The memorable days of getting plastered on tequila are long gone. Acclaimed in its high-end version by discerning consumers in search of the 100% blue agave, the famous Mexican ‘‘eau-de-vie’’ is now appreciated pure, with ice, occasionally accompanied by sparkling water, or as a cocktail.

Long overshadowed by mezcal, with which it is often confused, tequila has now attained a leading position on the market for spirits. According to the iconic Time Magazine, it could well be all set to de-throne vodka in the United States. In fact, the wave of popularity for luxury tequila already unfurled several years ago across the Atlantic with the emergence of new brands introduced by celebrities. First in line was guitar legend Carlos Santana who joined the owners of Casa Noble Tequila in 2011, then Georges Clooney who founded Casamigos in 2013 (now owned by Diageo), not forgetting Michael Jordan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Longoria and Kendall Jenner.

Before becoming a smash hit in North America, it was, however, in Mexico, in South America, that tequila first made its appearance on the upscale spirits scene. The result of ancestral know-how, this traditional ‘‘eau-de-vie’’ mainly comes from the state of Jalisco and is exclusively produced from the blue agave (agave tequilana in Latin, also sometimes known as the Weber plant), growing in rich, sandy soils at altitudes of over 1,500 metres.

The production of tequila requires (a great deal of) patience: key stages include harvesting of the cores of ripe agave (ripening takes 7 to 8 years), boiling them to extract the sugars, crushing them to obtain sugary juice, its fermentation with yeast, distillation, a resting period, and possibly ageing in oak casks (from two months to one year for ‘‘tequila reposado’’, up to 3 years for ‘‘añejo’’, and longer for ‘‘extra añejo’’). According to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila, which protects the ‘‘Appellation d’Origine’’ in Mexico, France is one of the markets on which importation of tequila is seeing strong growth, with over 5.3 million litres recorded in 2022.

THE EXCELLENCE OF MEXICAN TEQUILA

Founded in 1997 by Arturo Lomeli in Guadalajara, Clase Azul invites you to discover Mexico’s rich cultural heritage through its precious nectar. The company produces a tequila of unique taste, reflecting the exceptional characteristics of its homeland. Right from the start, Clase Azul became well-known for its artisanal tequila, ‘‘reposado’’, aged for eight months in oak casks, and distinctive not only for its unique taste, but also for its carafe-bottle made of ceramic, beautifully painted by hand, and easily reusable. Clase Azul is now distributed in 59 countries, including France, where it can be found in over 120 addresses on the Côte d’Azur.