grapefruit not being too over powering!

High Power Blender:

You do need a blender for this recipe, because of the frozen grapefruit and watermelon. I don’t advise making it with a shaker, it wouldn’t work out.

Making the Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail AHEAD of time:

Yes, yes and more yes! Wonderful idea 🙂 In fact when I shot this, I then saved the rest of it for the weekend ahead because it was a 11 am when I shot these hahaha. You can blend in the high power blender then store in an air tight large mason jar for serving up later. Just give it a good shake before pouring over ice in a glass!

Other HGHF Recipes to go with this tasty cocktail!

Healthy Southwest Flank Steak Salad

Easy Mexican Grilled Chicken

Easy Instant Pot Queso

The Best Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Print Recipe

4.88 from 8 votes

Fresh Grapefruit Watermelon Paloma Cocktail

Move over traditonal paloma recipe, this upgrade of the beloved cocktail is coming for you! It is sooo refreshing, perfectly bitter sweet with the grapefruit & the watermelon pairing so well together. You will be obsessed!

Prep Time3 hours hrs

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: at home cocktails, easy cocktails, fresh cocktails, fresh juice, paloma recipe, summer cocktails

Servings: 3

Calories:

Author: Alaina Hinkle

Equipment

• high power blender

Ingredients

• 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 5 oz silver tequila
• 9 grapefruit ice cubes frozen grapefruit juice
• 2 cups frozen watermelon in cubes
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 4 tsp simple syrup
• 1 tsp Grand Marnier
• You will need at least 4 grapefruits and 1/2 seedless watermelon for the quantity above

Instructions

• Juice your grapefruits and reserve 4 oz grapefruit juice for the cocktail and fill your ice cube tray with 9 cubes of grapefruit juice. Then dice up your seedless watermelon into bite sized square cubes and place in sealed bag and freeze. Freeze for at least 3 hours. This is great to do the night before you plan on making the cocktails, because the rest is so simple.
• In high power blender add 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 5 oz silver tequila, the froze grapefruit ice cubes and the 1 cup frozen watermelon cubes, 1/2 lime juiced, 4 tsp simple syrup & 1 tsp Grand Marnier.
• Blend on medium speed increase if need be for a good 10-20 seconds. You want the grapefruit ice cubes and watermelon cubes to be fully incorporated.
• Sugar the rims of your cocktail glasses ( wet the rims and twist in granulated sugar of choice), place ice cubes in the cocktail glass, pour over the ice.
• Garnish with a triangle of grapefruit, cheers & enjoy your patio/beach/couch.. wherever you are enjoying!