Picture a hot July patio. Ice cracks in a tall glass, a wheel of pink grapefruit rests on the rim, and a little dish of blush-colored gummies catches the light beside it. The Margarita had a long, deserved run. This season, the grapefruit highball sitting next to it is the drink people keep reaching for, and it happens to pair beautifully with something sweet on the side.

Quick answer: The drink of summer 2026 is the Paloma, a simple highball of blanco tequila, fresh lime, and grapefruit soda over ice. It is lighter and more sessionable than a Margarita, which is why bartenders and home hosts are pouring it all season. Serve it cold with a grapefruit wheel, and set out a few cocktail-inspired gummies beside the glass for an easy, elevated table.

Why the Paloma Is the Drink of Summer 2026

For years the Margarita was tequila's default order. That is changing. Drinks editors at PUNCH and the bartenders surveyed by VinePair point to the same shift this year: simple, sessionable highballs are winning, and the Paloma is leading the pack.

Three trends are converging. First, the tequila boom has people reaching for agave spirits well beyond the Margarita. Second, the taste for bitter, citrus-forward flavor that the Aperol Spritz built over the last few summers has primed palates for grapefruit. Third, hosts want drinks that are easy to build by the pitcher and easy to sip across a long afternoon. The Paloma checks every box: bright, a little bitter, lightly sweet, and refreshing enough to drink in real heat.

It is also forgiving. A Margarita needs balancing. A Paloma is mostly tequila, lime, and good grapefruit soda, which means a first-time host can pour a great one without a jigger and a recipe card.

How to Build a Paloma Worth Serving

The classic build

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add two ounces of blanco tequila and half an ounce of fresh lime juice. Top with grapefruit soda, give it one gentle stir, and finish with a grapefruit wheel. A pinch of salt on the rim or in the glass sharpens everything. That is the whole drink, and it takes under a minute.

If you want more control, skip the soda. Use fresh grapefruit juice, a small spoon of agave or simple syrup, and a splash of soda water for lift. This "skinny" version tastes brighter and less sweet, and it is the move when good grapefruits are in season.

Three variations worth trying

For smoke, swap half the tequila for mezcal. For heat, rim the glass with chili salt or muddle a slice of jalapeno before you build. For a crowd, batch it: multiply the tequila and lime, keep the soda separate, and add it just before serving so nothing goes flat.

Want the same flavor without the alcohol? Build it with a non-alcoholic agave spirit, or simply more grapefruit and lime over soda. The Paloma works almost as well at zero proof, which makes it a generous choice when your table is mixed.

The Edible Garnish That Belongs Beside It

Here is where a bowl of candy earns its place on the bar cart. Our Paloma Hearts gummies were developed from the same flavor logic as the drink: bright grapefruit, a squeeze of lime, a whisper of bitterness on the finish. Set a small dish next to the pitcher and they read as the cocktail garnish you can actually eat, a one-bite echo of what is in the glass.

They fit the way people drink now. Every Vesper Bites flavor is alcohol-free, made without palm oil, gluten-free, and colored mostly with natural sources, so the dish on the table looks as considered as the drink beside it. They are a snack for the adults at the party, a sweet companion to your pour rather than a stand-in for it. Guests sip, nibble, and go back for both.

If your crowd likes range, set out a few flavors. Cosmo Bears bring cranberry and citrus, the Negroni leans bitter and grown-up, and Paloma Hearts tie the table back to the drink of the season.

Build a Paloma Table for Easy Summer Entertaining

The best part of the Paloma trend is how little it asks of the host. One spirit, one soda, one citrus, and you have a signature drink. Build out from there.

Add a grazing board. Grapefruit and lime want salt and fat nearby, so think briny olives, salted nuts, sharp cheese, cured meat, and good crackers, with a dish of cocktail gummies tucked into a corner for the sweet note. Our guide to building a candy charcuterie board for cocktail night walks through the layout if you want a template.

Think about the gift, too. If you are heading to someone else's patio this summer, a bottle of good blanco tequila with a box of cocktail gummies tied to the neck is a smarter arrival than another bottle of wine. The Cheers gift box pairs cleanly with a spirit and needs no wrapping.

And keep it relaxed. The entertaining mood this year is unfussy: buffet over plated, pitcher over single pours, a table people graze at rather than sit down to. A Paloma and a bowl of gummies fit that mood exactly.

FAQ

What is the drink of summer 2026? The Paloma, a highball of blanco tequila, lime, and grapefruit soda over ice. Drinks publications point to it overtaking the Margarita this year because it is simpler, lighter, and easy to sip in the heat.

What is in a Paloma? Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda, served tall over ice with a grapefruit wheel and a little salt. A "skinny" version uses fresh grapefruit juice, a touch of agave, and soda water instead.

Is the Paloma replacing the Margarita? Not replacing it, but joining it at the top. The Margarita is still a classic. The Paloma is winning summer menus because it is more sessionable and harder to get wrong.

Are Vesper Bites Paloma Hearts gummies alcohol-free? Yes. Every flavor is completely alcohol-free, made without palm oil, gluten-free, and colored mostly with natural sources. They are a grown-up snack to serve alongside the drink, not a replacement for it.

What candy pairs with a Paloma? Bright, citrus-forward gummies. Paloma Hearts mirror the grapefruit and lime in the glass, while Cosmo Bears add a cranberry-citrus note if you want a second flavor on the board.

Pour One This Weekend

The Paloma is the easiest great drink you will make all summer, and it gives you a good excuse to set a more interesting table. Mix one, garnish it well, and let a dish of Paloma Hearts do the rest. Browse the full lineup of cocktail-inspired gummies in our shop and build a box for your next patio afternoon.