Who are these mixers for?

Paloma-style tequila hosts

If grapefruit is the flavour you have in mind, look for pink grapefruit soda rather than grapefruit tonic. The International Bartenders Association specifies grapefruit soda, fresh lime and salt in its Paloma recipe.

Lime-led tequila drinkers

If you would rather serve lime than grapefruit, consider a lime soda. For a less flavoured mixer, Fentimans suggests plain soda water with fresh lime in its tequila pairing guidance.

Hosts checking ingredients

If guests have ingredient or dietary requirements, compare the current pack labels before serving. Check the ingredients, nutrition per 100 ml and storage instructions for the particular mixer you buy.

What should you check before choosing?

Start with the drink you want to serve, then check whether the mixer’s flavour, ingredients and pack format suit your plans.

Priority What to check Your needs
Paloma-style serve Look for pink grapefruit soda, not grapefruit tonic. The International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe specifies 50 ml 100% agave tequila, 5 ml fresh lime, a pinch of salt and 100 ml pink grapefruit soda. I want the grapefruit-and-lime combination associated with a Paloma.
Lime direction Check that the product is lime soda and read its flavour description. Tesco lists Fever-Tree Mexican Lime Soda as a tequila pairing, but lime soda does not replace the grapefruit soda in the International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe. Grapefruit is not the flavour I want for these long drinks.
Less flavoured mixer Consider plain soda water and fresh lime. Fentimans recommends that combination in its tequila pairing guidance; you will need to add the lime yourself. I would rather adjust the citrus in each glass than use a flavoured soda.
Tonic bitterness Check for quinine on a grapefruit tonic’s label. Fentimans describes its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water as a dry grapefruit-and-quinine mixer; it is a different format from grapefruit soda. A bitter grapefruit drink appeals to me more than a grapefruit-soda serve.
Ingredients and pack Read the current ingredients and nutrition per 100 ml on the pack. Check its volume, storage directions and how many drinks you intend to make. I need a format that works for the number of guests and labels I can check against their requirements.

What mistakes can change the drink?

  • Picking grapefruit tonic for a Paloma

    The International Bartenders Association specifies pink grapefruit soda for a Paloma. Fentimans’ grapefruit tonic contains quinine, giving you a different mixer.

    Choose grapefruit soda for the Paloma-style format; choose tonic when its bitterness is what you want.

  • Treating all citrus sodas as interchangeable

    A lime-soda drink will not have the grapefruit component specified in the International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe.

    Choose the soda for the flavour you intend to serve, or offer separate lime and grapefruit options.

  • Choosing a pack without planning the serves

    A large bottle and a small-can multipack give you different ways to portion drinks.

    Check the volume on each pack against the number of drinks you plan to make.

  • Skipping the pack label before serving

    Ingredients such as quinine may matter to a guest choosing between mixers.

    Read the ingredients and any relevant dietary information on the particular bottle or can you will serve.

Relevant mixer brands

Fever-Tree

UK retailer listings pair its Pink Grapefruit Soda and Mexican Lime Soda with tequila, giving hosts two distinct citrus directions.

  • Sainsbury’s lists Pink Grapefruit Soda as a tequila mixer; Tesco does the same for Mexican Lime Soda.
  • The lime soda is not the pink grapefruit soda specified in the International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe.

Fentimans

Its range offers a grapefruit tonic route, while its tequila pairing guidance suggests plain soda water with fresh lime for a simpler serve.

  • Fentimans describes its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water as containing grapefruit and quinine.
  • Grapefruit tonic is not the grapefruit soda used in the International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe.

The London Essence Company

Its Pink Grapefruit Crafted Soda is listed by Sainsbury’s as a tequila pairing and an option for a Paloma-style drink.

  • The Sainsbury’s listing identifies a pink grapefruit soda in a 6 × 150 ml can pack.
  • Check the individual pack label if its ingredients or can size affect your choice.

Joybuy lime-soda option

This lime soda is an option for guests who want a lime-led drink rather than the pink grapefruit soda used in a Paloma.

Jarritos Lime Soda 370 ml bottle

Jarritos Lime Soda 370 ml

Consider this 370 ml lime soda if you want a lime-led mixer. For a Paloma-style drink, the International Bartenders Association recipe calls for pink grapefruit soda instead; check the pack label and your intended recipe before serving.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

Which mixer is closest to a Paloma?

Use pink grapefruit soda. The International Bartenders Association’s Paloma recipe combines 100 ml of it with 50 ml 100% agave tequila, 5 ml fresh lime and a pinch of salt.

Can I use grapefruit tonic instead of grapefruit soda?

You can use grapefruit tonic for a different drink, but it will not follow the International Bartenders Association’s grapefruit-soda Paloma recipe. Fentimans says its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water contains quinine and describes it as dry and crisp.

What if a guest has ingredient or dietary requirements?

Check the ingredient and dietary information on the exact pack before serving. In particular, do not assume grapefruit soda and grapefruit tonic have the same ingredients: Fentimans identifies quinine in its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water.

What age checks matter if tequila is on the menu?

The mixer is a soft drink, but UK alcohol rules apply to the tequila. GOV.UK states that it is against the law for someone under 18 to buy or try to buy alcohol, for someone to sell alcohol to them, or for an adult to buy or try to buy it for them.