Pomegranate Paloma

This ruby red pomegranate paloma is just the cocktail you need for the holidays! Vibrant, cheerful, sweet, tart, and bubbly.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated April 14, 2022
Elise Bauer
Pomegranate Paloma

Elise Bauer

Deck the halls, it's time to get Merry Merry with a Pomegranate Paloma cocktail!

What Is a Paloma?

A "paloma" if you are unfamiliar with it, is a grapefruit version of a margarita, with lime juice, tequila, and a salt-rimmed glass. (It's also Spanish for "dove", which is neither here nor there when it comes to the drink.)

And while I'm partial to everything grapefruit, a tequila/lime/salt combination rocks with pomegranate juice. Stir it up with a rosemary swizzle and now you have a drink that is fully decked out for the holidays in a ruby red coat with a salty white rim.

Pomegranate Lime Juice cocktail

Elise Bauer

To make it, all you need is pomegranate juice, some quality white tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and a salted rim glass. Top it off with club soda for bubbles, and give it a turn with a sprig of rosemary for the full effect.

A Winner of a Paloma Recipe

Full disclosure, I developed this recipe for a recipe contest at my college reunion (and won!). Since the college team name is the cardinal (color, not bird or priest), we named the drink "the Cardinal Sin". It was the hit of the reunion!

If you would like to make an alcohol-free version of this drink, substitute the tequila with orange juice, and leave out the salt rim.

5 More Holiday Cocktails

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Pomegranate Paloma

Prep Time 8 mins
Total Time 8 mins
Serving 1 serving

Make simple syrup by simmering together equal parts white granulated sugar and water. If you are only making one of these drinks and don't have simple syrup made, just dissolve a teaspoon of sugar into the pomegranate and lime juices.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup pomegranate juice

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

  • 2 teaspoons simple syrup

  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) white tequila (I'm using Piedra Azul Blanco, 100% agave)

  • 1/4 cup club soda

  • Kosher salt, for glass rim

  • Sprig rosemary, for garnish

Method

  1. Salt the glass:

    Brush the rim of an 8 ounce glass with lime juice, then dip the rim into kosher salt. Put ice in the glass.

  2. Mix the drink:

    Stir together the pomegranate juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and tequila.

  3. Pour into glass:

    Pour the mixture into the salt-rimmed glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
162 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 162
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 636mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 9mg 46%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 170mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.