Founder's Original Tequila Paloma 473 ml - Single Can

Tequila Paloma from Toronto’s Founder’s Original represents the premiumization of the Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktail market. While the canned cocktail sector was historically flooded with overly sweet, malt-based coolers using artificial flavorings, Founder's Original launched with a strict "bar-quality" mandate. Their Paloma mimics a scratch-made cocktail poured by a professional bartender. It bypasses cheap neutral spirits in favor of genuine Mexican tequila, real juices, and custom bitters. The result is a vibrant, sophisticated canned cocktail that balances authentic tequila funk with sharp citrus refreshment.

RTD Description

Founder's Original Tequila Paloma pours a pale, hazy pinkish-white color with a light, sparkling effervescence that forms a brief halo of bubbles before settling cleanly.

Aroma: The nose is extraordinarily bright, authentic, and zesty. It leads with dominant notes of fresh-squeezed pink grapefruit and lime peel, immediately followed by the distinct, earthy, and peppery aroma of blanco tequila. There is a soft, natural honey-like scent of agve nectar in the background, entirely free of synthetic candy notes.

Palate: On the tongue, it is light-to-medium bodied with a crisp, clean carbonation that mimics a club soda pour. It leads with a tart punch of grapefruit pulp and lime juice, which is quickly supported by the robust, savory flavor of agave. Unlike mass-market seltzers, it features a complex herbal bitterness from Aztec citrus bitters that cuts through the fruit, leading to an exceptionally dry, refreshing, and crisp finish.

Profile: It sits at a punchy 7.0% ABV and, as a spirit-based cocktail, has 0 IBU (though the citrus bitters provide a sophisticated, structural bitterness). It is naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

Technical Notes: The integrity of this cocktail relies on its small-batch execution and lack of added preservatives. It is built using premium 100% Blue Agave Blanco Tequila as its spirit base. Instead of cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, the drink is lightly sweetened with agave nectar, ensuring the sugars feel integrated with the spirit. The formulation is rounded out with real grapefruit and lime juices, alongside a proprietary dash of Aztec citrus bitters to add depth to the mid-palate.