Monte Paloma Recipe

By Timo Torner / Last updated on March 20, 2023

The Monte Paloma is a splendid riff on the original Paloma recipe. A tasty combination of Amaro Montenegro and grapefruit with the typical agave notes from Tequila.
Monte Paloma cocktail - Amaro Montenegro and grapefruit juice

A well-made Paloma is a delicious and refreshing drink. Yet, sometimes you might want a bit more complexity in your cocktail. The Monte Paloma twist does exactly that by bringing an Amaro into the mix.

Amaro Montenegro and grapefruit juice is a surprisingly good combination. Mixed with Tequila, agave syrup, and a splash of fresh lime juice, you can easily turn it into one of our favorite Paloma recipes.

Ingredients

Amaro and Tequila don't sound like your typical base of a cocktail. But the combination works a treat. Especially when using a slightly aged type of Tequila (Reposado), the balance between Amaro Montenegro and Tequila is fantastic.

Amaro Montenegro Paloma

Another superb example of pairing an agave spirit and an Amaro is the Mezcal Sour cocktail. This drink also benefits from the herbal complexity added by an Amaro.

But back to the Monte Paloma: to bring everything together, you need a bit more than just Tequila and herbal liqueur. So, here's what you need for this tasty Paloma riff:

  • Reposado Tequila
  • Amaro Montenegro
  • Grapefruit juice
  • Lime juice
  • Agave syrup
  • Soda water
Pink Grapefruit juice

What is Amaro Montenegro?

Amaro Montenegro is among the more popular Amari in Italy. The bittersweet herbal liqueur from Bologna is infused with 40 different botanical ingredients.

Amari are herbal liqueurs from Italy known for their bitter, sweet, and herbal flavors. And Amaro Montenegro is a well-liked, relatively little bitter member of this family with notes of orange zest, vanilla, coriander, and cloves.

Amaro Montenegro bottle

Generally, these herbal liqueurs are made by infusing a base spirit with various herbs, roots, flowers, barks, and other ingredients. The precise recipe depends on the product. Also, the alcohol content varies.

Lower ABV products like Aperol contain only 11% ABV, Amaro Montenegro clocks in at 23% vol, and others contain up to 40% of alcohol by volume.

Variations on this Montenegro Paloma 

here are many ways to make this bittersweet twist on the Paloma cocktail. However, the recipe below is our favorite one as it balances the flavors of the different ingredients perfectly.

You can also make this Paloma without agave syrup or lime juice. I wouldn't remove both ingredients from the ingredients list as, in my opinion, it ruins the balance of the drink.

Another possible twist on the recipe is to skip the addition of soda water. It takes away a bit of the freshness but pronounces the flavors more in return.

Monte Paloma cocktail - Amaro Montenegro and grapefruit juice

Monte Paloma

A riff on the classic Paloma with additional herbal flavors.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: agave, amaro, grapefruit, lime, Tequila
Servings: 1
Calories: 230kcal
Cost: $3.80

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Tequila
  • 1 oz Amaro Montenegro
  • 1 oz Pink grapefruit juice
  • 0.5 oz Lime juice
  • 0.25 oz Agave syrup
  • 0.5 oz Soda water

Instructions

  • Add Tequila, Amaro Montenegro, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice.
    1.5 oz Tequila, 1 oz Amaro Montenegro, 1 oz Pink grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz Lime juice, 0.25 oz Agave syrup
  • Shake until the drink is well-chilled.
  • Strain into a Highball glass filled with ice.
  • Top with soda water.
    0.5 oz Soda water
  • Optionally garnish with grapefruit wheel or wedge.

Nutrition

Serving: 5oz | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.52g | Protein: 0.26g | Fat: 0.28g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 4.33mg | Potassium: 64.48mg | Sugar: 13.84g | Vitamin C: 16.94mg | Calcium: 8.24mg | Iron: 0.06mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Monte Paloma FAQs

What flavor is Montenegro?

Amaro Montenegro is sweet with light bitter notes. You can taste notes of orange zest, vanilla, coriander, and cloves.

What goes with Montenegro?

Amaro Montenegro goes well with various spirits like Whiskey, Tequila, Mezcal, Gin, and Rum. Its strong and complex flavor profile is able to increase a drink's complexity with ease.

How do you drink Montenegro liquor?

You can drink Amaro Montenegro straight or on the rocks. But the bitter liqueur is also great in many cocktails, like in this Monte Paloma cocktail recipe.

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