Rainbow gins lined the back bar, tonic got its own menu, and the G&T became a weeknight ritual as familiar as the train home. Then something shifted. Bars began to stock tall bottles with agave plants on the labels, grapefruit soda sold out on drizzly Saturdays, and salt quietly moved from food to glass rims.
On a rain-polished Thursday in Peckham, I watched a barman push aside a neat line of tonics and reach for fresh limes. A woman in a paint-flecked boiler suit asked for “that pink one with salt,” then laughed when the bartender tapped the grapefruit soda like it was an old friend. A retired couple at the end of the bar shared a sip, eyebrows rising at the first bright, saline hit, as if someone had opened a window in February. It tasted like a small holiday. The gin stayed on the shelf. And the tonic stayed sealed.
The drink replacing your G&T
The UK’s new favourite drink for 2026 is the Paloma — the long, zesty tequila highball that’s quietly become the after-work default. It’s simple: tequila, grapefruit, lime, fizz, a whisper of salt. It doesn’t shout. It refreshes. **Tequila has left the shot glass behind.** This is agave for grown-ups, poured tall, sipped slow, and made at home without a bar cart that looks like a space station.
Walk into your local and you’ll notice the clues. Grapefruit soda stacked by the case. Salt rimmers sold next to bitters. Menus where the G&T’s prime slot now reads “Paloma £9,” and your mate who once swore by navy strength gin suddenly orders “tequila and grapefruit, not too sweet.” A friend’s wedding in Leeds last month set up a Paloma bar in the barn, with bowls of lime wedges and a jug of pink salt; the queue never thinned. **The Paloma is the new after‑work order.** No fuss. Just bright, long, and oddly comforting.
Why now? Taste is part of it. The G&T’s bitter-sweet snap is lovely, yet people are chasing fresher, less cloying flavours. Agave spirits bring clean citrus partners and a saline hug that plays well with lighter dinners and earlier nights. There’s a lifestyle thread too: fewer big nights, more quick catch-ups; drinks that look good on a small screen without being neon. Agave’s story helps — sun, soil, patience — a counterpoint to trend-chasing. And one bottle of decent tequila stretches further than many gins when you’re pouring long highballs at home. The ritual is lean. The reward is instant.
How to pour it right at home
Start with a tall, cold glass. Drop in a handful of chunky ice. Add 50 ml of 100% agave tequila blanco — clean and herbal is the brief. Squeeze half a fresh lime. Toss in a tiny pinch of good salt. Top with well-chilled grapefruit soda, stir once, then crown with a grapefruit crescent. If grapefruit soda is scarce, use sparkling water plus fresh grapefruit juice and a teaspoon of agave syrup. Salt rim? Drag a lime wedge round the glass and dip it lightly — not a snowdrift, just a whisper.
Keep it bright, not sticky. The classic mistake is chasing sweetness until it tastes like melted lollipop. Skip the cheap mixto tequilas that burn and bury; choose bottles that say “100% agave.” Use lots of ice because dilution is flavour, not failure, and warm mixers flatten everything. A little salt is the magic trick — it lifts the grapefruit and calms bitterness. We’ve all had that moment when the bar feels too loud and the drink needs to be simple. **Let’s be honest: nobody actually measures every pour on a Tuesday night.** Close enough is perfect.
Even small tweaks change the mood. Swap blanco for a light reposado to add vanilla warmth. Try pink grapefruit for a softer, floral edge, or add three dashes of grapefruit bitters if you’ve got them. A chilli-salt rim turns it into a party drink without any extra sugar.
Bright, long, a pinch of salt. That’s the brief.
- Buy this: a mid-range 100% agave blanco; look for clean labels and a distillery number on the back.
- Mix with this: proper grapefruit soda; fallback is soda water + fresh juice + a touch of agave syrup.
- Low/no option: swap tequila for a good agave-alt spirit and keep the salt and citrus; the structure holds.
- Garnish ideas: grapefruit wedge, lime wheel, or a basil leaf for a gentle aroma lift.
- Upgrade move: a pinch of flaky sea salt in the glass beats an overbuilt salted rim every time.
What this new favourite says about us
Trends often look loud from a distance but they’re made of small choices. A drink you can make with one hand while you chat. A flavour that cleans the palate and doesn’t linger like perfume. The Paloma has found a home here because it’s practical and sunny at once — a tiny gust of warmth in a year that still wants to tug at our sleeves. It fits the new rhythm: earlier evenings, lighter plates, smaller gatherings, and a soft spot for something that feels like a treat without grand ceremony.
There’s a greener thread too: fewer novelty bottles, more thought about what’s in the glass. People ask where spirits come from, what “100% agave” really means, why grapefruit tastes less bitter with salt. The conversation has moved past “pink or not?” and into flavour and provenance. And it’s hospitable. You can make a good Paloma for your nan and your flatmate without spending a day on YouTube. It’s generous, not fussy. In a year that still needs a bit of grace, that matters.
| Key point | Detail | Interest for the reader |
|---|---|---|
| Agave is ascendant | Tequila and Palomas are replacing the G&T as the easy, bright default | New go-to order and a fresh home ritual |
| Keep it simple | 100% agave blanco, grapefruit, lime, pinch of salt, tall and cold | Reliable, repeatable method without fancy kit |
| Flexible for all | Low/no agave alternatives keep the structure and the sparkle | One recipe covers different tastes and occasions |
FAQ :
- What exactly is the UK’s new favourite drink for 2026?It’s the Paloma — a long tequila highball with grapefruit, lime, fizz and a little salt.
- Is a Paloma stronger than a G&T?It’s usually similar or a touch lighter by volume because it’s topped long and sipped slow.
- Which tequila should I buy?Look for “100% agave” on the label; a clean blanco is the most versatile starting point.
- Can I make a non-alcoholic version?Yes — use an agave-style zero-proof spirit, keep the lime and salt, and top with grapefruit soda.
- What foods pair well with it?Grilled chicken, citrusy salads, salty crisps, fish tacos, and anything with fresh herbs.
