Italian Paloma Cocktail Recipe

Eden

4.85 from 13 votes

Feb 17, 2016, Updated Jul 20, 2026

Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 cocktails
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This refreshing and zingy Italian Paloma Cocktail is easy to mix and even easier to drink! A pretty tequila-based cocktail is made with a mixture of citrus juices and Campari. Similar to a classic Paloma drink, this recipe has a little twist!

Try my frozen Paloma recipe too! It’s the perfect summer cocktail recipe. Also, if you love Campari, try our Negroni cocktail, Negroni popsicles, and the famous Jungle Bird cocktail!

Italian Grapefruit Paloma drink

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I did a little cocktail mixing and shaking a few weeks ago and created this beauty! It’s an Italian Paloma, with grapefruit, orange, tequila, lemon juice, Campari, and a few other ingredients. It’s VERY tasty, and can we all just take a minute to appreciate the color of it?!

This drink is perfect for spring and summer, garden parties, pool parties, and birthday parties! It’s very easy to make too! You’ll need a cocktail shaker and a cocktail jigger to make this beautiful pink cocktail!

Paloma cocktail on a marble table

Table of Contents

How to make an Italian Paloma Drink

  • Pour tequila, Campari, simple syrup, lemon and lime juice and grapefruit juice into cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake for 20 seconds. If you’re making a pitcher, you don’t need to shake in a cocktail shaker; just add the ingredients to a pitcher and stir with ice.
  • Strain over a glass filled with ice and then add the orange soda over the top.
  • Add the pinch of salt and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
  • Serve immediately!
ingredients to make a paloma drink recipe with campari

An Italian variation on the Paloma

We made a couple of simple additions and swaps to the traditional Paloma recipe to give it a little Italian flair. I added in a little Campari, which works wonderfully with the other bitter flavors in this drink, and I swapped out the grapefruit soda for orange soda. Use blood orange soda for a dark pink color.

NOTE: The color of the cocktail will be different depending on the orange soda you use! If you use blood orange soda (like in my video), you will have a dark pink drink; if you use a light orange soda, you will have more of a light orange cocktail.

Recipe Tips

Keep shaking the shaker until it turns cold, 20 seconds or so.

Skip the simple syrup if you want a less sweet cocktail.

Make a big batch of simple syrup so there’s always some on hand – store it in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

Use a large ice cube in the glass; it won’t melt as quickly and dilute the cocktail.

Try adding a pink ice cube to this drink for a very festive look!

Don’t skimp on the garnish, it really does make the drink.

three grapefruit and tequila cocktails with orange rind

More Tequila Cocktail Recipes

I love making easy cocktail recipes here at Sugar and Charm! Here are some of our favorite recipes:

Also, check out Also check out our favorite vodka drinks, the best mixed drinks, brunch cocktails and cheap drinks to make at home!

For a non-alcoholic drink check out our Italian Soda recipe. We’ve been making these for years!

Let me know if you make this Italian Paloma cocktail recipe by leaving a comment and review below!

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4.85 from 13 votes

Italian Paloma Cocktail Recipe

By: Eden
A refreshing twist on the classic Paloma with a little Italian flair. Made with tequila, Campari, fresh grapefruit juice, a squeeze of lemon, and Italian orange soda for a citrusy, slightly bitter finish and the prettiest pink-orange color.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 cocktails
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Ingredients 

  • 3 oz tequila
  • 1.5 oz Campari
  • 1.5 oz pink grapefruit juice
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 6 oz chilled Italian orange soda, more if needed – blood orange soda will result in a darker cocktail color
  • Pinch of salt
US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

  • Pour tequila, Campari, simple syrup, and all the fruit juices into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake for 20 seconds.
  • Strain over a glass with ice and then pour the orange soda over the top.
  • Add the pinch of salt and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
  • Serve immediately!

Video

Notes

You can make a batch of these – you will double the recipe! You don’t have to use a cocktail shaker for a batch; just pour into a pitcher with ice and stir, then pour over ice and add top with soda!
In my video, I used this Fish Pitcher and these Fish Glasses!

Nutrition

Serving: 0g, Calories: 197kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 25mg, Potassium: 58mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Eden

I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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4.85 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Vanessa says:

    Thanks for sharing! It would be pretty to serve at a shower!

    Reply
  2. Paloma says:

    OMG!!! I love palomas because my name is Paloma, now I have something even more fun to try!! 🙂

    Reply