What's Your Fancy? The Tequila Tycoon's Guide to a Great Paloma
The founders of the buzzy brand LALO Tequila share their entertaining essentials, including the best salsa and the necessary ingredients for their go-to Paloma recipe.
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A new name is making the social rounds lately. It's not an influencer. Or an "It" girl. It's the spirits label LALO Tequila. From the Grammy Awards party circuit to the shows of New York Fashion Week, the handsome transparent bottle with the blue and gold band seems to be ubiquitous. On May 14, it'll be the tequila of choice at the annual Whitney Museum Gala. Founded in 2017 by friends David Carballido and Lalo Gonzalez, the brand is made traditionally in Jalisco, Mexico and bills itself "a truly pure blanco tequila." Gonzalez, it should be noted, has tequila in his blood—his grandfather is Don Julio González, as in the gold standard in the tequila world. Today, he is a master tequilero who cherishes the memory of his abuelo strolling the agave fields in his usual Stetson hat. "Tilted to the left to shield his face from the sun, it became his signature accessory," says Gonzalez, who along with Carballido, agreed to share a few of their essentials, including their own signature wardrobe pieces, entertaining musts, and the most vital ingredients to make a mean Paloma. Salud!
"Tacos are a beloved staple of Mexican cuisine, and no taco is complete without a flavorful salsa. Siete Foods is based out of Austin, and their authentic tasting salsa always hits the spot when we get the craving."
"Candles, particularly Baccarat's Eye Votive in Gold, add an enchanting ambiance to any party. Low lighting creates a darker, romantic mood and the flickering flames cast a mesmerizing glow that fosters intimacy and encourages connections between guests."
"Maison Balzac's glassware adds a whimsical touch to cocktail presentations. From margarita glasses adorned with a lime to Aperol Spritz glasses featuring faux oranges, their designs are both playful and elegant."
"LALO Tequila is incredibly balanced and versatile, making it an ideal foundation for any cocktail, but especially our favorite, the Paloma. The recipe we prefer is 2oz LALO Tequila, 3-4 oz sparkling water, 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 agave syrup, pinch of salt, garnish with a lime wedge." — Lalo Gonzalez
"We are currently drawn to the eclectic sounds of Los Hermanos Gutierrez, and it reminds me of Khruangbin, which blends classic soul, dub, rock, and psychedelia. I've also been listening to a lot of YoSoyMatt recently. They have an incredible story. They're two brothers, one of whom is wheelchair-bound, that started creating music in a makeshift studio in their bathroom with things they could find around the house. Today, they're playing music venues all over the world."
"When visiting Los Altos, I often wear my father's Zegna jacket with a pair of timeless Tecovas boots. In the higher altitudes, they are great transitional pieces for the temperature variations but also have quality and style." — Lalo Gonzalez
"I love shoes because shoes complete an outfit, and can either dress up your look or dress it down. It's a way to be creative. I recently discovered the brand Baudoin & Lange, and plan to wear a pair of their slip ons with Falke socks for a pop of color and flair." — David Carballido
"Now that LALO Tequila is in all 50 states, and continuing to grow, travel is a big part of the job, so a good carry on is necessary. I think it's important to invest in quality luggage like Rimowa's Original Cabin is the perfect carry on. Or Louis Vuitton's Horizon 55. But the ultimate one is the new Hermes carry-on, which has wheels that are the same as roller skates that you can customize. "
Erik Maza is the Executive Style Director at Town & Country, overseeing the magazine’s coverage of fashion, design and society, subjects he also handled earlier as an editor at W Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily.
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