(St. Helena, CA) December 19, 2013 – Charbay Distillers, exclusive U.S. importer of Tequila Tapatio, has received 100 cases of rare ‘Excelencia’ Gran Reservas (Extra Añejo) usually reserved for friends and family of Mexico’s 75-year-old La Alteña Distillery.
Tequila Tapatio’s ‘Excelencia’ was made using Old World methods that are disappearing in modern Tequilas. 100% estate-grown Blue Agave were hand-selected and slow-baked for four days. After being fermented using the family’s 75 year-old yeast culture and double-distilled in small (90-250 gallon) copper Alambiques Tequilano pot stills, the spirit was aged in new American oak (#4 Char) for four years.
This shipment is a tribute to the friendship and partnership of two distilling families: Master Distiller/Owner Carlos Camerena of La Alteña Distillery (Mexico) and the father/son team of Master Distillers Miles and Marko Karakasevic of Charbay.
Due to the limited number of bottles, Tequila Tapatio ‘Excelencia’ is only available in select California retail stores and restaurants and can be purchased online nationwide for delivery (where legal). [CA SRP $159; 1 Liter; 40% abv.]
Tequila icon Carlos Camarena debuted his family’s 75-year-old brand in the United States in 2012. His La Alteña Distillery is known in the U.S. market for El Tesoro and other custom distillations.
It is not presently known whether more Tequila Tapatio Excelencia will become available to the U.S. market anytime soon.
Tapatio is a Mexican term for ‘someone from Guadalajara’ (no relation to the hot sauce). Since 1937, the Camarena Family has been distilling Tapatio Tequila from 100% estate-grown blue agaves grown in the Arandas highlands.
The U.S. Tequila Tapatio collection includes:
Tequila Tapatio Blanco – aged for 6 months in stainless steel. CA SRP $34 (1 Liter)
Tequila Tapatio Reposado – aged for 8 months in aged oak barrels to bring a hint of sweetness from the wood, without overpowering the spicy agave flavor. CA SRP $38 (1 Liter)
Tequila Tapatio Añejo – aged for 18 months in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks. CA SRP $44 (1 Liter
Tequila Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco (‘B110’) – aged for 6 months in stainless steel. CA SRP $48 (1 Liter) Award: ‘Best of Class’/Spirits of Mexico 2013 (‘Overproof Blanco’ class created for it)
Tequila Tapatio ‘Excelencia’ Gran Reservas (Extra Añejo) – aged for 4 years in new American oak (#4 Char) CA SRP $159 (1 Liter)
Charbay® Distillers is the exclusive US importer of Tequila Tapatio. For national sales information, please contact Bryan Fontana of Charbay Distillers at 707-287-4633. For California wholesale information, please contact Jenni Karakasevic of Marko K Spirits at 707-287-6319.
About Charbay®
Charbay® is owned and operated by the Karakasevic family. Founder, 12th generation Winemaker & Grand Master Distiller Miles Karakasevic, and his son, Marko Karakasevic (Master Distiller), produce award-winning small-batch spirits distilled in their classical Alambic Charentais Pot Still including whiskey, brandy, rum and liqueurs, along with whole, fresh-fruit flavored vodkas. They are the first U.S. distillers to distill their own Tequila in Mexico. This family-run business also produces wines, aperitifs and ports made with selections of their 30-year-old library of brandies. Tours of their Napa Valley Still House and Winery are available by appointment. Call 707-963-9327.