When the first drops of Clase Azul México tequila reach your glass, it’s the culmination of the complex spirit’s decade-long journey from the planting of the Blue Weber agave to the aging of the tequila.
Clase Azul is an iconic luxury brand steeped in its Mexican heritage. The company’s link between tradition and innovation, artistry and human connection is infused in each tequila and every decanter.
The artisans who hand-paint Clase Azul’s decanters are as inextricably linked to the tequila as the company’s master distiller, Virdiana Tinoco.
“Every spirit tells a story, and in Clase Azul México that story is amplified through the work of the artisans that encase the liquid in a decanter that reflects its exquisite nature. It’s a story about Mexico that’s told in every drop and every brushstroke,” said Tinoco.
It’s with this mindset that Tinoco developed the five icons in Clase Azul’s permanent collection.
Clase Azul Tequila Plata is the base to all Clase Azul tequilas. This unaged tequila captures the nuanced and fresh flavor of the agave and is encased in an elegant and transparent decanter that allows the pristine tequila to take center stage.
Clase Azul Tequila Gold is a joven tequila that artfully combines Tequila Plata, a special reposado tequila matured in French oak casks, and an extra añejo finished in sherry casks. Perhaps the hand-painted, 24-karat gold ribbons that adorn the ceramic base inspired the Gold Fashioned Cocktail at CUT Above, which features edible 23-karat gold flakes and a hint of demerara and orange bitters.
The 14-karat gold brushstrokes on Clase Azul Tequila Añejo’s decanter symbolize the tequila’s evolution from plant to spirit. “This añejo tequila is the result of a magnificent journey over more than two years in American whiskey casks,” said Tinoco.
If the decanter is the tequila’s pageantry, the spirit is the symphony. Tinoco harmonizes each element—altitude, water consumption, casks, aging process—to give every Clase Azul spirit its unique character.
Clase Azul Tequila Ultra is Tinoco’s magnum opus.
“The sublime character of this extra añejo tequila is only possible through its extended aging period of five years: first in American whiskey and then separated into oloroso, amontillado or pedro ximénez sherry casks before being recombined,” explained Tinoco.
The result is a complex copper, full-bodied tequila that tastes of dried plum, cinnamon, cacao and clove with hints of tobacco and a long finish of dried plum and caramelized walnut.
It’s exquisite.
Pair it with aged goat cheese, black cherries, fig, and dark chocolate for a transcendent culinary experience.
For a cocktail, however, there is no better choice than Clase Azul Tequila Reposado.
The brand’s artisanal signature is aged for eight months in American whiskey casks which produces hints of agave nectar, ripe orange peel, and toasted hazelnut as well as enduring notes of bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, and clove in a spiced finish.
Seven Reasons uses Clase Azul Tequila Reposado for their signature Majestic Agave. With a splash of Oloroso sherry infused with agave nectar blended with huitlacoche and guava, this vibrant cocktail is a celebration of Latin heritage.
For the at-home mixologists, try your hand at one of Clase Azul’s simple yet refined recipes. With Tequila Reposadoas a base, 99.9% of the hard work is already done. You just need the final ingredients.
HONEYED NIGHTFALL
JNGREDIENTS
2 oz Clase Azul Tequila Reposado
¾ oz fresh lime juice
¾ oz honey syrup (2 parts honey: l part water)
3 blackberries
METHOD
Muddle 3 blackberries in a shaker. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into an empty coupe. Garnish with blackberry on a toothpick.
Salud!
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This National Tequila Day, enjoy Clase Azul Mexico at DC favorites, including Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Vera Cocina, El Presidente, Seven Reasons, Rosewood, and CUT Above. To learn more about Clase Azul’s spirits, visit claseazul.com.
