Tequila Joe's Collection
Oro Azul Artesanal Extra Añejo - Edición
Premium de Colección
NOM: 1079

Distillery: Agabe Tequilana Prod. y Comercializadores, SA CV

Importer: No Importer (MX Bottle)

Area: Highlands

Aged: 5 Years

Barrel Type: French Limousine Oak

Bottle Size: 750ml

Bottle Number: 4 of 300

Number of Distillations: 2

Alcohol Percentage: 40%/80 Proof

Price: Donated by Oro Azul Tequila

Current Website: http://www.oroazultequila.com
All rights reserved.
We Are Proud To Have The United States Debut Of:
My Tasting Notes: n/a



Info on the Back of the Bottle: n/a



Other Info: This bottle comes with both a heavy black lacquer box and a
certificate of authenticity which are both numbered.  The certificate also has
my name on it and states the following:

"Agabe Tequilana S.A. de C.V. through its representatives in Jalisco certifies
the authenticity and quality of the product Oro Azul Edición Premium de
Colección.

The bottle is an exclusive design for the business Agabe Tequilana S.A. de
C.V. produced in the ovens of artisan tapatios in its two processes the bottle
of glass blown and its framework of handmade brass with a silver bath.

The tequila has 5 years of aging in tanned French limousine oak casks with
quality tasting value superior to any traditional line.  

The agaves utilized in the production were selected especially from the fields
of the business Agabe Tequilana, whose conditions of height, land and
climate offer an agave favored and sweet.  The cooking of the agave is carried
and finished in masonry ovens.

It is verified that only 300 bottles were produced as series "A", with the
quality of Edición Premium de Colección for which is certified that this bottle
corresponds to:  

Gabriel Roberto Lopez Garibay
Director de Agabe Tequilana"


I first heard about this bottle on the Blue Agave Tequila Tour in April 2008
when we toured the Agabe Tequilana distillery.  We were the first to be
offered bottles for pre-order and were allowed to taste the tequila in this
magnificent bottle.  Of course I jumped on the offer and signed up for bottle
#4.  We knew it would be sometime down the road before we got the bottles
but it was not until November/December that I heard about them.  
Unfortunately, it was possible bad news when I talked to my good friend Juan
Mesa who was our go between with the distillery.  He told me that due to the
current state of the economy and the massive difficulties in producing such a
rare bottle and packaging the distillery was considering scrapping the project.
 Little to say, it was a sad day in tequila history.  Imagine seeing something
so beautiful and you find out you are going to be able to have it and then
hearing that the thing you have looked forward to getting for so long was
about to slip away.  Luckily, Juan told me that the distillery had made 10
bottles so far and he was working on getting our bottles.  

With Juan, you are always in good hands and sure enough a couple weeks
later I got the call that he had my bottle.  It was at this point that my year
got even better.  So, in the call, Juan tells me that he talked to the distillery
about the things I do to promote tequila, while help others and the distillery
decided to donate the bottle to me.  As if this was not enough, he also says
that they wanted me to have the first bottle in the United States.  I cannot
even begin to explain how much this touched my heart and truly left me
speechless.  As many of you know, I make no money off of any of the tequila
projects we do and typically end up paying out of my pocket.  So for
someone to recognize that and want to give us the debut of the first bottle
to the US, and especially this bottle, it is very overwhelming to me.  I do not
want to get too sappy here but I think you get the picture.


In short, I would like to thank the wonderful people at the Agabe Tequilana
distillery, Juan Mesa, and Rachel Nicholls-Bernyk (who without her I would
have never toured the distillery in the first place).  All three of these people I
can never thank enough and only hope that someday I can repay their
kindness and generosity.  For those who do not know, Rachel is the one who
sets up the Blue Agave Tequila Tours.  For more information about the Agave
Tequilana distillery including a write-up of my experience and numerous
photos please
click here.