Coconut Paloma (a Tropical Rum & Tequila Cocktail)

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(Note: this post was originally published on June 10, 2021. It has since been updated with some tweaks and some additional photos.)

A Coconut Paloma for Summer

If you're looking for a summer sip that's easy but also special, you've come to the right place. This grapefruit, tequila, and coconut rum cocktail is bursting with sweet, bitter, tart, and tropical flavor, yet only uses three simple ingredients. It's one I personally come back to again and again, and I'm sure you will too.

In case you're new to this blog, the paloma is one of my favorite cocktails because it's a wonderful canvas for seasonal flavors. This tropical-inspired coconut paloma, which I specifically designed for summer sipping, uses coconut rum in addition to the usual tequila. It's fun, unique, and will take you on a mini tropical vacation.

Hosting a party? Make sure to bookmark this recipe, since this easy coconut paloma belongs at all your summer gatherings. Scroll down to find plenty of ideas for how to make this festive rum tequila cocktail for a crowd, how to tailor it to specific tastes, and how to make it look especially celebratory.

A tropical Coconut Paloma cocktail, shown in a tall serving glass garnished with a grapefruit slice, fresh mint, and shredded coconut.

What Is a Paloma?

The paloma is a well-known cocktail involving tequila and grapefruit; it's a cousin of the margarita. Palomas are refreshing, well-balanced, easy, and can be made with no added sugar because grapefruit is sweeter than lime. They're also fun to vary seasonally since grapefruit can pair beautifully with such a wide variety of flavors.

If you're a paloma lover, make sure to check out this Blueberry Ginger Paloma (perfect for summer) and this Cinnamon Cherry Paloma (delightful in early fall).

How to Make a Paloma

The paloma is a very simple drink to make. Just shake together the few ingredients (tequila, grapefruit, any other flavors you want to add) and enjoy. The grapefruit element of a paloma is interpreted differently by different people; while some mixologists use grapefruit soda, I highly suggest fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Using juice (instead of soda) is more flavorful, fresher, and allows you to avoid the sugar that soda generally has. This coconut cocktail recipe in particular has just three simple ingredients: grapefruit juice, tequila, and coconut rum.

Why this Coconut Paloma Recipe is Special

There are a few reasons why this coconut paloma is unique. First, as discussed above, this recipe uses fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice instead of grapefruit soda; the end result is free of added sugar and has a more pronounced grapefruit flavor and freshness. Second, this version uses high-proof coconut rum in addition to tequila (more on this below) for its distinct tropical vibe. These two variations ensure that this rum tequila cocktail is absolutely packed with flavor, despite its small number of ingredients.

Paloma variation made with coconut rum in addition to tequila, served in a hollowed-out grapefruit, and garnished with grapefruit slices.

Are Tequila and Rum Good Together?

You may wonder about mixing tequila and rum. I absolutely love the combination, and use it frequently in summer cocktails. Sweet coconut rum is a delightful complement to tequila; the two together create a symphony of Mexican and tropical flavors. I hope you'll experiment with more rum tequila cocktails after trying this one.

Interested in some other rum tequila cocktail recipes? I think you'll love this Blackberry Coconut Margarita, which is lovely during berry season. This Coconut Campari Tequila Sunrise is a superstar at a spring or summer brunch.

Coconut Rum Pointers

For this cocktail (and every coconut cocktail recipe here on the blog) I use Koloa Rum Coconut Rum from Kaua'i. My husband and I spend every winter on Kaua'i and always bring back bottles, although you can get it in many locations on the mainland and can also order it online through spirits distribution sites. Note that this is NOT the same as Malibu, which is a lower-proof coconut rum liqueur. You can make this coconut rum cocktail with Malibu if needed, but it will yield a much sweeter drink; in that case, I'd suggest using 1.5 oz of tequila and 0.5 oz Malibu, instead of the 50/50 split written in the recipe card.

Pink-colored Coconut Paloma, shown against a white background with pink flowers and grapefruit wedges.

Coconut Paloma Serving Suggestions

Want to make this coconut rum cocktail feel extra special? Try serving it in a hollowed-out grapefruit instead of a cocktail glass. Although it takes some time to prepare, serving it in a hollowed-out grapefruit makes this coconut cocktail recipe feel particularly celebration-worthy (and photo-worthy!). Or, try making a fun rim. You could use unsweetened coconut flakes to stay on-theme, as shown in these photos. You could also do a sugared rim, or even a salted rim like a margarita.

Hosting a party? Palomas are perfect for a crowd. Although margaritas are more common, squeezing limes for many drinks at a time is a pain, and store-bought lime juice is awful. But store-bought grapefruit juice is great and will make life easy. Just make sure to buy refrigerated, 100% juice and you can whip up many of these coconut rum cocktails with ease. If you're making just a couple drinks, then I suggest staying with fresh-squeezed grapefruit for the freshest flavor, but store-bought works great for a party.

Importantly, you have a lot of control over the strength of this coconut cocktail recipe. Feel free to decrease the amount of tequila to make it gentler. You could also add more grapefruit juice, some coconut water, or even top it with some sparkling water to make it more hydrating. Although I've shown this drink with large ice cubes, feel free to serve it over crushed ice for more of a tiki vibe (and more hydration). With some of these modifications, it can even work nicely for brunch.

Coconut Paloma cocktail, served in a hollowed-out grapefruit, shown with pink tropical flowers and a bottle of coconut rum.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for this rum tequila cocktail, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

  • Grapefruit juice. Fresh-squeezed is of course the best, and I highly suggest it if you're making these for a small group. But store-bought juice is fine too, and definitely makes things easier for a crowd. Bitter, sour grapefruit is the perfect element to balance a coconut rum cocktail, so make sure you work with juice that's unsweetened.
  • Tequila. I prefer to use a blanco tequila (i.e., very minimally aged) so that it doesn't interfere with the color of the drink.
  • Coconut rum. This coconut cocktail recipe is much more successful with a full-strength (80 proof) coconut infused rum; I adore Koloa Rum from Kaua'i. A coconut flavored tequila could also work. Using a low-proof coconut liqueur like Malibu would yield a much sweeter drink.
  • Garnishes of choice. This Coconut Paloma is meant to be special, so feel free to garnish it abundantly. In the photos, I've shown a large grapefruit slice, fresh mint, and a coconut rim on the serving glass.

Coconut Paloma cocktail made with coconut rum, tequila, and grapefruit juice, garnished with grapefruit and fresh mint.

Closing Thoughts

This special coconut cocktail recipe is one that I come back to again and again. It's a perfect sip for a summer evening. This Coconut Paloma is easy to make for a crowd yet impressive enough to feel party-worthy, so it's a wonderful option for entertaining.

I think this cocktail is excellent proof that tequila and rum belong together. They make total sense as a pair, especially in a Mexican/tropical sip. If you've never tried the two together before, this coconutty rum tequila cocktail will surely convince you.

Cheers! Let's clink glasses (or hollowed-out grapefruits?) and celebrate. This sunshine-filled coconut rum cocktail is one of our favorites at home and I hope it will become one of yours too.

Coconut Paloma cocktail, shown in a hollowed-out grapefruit with pink flowers and grapefruit wedges.

Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

As with all my cocktail recipes, please enjoy responsibly!

Suggested Pairings

Hawaiian Pineapple Guacamole

Vegan Pineapple Seven Layer Dip

Tropical Coconut Lime Hummus

Vegan Watermelon Nachos with Avocado Sauce

Rainbow Mexican Black Bean Salad

Disclosure: Koloa Rum is a long-term partner and I receive free product. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.

Coconut Paloma (a Tropical Rum & Tequila Cocktail)

A sip of summer, this coconut paloma unites sweet coconut with bitter grapefruit. It's a unique cocktail that combines rum and tequila, and is perfect for sipping outside on a warm summer evening.

Author:
Lee

Ingredients

  • 3 oz grapefruit juice
  • 1 oz blanco tequila
  • 1 oz 80-proof coconut rum
  • Grapefruit slices for garnish
  • Optional mint leaves for garnish
  • Optional honey and shredded coconut rim

Instructions

  1. Optional: brush the rim of a glass with honey (or agave) and dip it into shredded coconut.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, tequila, and coconut rum with ice. Shake well.
  3. Fill a tall serving glass with ice.
  4. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass and garnish with grapefruit slices and/or fresh mint.

Leave a Comment

Please Share Your Thoughts!

Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.

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Lee
September 22, 2024
Lindsey- That's a great question, thanks for asking. My understanding is that there are numerous medications that don't do well with grapefruit juice. Grapefruit soda would work fine, if your husband can drink that. Fresh-squeezed lime juice would also work great, although it would make this a "Coconut Margarita". I'd use only about 1 oz of lime juice (since it's so tart) and then top it with some soda water. You may also want to add a dash of sweetener (probably agave) since grapefruit is sweeter than lime. Cheers, hope that helps!
Lindsey
September 21, 2024
This is so creative. My husband can't have grapefruit tho since it conflicts with one of his meds. Do you have ideas about how to modify?
Lee
May 4, 2022
Chris- Sure thing, grapefruit soda would be fine. If you go that route, I'd choose something really grapefruit-y rather than sweet. I've been loving the new Fever Tree grapefruit soda. I also sometimes do a combination of grapefruit juice AND soda, for the best of both worlds.
Chris K
May 3, 2022
Can I use grapefruit soda
Kay
March 25, 2022
Ok definitely need to try this, I never would have thought to do rum and tequila together.
Meli
September 8, 2021
This has become SUCH a summer go-to for us. Thank you!