Skip to content

Black Friday is Live Now!

You're in the right place! The Zero Proof has a new look

Free Shipping over $125+

Non-Alcoholic Paloma Recipe

Virgin Paloma Mocktail - zero-proof-shop
Hot to make a zero proof paloma. An easy recipe.

As you know, the classic Paloma is a tequila-based cocktail featuring fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice and club soda for a refreshing fizz but what do you do if you're going zero proof? Cactus juice is the way! In addition to melding beautifully with the bitterness of the grapefruit and the bright tartness of the lime, it is an excellent substitution for tequila.

Cactus juice has a full-bodied earthy flavor with fruity notes accompanied by an undeniable freshness that makes it suitable for light, bright beverages like this one. In this non-alcoholic recreation of the paloma, all that goodness is balanced with a little superfine sugar for sweetness without the grainy texture. As for the half salted rim, it is a must. That touch of salt makes the sweet and sour flavors of this Paloma pop plus it keeps the bitter notes in check for a zero-proof cocktail you won't soon forget.

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Serves 1

  • Grapefruit wedge

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon superfine sugar

  • ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice (or Jarritos if you can find it)

  • Juice of half a lime

  • Ice

  • ¼ cup all-natural cactus juice (don't stress if you can't locate this)

  • ¼ cup club soda

  • Optional: add a non-alcoholic tequila to include spice. We love Ritual Zero Proof.

Non-Alcoholic Paloma Directions

  1. Run the grapefruit wedge along half the rim of a highball glass then dip in the kosher salt.

  2. Add the sugar to the glass with the grapefruit juice and lime juice. Stir.

  3. Add a few ice cubes to the glass followed by the cactus juice.

  4. Top with club soda and enjoy.

There are tons of great tequila inspired mocktails out there, from the tequila sunrise to the ever-popular margarita. 

For summertime though, we are personal fans of the NA Paloma (sometimes referred to as the "working man's drink"). If you do decide to whip up a non-alcoholic version for friends, here's some background on the Paloma to further impress them.

The Paloma Cocktail: The Basics

The basic Paloma cocktail recipe combines tequila with fresh lime juice and a grapefruit-flavored soda (Jarritos is a popular option). In the U.S., bartenders will sometimes make it with Sprite or another lemon-lime soda instead. Either way, this drink is usually served on the rocks with fresh lime as a garnish.

The History of the Paloma Cocktail (before the virgin)

The Paloma cocktail's history is a bit obscure, and there's a lot of debate over how it came to be. In general, though, most folks believe it to have been created by Don Javier Delgado Corona, who owned La Capilla Bar in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. Corona has also been credited for the creation of another popular tequila cocktail, the Batanga (which combines tequila, lime juice, and Coca Cola).

As for the introduction of the Paloma cocktail in the United States, credit often goes to the bartender Evan Harrison, who is said to have created the pamphlet "Popular Cocktails of the Rio Grande" back in the 1950s. There's a lot of debate over the accuracy of this somewhat dubious claim, though, as no one has yet found proof that Harrison actually published this document.

Try the Paloma Cocktail Today

If your mind is made up, and you'll be serving a non-alcoholic paloma, consider picking up a bottle of non-alcoholic tequila.

Read more

Back to all
Our Favorite Non-Alcoholic Gins Alternatives (updated 2021) - zero-proof-shop
Top Non-Alcoholic Gins, As Told by The Zero Proof

A roundup of our favorite non-alcoholic gins—for seekers of the botanical, crisp, zesty spirit in its zero proof form.

Link to Top Non-Alcoholic Gins, As Told by The Zero Proof
Negroni - zero-proof-shop

Recipes

Non-Alcoholic Negroni Recipe

The perfect non-alcoholic Negroni. Accept no substitutes.

Link to Non-Alcoholic Negroni Recipe
Virgin Manhattan - zero-proof-shop

Recipes

Non-Alcoholic Manhattan Recipe

A classic non-alcoholic take on Manhattan.

Link to Non-Alcoholic Manhattan Recipe
Finder's Old-Fashioned - zero-proof-shop
Finder's Non-Alcoholic Old-Fashioned

A bitter riff on the traditional whiskey cocktail, this one with The Pathfinder is for those who want something a little darker—and non-alcoholic.

Link to Finder's Non-Alcoholic Old-Fashioned
Zero-Proof Pimm's Cup Mocktail - zero-proof-shop
Non-Alcoholic Pimm's Cup Recipe

Using balsamic vinegar instead of booze to create a refreshing non-alcoholic Pimm's Cup cocktail.

Link to Non-Alcoholic Pimm's Cup Recipe
Virgin Old Fashioned - zero-proof-shop
Non-Alcoholic Old Fashioned Recipes

A classic non-alcoholic Old Fashioned recipe, with a few backup options if you're running low on time.

Link to Non-Alcoholic Old Fashioned Recipes
Non-Alcoholic Mojito Mocktail - zero-proof-shop
Non-Alcoholic Mojito Recipe

A clean, refreshing non-alcoholic mojito recipe.

Link to Non-Alcoholic Mojito Recipe
Café du Monde Martini - zero-proof-shop

Recipes

Café du Monde Non-Alcoholic Martini

With espresso martinis all the rage, we wanted to look to other regional coffees for inspiration. This bittersweet non-alcoholic drink is named after the 24 hour café in New Orleans famous for serving piping hot beignets buried under drifts of powdered sugar alongside distinctively bitter chicory coffee.

Link to Café du Monde Non-Alcoholic Martini
Non-Alcoholic Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
Non-Alcoholic Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe

This spicy, cinnamon infused hot chocolate with non-alcoholic tequila will warm you from the inside out... and it's surprisingly easy to make.   

Link to Non-Alcoholic Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
Image of an espresso martini with a very thick head of foam
The Perfect Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini Recipe

There are a lot of recipes for non-alcoholic espresso martinis out there, but they almost always lack the thick head of foam that makes their alcoholic cousins so photogenic. Not anymore. 

Link to The Perfect Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini Recipe
Kristin Chaconas’s Electric Relaxation (Non-alcoholic Boulevardier) - zero-proof-shop
Kristin Chaconas’s Electric Relaxation (Non-alcoholic Boulevardier)

Kristin’s tribute to A Tribe Called Quest, Electric Relaxation is a delicious, non-alcoholic Boulevardier. The Boulevardier is a Negroni variation that substitutes bourbon for gin. Still bitter and bracing, but with a smoky roundness that eases you into cooler weather.

Link to Kristin Chaconas’s Electric Relaxation (Non-alcoholic Boulevardier)
French 75 - zero-proof-shop
Non-Alcoholic French 75 Recipe

The cocktail of choice in the movie Casablanca, the flirtatious French 75 looks glamorous but is easy to make. The original was named after a field gun used by the French army in World War I, as it was so strong you'd feel like you'd been shelled the night before. This non-alcoholic version packs all the flavor punch but won't leave you with a concussive headache. 

Link to Non-Alcoholic French 75 Recipe
Kellie Thorn’s Gnista Coffee Old-Fashioned - zero-proof-shop
Kellie Thorn’s Gnista Coffee Old-Fashioned

A more grown up option for when you've outgrown the espresso martini but still love coffee cocktails. Rich, sophisticated, and still guaranteed to give you a bit of a caffeine kick.

Link to Kellie Thorn’s Gnista Coffee Old-Fashioned
Miguel de Leon’s Zen Zero
Miguel de Leon’s Zen Zero

Think lychee martini meets aperitivo spritz. 

Link to Miguel de Leon’s Zen Zero
Gnista Cocktails: The Perfect Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Transition from Summer to Fall - zero-proof-shop
Gnista Cocktails: The Perfect Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Transition from Summer to Fall

Ease out of summer and into fall with recipes from some of our favorite mixologists, showcasing the flavors of Swedish botanicals.

Link to Gnista Cocktails: The Perfect Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Transition from Summer to Fall
SpottieOttieDopaliscious from Redbird Atlanta - zero-proof-shop
SpottieOttieDopaliscious from Redbird Atlanta

Developed by Kristin Chaconas at Redbird in Atlanta, the SpottieOttieDopaliscious is a delicious, booze-free riff on the Pearl Diver. (And, yes, it is named for the song by hometown heroes, Outkast.)

Link to SpottieOttieDopaliscious from Redbird Atlanta
Pineapple Garden Sparkler - zero-proof-shop

Recipes

Pineapple Garden Sparkler

This zero-proof blend of ISH Mexican Agave Spirit, Optimist Botanicals Fresh, and a simple shrub made with fresh pineapple, this drink is a tropical garden in a glass.

Link to Pineapple Garden Sparkler
40ISHº North Margarita - zero-proof-shop
40ISHº North Margarita

A distinctly northern twist on the berry margarita, using ISH Mexican Agave Spirit and flavors found 40º or more above the equator (hence the name).

Link to 40ISHº North Margarita
Halcyon Sunset - zero-proof-shop
Halcyon Sunset

A simple honey syrup infused with chamomile tea adds a complex but comforting sweetness to ISH Mexican Agave Spirit and punchy ruby red grapefruit.

Link to Halcyon Sunset
{"statementLink":"","footerHtml":"","hideMobile":false,"hideTrigger":false,"disableBgProcess":false,"language":"en","position":"left","leadColor":"#146ff8","triggerColor":"#146ff8","triggerRadius":"50%","triggerPositionX":"left","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerIcon":"wheels","triggerSize":"small","triggerOffsetX":45,"triggerOffsetY":90,"mobile":{"triggerSize":"small","triggerPositionX":"left","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerOffsetX":40,"triggerOffsetY":85,"triggerRadius":"50%"}}
true