If 2019 was the year of the hard seltzer, 2022 was the year that ready-to-drink (RTD) canned drinks cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the alcohol world. Everything from hard tea to craft cocktails can now be found in cans. Following the success of grapefruit hard seltzer and canned margaritas, the next big thing in canned cocktails is the paloma.
A cocktail that originated in Mexico, the paloma (which means “dove” in Spanish) is made of “a grapefruit-flavored soda, lime juice, and tequila,” says Jose Cuervo ambassador, Jaime Salas. The key to its popularity? Its simplicity, according to Gwen Conley, Cutwater Spirits’ Director Of Quality & Innovation. Made with classic ingredients and refreshing carbonation, the paloma’s approachability has made the paloma a staple for decades in Mexico and the newest emerging trend in canned cocktails in the United States.
With endless new canned palomas entering the market, I did what any good alcohol writer would do — I gathered some friends, set up a ranking system, and got down to taste testing every paloma I could get my hands on. The ranking system is a simple 1-10, with one being “dump it out,” five being “would drink it at a party, but wouldn’t reach for a second,” and 10 being “would buy a six pack.” Ahead, we try some of the most popular canned palomas on the market (in no particular order) and give you our honest review.
Cutwater Spirits is known for canning every cocktail from margaritas to white russians. Reliable as they are plentiful, it’s no surprise the Cutwater Tequila Paloma earned an average score of five. While it certainly nailed the taste of tequila and acidity of the lime, we felt it didn’t taste enough like grapefruit and was a little too sweet to want more than one. As one of my friends put it, “If it was the only option at the party I would definitely keep drinking them, but if I had a second option I’d switch after my first can.”
I’m always excited about trying new, smaller craft cocktails so I was excited when Karbach came across my desk. Unfortunately, it wasn’t any of our favorites, coming in at a solid average score of 2. It wasn’t too sweet which we were worried about, but this paloma tasted more like mixed berries than grapefruit and had a very harsh aftertaste. It also didn’t have that classic tequila taste, most likely because it’s made with blue agave malt liquor instead of tequila. To sum it up perfectly, I found myself thinking out loud, “this tastes like turning 21 at a frat party.” We collectively decided we wouldn’t purchase these and most of us wouldn’t finish a whole can.
Going into this tasting, I was a little biased because the Absolut Grapefruit Paloma is a staple in my fridge. It is a bit different than the classic paloma, as it’s made with vodka instead of tequila. That being said, it has a beautifully strong grapefruit flavor and though a bit on the sweet side, the perfect carbonation, sophisticated palate, and sleek packaging makes it feel luxurious. With an average score of 7.5, most of us decided we would buy a four-pack, but would share them with friends since more than one or two in a row would get a little sweet.
Crook & Marker is best known for pumping out an endless array RTDs (everything from hard coconut water to hard tea) so I was excited to try my first of their straight cocktails. The initial taste was nice with a good punch of lime, but the back end was too sweet, powdery, and had a distinct taste of stevia. This landed it with an average of 2, with half the group wanting to leave it immediately and the other half saying they would probably finish it at a party, but didn’t need a second.
Ding ding ding, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. The Cazadores Paloma was everything we wanted it to be — incredible, quality tequila, perfectly sour and acidic, and just the right amount of sweetness to cut the bite. This one got tens across the board and we all decided not only would we buy the four-pack over and over again, we’d even pay the marked up price to order it at a bar. Whatever you’re doing Cazadores, please don’t stop.
Ding ding ding, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. The Cazadores Paloma was everything we wanted it to be — incredible, quality tequila, perfectly sour and acidic, and just the right amount of sweetness to cut the bite. This one got tens across the board and we all decided not only would we buy the four-pack over and over again, we’d even pay the marked up price to order it at a bar. Whatever you’re doing Cazadores, please don’t stop.
