Peligroso Launches Cinnamon Flavored Tequila

Peligroso Tequila, known for its dangerously exceptional juice, is heating up the market yet again with the launch of the newest member of its premium tequila family—Peligroso Cinnamon. The world’s first 84 proof cinnamon-flavored tequila is infused with 100% pure cinnamon and a blend of secret ingredients, creating a distinct juice with a kick that leaves some sweet heat on the palate.

Peligroso Cinnamon has a distinct flavor profile described as warm and savory, with spicy aromas and a light finish. As unique as the very country from which it’s produced, Peligroso Cinnamon is sticking to its roots—made with 100% Weber blue agave, and gluten free. True to the Peligroso standard, Cinnamon retains its 42% alc by volume/ 84 proof quality. Every batch of Peligroso Cinnamon is taste tested and approved by their chief taste masters to guarantee perfection in every sip. Every bottle is hand made, certified, numbered—and produced in Mexico.

“We recognized a demand for something new in our rapidly growing category,” said Keith Ross, Peligroso Tequila’s President and CEO. “When we discovered the complex flavor that resulted as we infused cinnamon with our tequila, we knew we had something exceptional on our hands. We are thrilled to bring Peligroso Cinnamon to market and share this new remarkable juice with tequila enthusiasts and Peligroso fans nationwide.”

Whether as the perfect shot, sipped, mixed in a cocktail, served at room temperature or chilled, Peligroso Cinnamon delivers one of the most unique & delicious flavor experiences to ever enter the spirits industry! The Peligroso team is thrilled to bring Peligroso Cinnamon to the market and excited to introduce the world to this outstanding spirit.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Tequila el Jimador Revamps Its Bottle

Tequila el Jimador, the No. 1 selling 100 percent agave tequila in Mexico, significantly updated its bottle aimed at expanding the brand's footprint. Tequila el Jimador's evolution in packaging design presents a new premium look to match the quality of the product. As part of the campaign, the brand will continue to encourage consumers to live life at 100 percent, with courage, passion and pride, attributes that are found in every bottle of Tequila el Jimador.

The revamped bottle features a dynamic embossed illustration of the iconic Jimador, a figure that represents the hard work and dedication to craftsmanship displayed by the master agave harvesters. The slightly modified body of the bottle features stylized, pronounced corners at the shoulders and base, giving the body of the bottle a sleek, modern appeal. Some of the other design changes include a bigger bottle size, smaller streamlined, colored metallic label design to showcase more of the premium tequila, and uniform caps, all aimed at creating a better presence on the shelf. All bottle sizes will be evolving to the new packaging and will maintain the same price point.

To support the launch, the brand will implement a focused brand investment in OOH, digital, print and social platforms including a new intuitive, user-friendly website. Through all these elements, the brand will provide a more valuable experience to consumers.

"With more than 1300 tequila brands in the marketplace, consumers are faced with many options making packaging an important and differentiating aspect. By revamping our bottle design, we are aligning our packaging with our great tasting liquid and making it more relevant to consumers. El Jimador will continue to offer consumers a premium tequila at an accessible price but now with a better presentation," said Jesus Ostos, brand manager for Tequila el Jimador.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Olmeca Altos Introduces New Agave Tequila

Unlocking a new option in the super-premium tequila category, Olmeca Altos announces the national launch of 100% Agave Tequila. Olmeca Altos Tequila offers the smooth taste and hand-crafted quality that today’s bartenders and trend-conscious consumers are seeking in premium cocktails, but without the premium price. The secret to the tequila lies in the expertise of two of the UK’s most prominent mixologists, Henry Besant and Dre Massoalongside Master Distiller Jesus Hernandez. Together they created an accessible, mixable 100% agave tequila distinguishable from other spirits in the category.

“We’re excited because Olmeca Altos is truly a product that is on-trend with the tastes of today’s consumers looking for authentic tequila,” said Clare Kanter, Vice President, White Spirits, Pernod Ricard USA. “The tequila was created by bartenders for bartenders who understand the need for a superior craft-quality product that’s accessible, which is why the traditional methods for creating Olmeca Altos are the core of our brand.”

The Secret Ingredients

The secret to a great night lies in selecting the perfect drink. Today’s trendsetters now more than ever are looking for unique cocktail creations, rich flavors and twists on traditional drinks. Olmeca Altos is the choice for these consumers unlocking the perfect flavor for any occasion. The three ingredients to Olmeca Altos’ winning tequila combination lie in the brand's:

Hand-Crafted Quality— Olmeca Altos is different from other super-premium options because of its traditional process using the centuries old Tahona Method to create a tequila of unmatched quality. Master Distiller Jesus Hernandez is responsible for supervising production from the initial harvest of the agave plants to the end result in the bottle.

Smooth Taste— The agave for Olmeca Altos is handpicked at peak ripeness, and then slow cooked at low-temperatures to seal in the plant’s sweet, honey-like flavors. The cooked agave “juice” is then extracted from the plant by the 500-year-old Tahona production process in which a giant volcanic millstone is used to crush the cooked Agave pinas and expose the juice and fibre from the plant, which is then added to Olmeca Altos’ fermentation and distillation process to deliver the rich, sweet, citric taste and aroma.

Affordable Price— To get authentic quality, consumers expect to pay a higher price. But Olmeca Altos is bringing consumers a premium, quality product they can drink regularly, making it a go-to choice on its own or in a range of signature tequila cocktails and margaritas.

Olmeca Altos is available nationwide in Plata or Reposado. Olmeca Altos is 40% alc/vol (80 proof) and retails for a suggested price of $24.99 for 750 mL.

To mix up premium cocktails at home, try these Olmeca Altos signature margarita recipes:

Tommy’s Margarita
2 parts Olmeca Altos Plata
1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
½ part agave nectar
Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass.
Serve on the rocks.

Jasmine Tea Margarita
2 parts Olmeca Altos Reposado
1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
½ part agave syrup
4 parts jasmine tea
Build up all ingredients over ice.
Stir in mason jar.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Experts From Southwest Share Tips For Picking The Best Tequila

The growth of tequila has inspired many to learn more about the treasured spirit of Mexico and left others with several questions.

"From the moment we broke ground on our flagship brand - through this month's launch of our newest premium spirit: CRUZ Silver, we have turned to the experts for feedback," states Joseph Pep Katcher, President of CRUZ Tequila.

Below are frequently asked questions with insight from experts for those that are curious:

How Much Should You Pay For Tequila? "We have found that the best tequila is not always the most expensive or the biggest name", adds Reed Johnson, Director of Operations Macayo's Mexican Kitchen. "From a business point of view, we see tequilas made from 100% blue agave have a wide appeal with a smoother finish that is easy on the pallet. Instead of making you wince, they have subtle hints of vanilla and a floral aroma that our guests enjoy."

Has Tequila Grown In Popularity? "Republic has watched the smoother tequilas transition from a summer favorite to high volume spirits in demand throughout the year," remarks Dan Nass, Vice President, Marketing Republic National Distributing Company's Arizona Market. "With selections of 100% agave tequila continuing to rise, we could be ringing in the holidays with a perfect margarita."

Which Tequila Is Best For Recipes? "Cooking with tequila is no different than cooking with wine - you want to cook with something you would want to drink," explains Gwen Ashley Walters, professional chef, author, and food columnist. "For me and my fellow chefs that means premium tequila. The ultimate taste of a dish depends upon quality ingredients and 100% blue agave tequila is the best - for cooking and drinking."

What Types Of Tequila Are Available And How Can You Tell Them Apart? "We believe it is important to educate our staff and others about all aspects of tequila - including how it is created," adds Todd Nelson, Vice President of CRUZ Tequila. "Our recent product expansion into Texas is a good example of how we invest in our staff. Before a member of CRUZ Tequila met with any of our Austin or Dallas retail and on-premise clients, they completed a comprehensive training course which starts at the beginning and by understanding that the Mexican government officially recognizes several types of tequila and the most popular are: Oro (a.k.a., Gold), Blanco (a.k.a., Silver), Reposado, plus Añejo."

Four official types of tequila defined for those that want to learn more:

No. 1 Oro (a.k.a., Gold) Basic, inexpensive tequila used for margaritas and bar mix. Minimum requirement of 51 percent or more Blue Agave but not 100%

No. 2 Blanco (a.k.a., Silver) 100 percent blue agave tequila that is either un-aged, or aged less than 2 months

No. 3 Reposado - Meaning rested, is tequila that has been aged in large oak barrels between two and twelve months. Usually made from 100 percent blue agave

No. 4 Añejo - meaning aged, in this case for a minimum of one year in small oak barrels. Made from 100 percent blue agave

About CRUZ Tequila
CRUZ del Sol Tequila is the award-winning, flagship brand of Los Diablos International which is headquartered in Scottsdale Arizona. The recognized principals of the company have a combined 53 years of global business experience that is focused on redefining the ultra premium tequila market. As part of their commitment to give back to their community, CRUZ was proud to be a part of the Emerging Business Program for the Super Bowl XLII host committee. Globally, the company proudly donates seven percent of its profits to various national and international charities and strongly supports sustainability by using only eco-friendly recycled materials in its product packaging.

To learn more about CRUZ Tequila, their national launch, and quest to redefine the ultra premium tequila market with their innovative spirit, please visit their website: http://www.cruztequila.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Todd Nelson, Vice President
CRUZ Tequila
V: 480.458.7487
Website: http://www.cruztequila.com

Kelly A. Isley, Partner
Corcoran Associates
Business Advisors & Public Relations
V: 480.814.7471
Website: http://www.corcoranassoc.biz

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Tequila 512 Wins Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Austin, TX – Austin’s newest tequila, Tequila 512, won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) last week. Of the 65 tequilas entered in the blanco category, only twelve were awarded gold medals.

The SFWSC is widely regarded as the most influential and respected spirits competition in the world. Noted journalists, distillers, beverage directors, mixologists, restaurateurs, Master Sommeliers, hoteliers, consultants and educators comprise the body of judges. The competition had a record number of entries this year, with distillers and importers submitting over 1400 spirits from 63 countries.

Tequila 512, which has only been on the market for five months, is the brainchild of local Austinite Scott Willis. Two weeks after launching, Tequila 512 was also awarded “Best Blanco Tequila in Austin” by the Austin Tequila Society.

“As a newcomer to the market, we are thrilled to be bringing home gold from this well-regarded competition,” said Willis. “Our focus has always been on what’s inside the bottle, and this award proves that focus has paid off. Winning the gold medal further validates our creation of a high quality tequila at a reasonable price.”

Tequila 512 Blanco is triple distilled, 100% Agave premium tequila; a full and complex tequila with hints of sweetness, spice, pepper and an extremely smooth finish. It is made using the finest estate grown blue agave in the central lowlands outside the village of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The agave piñas are roasted in traditional stone ovens and slowly fermented before distillation. The tequila is filtered for 24 hours, which helps to smooth and mellow the flavor. An oxygenation process is used to enhance the texture, creating a soft, velvety feel. Both processes are implemented without removing the delicate characteristics of the agave.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.