Alma del Jaguar® tequila (Morningside Brands, Inc.) announces the release of its Barricas Series, a five-part limited collection series that reimagines barrel-aged tequilas through some of the world’s most distinctive casks.
“Barricas” means “casks” in Spanish. At the center of the Barricas Series is a milestone for the tequila category: the world’s first tequila añejo fully aged in mizunara oak casks. Known for its rarity and complex profile of oriental spices, honey, sandalwood, and incense, mizunara oak is the most expensive oak in the world, and it is among the most challenging oaks to work with. Alma del Jaguar® Tequila Añejo Mizunara Cask represents years of experimentation and a bold step forward for tequila innovation.
“Mizunara is a challenge most brands never attempt—and that’s exactly why we did,” said McCauley Williams, CEO of Morningside Brands, Inc., the parent company of Alma del Jaguar®. “Mizunara is rare and extremely expensive (approximately 20x the cost of French oak) and the casks are known for leaking; it’s an accounting and operational nightmare, and yet the reward can be so extraordinary that craftsmen and risk takers are drawn to it like explorers to lost treasure. This expression captures what the Barricas Series is about: expanding tequila’s horizons through classical innovations that honor tequila’s heritage.”
The five-part series includes the following limited expressions:
- Mizunara Oak (Japan) – Tequila Añejo aged 22 months in virgin mizunara oak casks from Japan, offering a sublime profile of agave, oriental spices, honey, sandalwood, and incense. SRP: $149.99/750ml
- Ruby Wine (Portugal) – Tequila Añejo aged 19 months in ex-Ruby Port casks coopered from Portuguese oak from the Douro Valley, boasting a rich profile of red fruit, almond, agave, nut medley, and caramel. SRP: $129.99/750ml
- Vino de Naranja (Spain) - Tequila Añejo aged 19 months in ex-Vino de Naranja casks coopered from Spanish oak from Andalusia, Spain, revealing notes of candied orange peel, agave, citrus, and vanilla. SRP: $129.99//750ml
- Apple Brandy (France) – Tequila Añejo aged 19 months in ex-Calvados and French Apple Brandy casks coopered with French oak, providing a rich, autumnal profile of baked apple, cinnamon, agave, caramel and vanilla. SRP: $129.99/750ml
- Pear Wood (France) – Tequila Reposado finished 19 months casks coopered from wild-harvested pear wood trees (not oak) from Jura, France, yielding notes of ripe pear fruit, baking spice, agave, earth, and pepper. $129.99/750ml
All expressions are bottled at 44% ABV in limited quantities—fewer than 9,000 bottles (combined across all expressions) worldwide—positioning each expression in the Barricas Series as both a collector’s piece and a trade standout.
“We’ve built Alma del Jaguar® on authenticity and respect for the land,” added Williams. “With Barricas, we’re telling that story on a global stage—connecting Mexico’s agave heritage with the spirits world’s most iconic cask finishing traditions.”
The collection will begin rolling out in October 2025 across select U.S. markets.
Alma del Jaguar® currently offers a selection of premium tequilas, including Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and High-Proof Blanco (Nocturna).
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ABOUT ALMA DEL JAGUAR®
Founded in 2023, Alma del Jaguar® partners with Master Distiller Sergio Cruz and the fifth-generation Vivanco family at NOM 1414, a renowned distillery in Arandas, Jalisco. The brand emphasizes sustainability, including using recycled glass bottles, agave fiber labels, and packaging materials sourced from within an 85-mile radius of the distillery.
Alma del Jaguar® actively supports environmental conservation through its partnership with the Northern Jaguar Project, a bi-national effort to preserve and recover the world’s northernmost population of wild jaguars and their unique habitats. Alma del Jaguar® donates directly to and raises funds for conservation organizations dedicated to protecting wild jaguars in Mexico and the U.S.
ABOUT NOM 1414
Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados, S.A. de C.V. (NOM 1414) is one of the most respected
distilleries in the tequila industry. Under the leadership of Master Distiller Sergio Cruz, NOM 1414 is celebrated for its commitment to integrity and family-driven values, continuing the Vivanco family’s long-standing legacy of excellence in tequila production.
ABOUT MORNINGSIDE BRANDS, INC.
Morningside Brands, Inc., founded by McCauley Williams, is a premium spirits company headquartered in Memphis, TN with a portfolio of emerging brands focused on craftsmanship, conservation, and charitable initiatives.
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