This refreshing watermelon Paloma cocktail has sweet watermelon and grapefruit juice, bold tequila, bubbly sparkling water, and citrusy lime juice and is ready for your next party!

Watermelon Paloma in a glass with a lime wedge.

Summertime is the perfect time for cold and cool cocktails!

This watermelon Paloma is a fruity twist on the classic Paloma cocktail with sweet watermelon, tangy grapefruit juice, bold tequila, and citrusy lime juice with some sparkling water.

And don’t forget the salt for the rim – it’s classic!

With its vibrant pretty-in-pink color and refreshing flavor, it’s the perfect drink to help cool down on a hot day or to enjoy with friends at your next gathering.

So grab your favorite cocktail glasses and your besties, and get ready to enjoy these watermelon Palomas!

Ingredients to make a watermelon Paloma sitting on a table.

Table of Contents

Ingredients for watermelon Paloma

Diced fresh watermelon – Be sure to use seedless watermelon for this cocktail!
Grapefruit juice – Use your favorite store-bought or homemade variety.
Tequila – Tequila has a grassy and earthy flavor and is classic in a Paloma.
Lime juice – Fresh is best! The lime juice will add a citrusy tang.
Sparkling water – Sparkling water will add a bubbly effervescence.
Ice – Ice will help the watermelon Paloma turn into a cold and cool slush.
Kosher salt – Salt will enhance all of the flavors of the cocktail.

Pouring grapefruit juice into blended watermelon.

What is the difference between a Paloma and a margarita?

Everyone knows about the margarita, but I feel like a Paloma should be just as popular because it’s equally tasty!

Both the margarita and the Paloma have tequila, lime juice, and a salted rim, but the margarita also has an orange liqueur, whereas the Paloma has a grapefruit soda.

Here I’ve given it a fun and fruity twist by adding sweet watermelon that is mixed with tangy grapefruit juice.

Watermelon Paloma in a glass garnished watermelon and lime.

Different types of tequila

To keep it simple, there are two different kinds of tequila: gold, and silver.

When silver tequila is made, it is bottled immediately and is not aged at all.

Gold tequila has more of a unique taste, and a golden color, from it having been aged in barrels.

The flavor nuances of gold tequila would be lost in this watermelon, so don’t worry about using the expensive stuff, and feel free to use whichever tequila you may have on hand.

How to blend watermelon

For this recipe, I blended all the ingredients together in a high-powered Vitamix blender.

Because I used this style of blender everything was blended super smooth.

Some blenders are not as strong and if this is the case I would recommend blending the watermelon and grapefruit juice together until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

Watermelon Paloma rimmed with Tajin and kosher salt.

Rimming the glass

I love using kosher salt to rim the glass as it’s the classic Paloma rim.

However, there are lots of fun ways to bring flavor to the rim of your cocktail.

Use coarse sugar for a burst of sweetness or use kosher salt mixed with Tajine or cayenne pepper for a little heat.

Another fun way is to rim the glass with a 50/50 mix of kosher salt and coarse sugar.

The best grapefruit juice for cocktails

For this cocktail recipe, I used traditional white grapefruit juice which is a less sweet variety. I think it pairs really well with the sweet watermelon.

If you want a sweeter grapefruit taste try using ruby red grapefruit juice instead.

Don’t worry if you can’t find fresh grapefruit (or don’t want to juice your own) you can easily find bottled shelf-stable juice in the grocery store.

Blended watermelon in a blender container.

Fun bites

These tasty watermelon palomas are delicious with just about anything!

Here are some of my favorite treats to eat while sipping this pretty pink drink:

Keeping it light and refreshing on a hot summer day, these Caprese Bruschetta are a perfect pairing.
I like the contrast of hot and cold, so these spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are always a winner.
You can never go wrong with a tasty plate of Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket!

Watermelon Paloma in a glass with watermelon slices.

Storage and leftovers

These watermelon palomas are best consumed immediately after making, so unfortunately there are no leftovers here!

More delicious drinks

Looking for a fun adult treat? Try my Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita
Love things that are sweet and spicy? Try my Jalapeno Mango Margarita
Want something creamy and smooth? Try my Coconut Lime Frozen Margarita
Craving more watermelon? Try my Watermelon Blueberry Mint Spritzer