Finally... Clase Azul® Tequilas To Arrive In New York!

NEW YORK, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Chances are, you have seen it in upscale resorts, bars and restaurants around the world. You may have read about it in luxury lifestyle magazines:  the gorgeous, shapely-silhouetted bottle of tequila, hand-crafted in Mexico with stunning artwork.  But you could never find it in New York.  Until now.

Casa Tradicion, along with its exclusive United States importer, Tequilas Premium, are pleased to bring the exciting line of Clase Azul Tequilas to New York.

Each bottle of Clase Azul is a work of art.  Made with organic agave in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, Clase Azul Tequila is crafted with care.  Master distiller, Arturo Lomeli, blends time-honored tradition with innovation to produce superior tequila.  He waits more than nine years to harvest his agave at its peak of maturation when the heart of the agave is rich with flavor.  Lomeli then slow-cooks the agave with steam and in brick ovens so it's juices become rich and complex.  Next, a proprietary yeast strain is used for fermentation, adding a unique complexity to the tequila.  Clase Azul Tequila is distilled in copper pot stills and filtered three times for smoothness. 

The line includes three extraordinary tequilas, Clase Azul Plata, Clase Azul Reposado, and the Limited-Production Clase Azul Ultra, as well as the uniquely delicious La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila Liqueur:

• Clase Azul Plata is made with naturally filtered water that is purified in a five-step process. This blanco tequila is crisp and clear with a smooth finish.  It is perfect chilled, in a shot glass and as a base in premium cocktails.  Its sleek bottle design is made of glass shaped like the iconic Clase Azul decanter featuring the line's signature silver agave plant.  Clase Azul Plata is the recipient of the Gold Medal as well as the "Best of Category" award from the Polished Palate Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition (2008).
   
• Clase Azul Reposado is aged in oak barrels for at least eight months, giving the tequila an intense gold color.  This reposado tequila has a taste that is smooth and clean with hints of vanilla.  It is the ideal sipping tequila.  The brilliant white ceramic decanter is individually hand painted by local artists in a remote community rich in history and culture. In its final stage of creation the bottle is emblazoned with the gorgeous, silver agave.  Each bottle takes up to 11 days to create before it is sealed with a cork closure and topped with a heavy silver cap.   Clase Azul Reposado is the recipient of the Gold Medal from the Beverage Testing Institute (92 points, 2004), the Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2006), and the Gold Medal from the San Diego Spirits of Mexico Competition (Blind Tasting, 2009).   
  
• Clase Azul Ultra is a limited-production, ultra-aged tequila and the crown jewel of the Clase Azul Tequila line.  This highly revered extra-anejo is made in small batches of 100 numbered bottles that retail for $2000 each.  Clase Azul Ultra offers a sublime tequila experience.  Aged for five years in sherry wood casks from Spain, it is smooth with a lush taste full of agave character.  This deep amber tequila has a complex aroma with notes of brown spice.  Each decanter takes up to 40 days to create.  Ultra's black decanter is made of high quality ceramic with hand painted liquid platinum and 24k gold label design.  Each bottle is presented in a luxurious, custom made display case.  It is the recipient of numerous awards, including Robb Report's Best of the Best Award (2008).
  
• La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila Liqueur is a refreshing blend of Clase Azul Plata and exotic pomegranate flavors.  La Pinta was inspired by a local drink created in the town of Tapalpa in the highlands of Jalisco. Mixologists and cocktail connoisseurs alike have fallen in love with La Pinta and its stunning taste profile. At 38 proof, the deep red beverage is sweet and tart and can be served on the rocks or used as a base in mixed drinks.  The striking white bottle is sprinkled with a gorgeous design of pomegranate seeds. 

Clase Azul Tequilas are currently available in 17 states throughout the US and can be found in the finest restaurants, bars and hotels throughout Mexico, so their arrival in New York has been much anticipated.  For the introduction, Tequilas Premium will work with the distributor Southern Wine & Spirits of New York. "We are excited to be a part of this introduction," says John Hanson, President of Tequilas Premium.  "New Yorkers are known for their sophisticated tastes, and we know that Clase Azul Tequilas will be the toast of the town."

"Our products are true works of art," adds Lomeli, master distiller and owner of Casa Tradicion.  Since 1997, the company has employed local artists, distillers and craftspeople from Santa Maria Canchesda, a small town in the state of Mexico.  "Our tequila is the pride of our company and community.  Now it is time to share our treasure with the world, and I am so pleased to introduce Clase Azul to our friends in New York.  Salud!"

About Casa Tradicion:
Launched in 1997, Casa Tradicion is a Mexico-based company that produces the finest hand-crafted tequilas in the highlands region of Jalisco, Mexico.  Using only organic agave, Casa Tradición blends time-honored traditions with innovation to make such superior products as La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila Liqueur, Clase Azul Plata, Clase Azul Reposado, and Clase Azul Ultra.

About Tequilas Premium:
Tequilas Premium is the exclusive importer of Clase Azul Tequila and La Pinta in the United States.  Located in San Francisco, CA, Tequilas Premium was founded by John Hanson, a 25-year food and beverage veteran.  For more information, visit www.TequilasPremium.com.

SOURCE Tequilas Premium