In an age of experimental flavors, obscure ingredients and elaborate presentations, the elegant simplicity of the Paloma seems understated.

The exact details of its origins are disputed, but most agree that the recipe gained popularity in the 1950s at Jalisco’s humble dive bar La Capilla. Traditionally made with tequila, lime juice and a splash of squirt grapefruit soda, the highball is popular with bartenders for its decidedly straightforward nature. While its origins are still in question, the Paloma’s newfound popularity has spread beyond Mexico’s borders – from the chicest hangouts in Mayfair to Ibiza’s Beach bars to rooftop bars in LA – is undeniable. Voted “Cocktail of the Summer” several years in a row, Maestro Dobel Tequila has put his own stamp on the recipe.

surface has teamed up with the tequila brand to present its Ace Paloma cocktail in a new light – the traditional highball glass has been replaced with more eccentric vessels. Through this lens, the drink’s signature black lava salt adds a dramatic touch to the whimsical silhouettes of designers like Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Roman and Williams Guild and others. When grapefruit wedges are adorned on the rim of Reflections Copenhagen’s Art Deco crystal, they become sculptural gems.

Maestro Dobel Diamante, a tequila aged in oak barrels and filtered with Cristalino charcoal – a technique developed by the brand – gives Ace Paloma an aromatic infusion of honey, toasted wood and vanilla, creating a flavor profile like no other.

Credits

Photography: Isa Zapata
Drinks Styling: Jessie YuChen
Lighting and production: Wayne Francis
Beverage Assistant: Molly Bhuiyan
Prop styling: Alexandra Massilon
Market Editor: Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Studio: Shio Studio