Seleccion ArteNOM Tequila - 158 (Blanco)

For over a decade, Jacob Lustig managed the tequila and mezcal portfolio of the largest liquor distributor in the United States. Lustig has had a lifetime of experience in the tequila industry: as a child, his family moved back and forth between San Francisco and Oaxaca, Mexico. Later, as a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Lustig studied the history of the Mexican liquor business."My passion for nuanced and unique agave spirits began in southern Mexico during the early 1990s," says Jacob, "when I renovated a centuries-old Oaxacan mezcal distillery after concluding an intensive study of regional mezcal distillation and its myriad production configurables." As the manager of a tequila and mezcal portfolio, "I was able to work closely with over forty of Jaliscos finest tequila distilleries."Seleccin ArteNOM Tequila is the first and only company authorized by the Tequila Regulatory Council to bottle tequilas from different distilleries and release them under a single brand name. "A prevailing regulation in the tequila industry specifically prohibits the bottling of any brand in multiple locations, in order to assure aficionados consistent flavor and quality in their preferred mark," says Jacob, but after years of working with the Tequila Regulatory Council, Jacob was granted permission. Gratefully, the Seleccin ArteNOM Tequilas are now being applauded in both Mexico and the United States.ArteNOM Seleccion de 1580 Tequila Blanco is produced in the town of Jess-Mara, which is situated nearly 7,000 feet above sea level (making it the town with the highest elevation in Jalisco). There, master distiller Gabriel Lpez-Garibay expertly double-distills Seleccion de 1580 Tequila Blanco at Rancho El Olvido using agave that reflect the terrior of Jess-Maras lava-rich soil the high concentrations of lava with little top soil stress the plants and result in agave with heightened levels of brix sugar. Seleccion de 1580 Tequila Blanco has a bold and herbaceous nose with creamy flavors of fruit that lead to bursts of agave, lime, lemon and pineapple. The long finish is accented by notes of black pepper and spices.ArteNOM Seleccion de 1414 Tequila Reposado is produced in Arandas, Jalisco (elevation: 5,400 feet) by master distiller Jos Manuel Vivanco at the Destileria El Ranchito. Vivanco is a fourth generation distiller his great, great grandfather began cultivating agave in the highlands of Jalisco just after the Mexican Revolution. Vivanco ferments his estate-grown agave using a natural indigenous-yeast that is found in and around his distillery. After twice-distilling the agave, Vivanco ages the tequila for four months in white American oak casks that were previously used to age bourbon. Seleccion de 1414 Tequila Reposado has notes of mature agave and banana bread, followed by a long, smooth finish with notes of honey, citrus and vanilla.ArteNOM Seleccin de 1146 Tequila Aejo is produced by master distiller Enrique Fonseca at Casa Tequilea (elevation: 4,600 feet). Fonseca is a fifth-generation master distiller, and is celebrated for owning one of the largest agave plantations in the Los Altos region. His tequila is distilled twice, first through stainless steel pot stills and then again through copper-pot stills. Sixty percent of Seleccin ArteNOM 1146 Tequila Aejo was matured for two years in French oak, while the remainder was matured in French oak for three years. Then, the tequilas were expertly married together and aged for an additional year in used American white oak casks. By layering American oak on a French oak base, Fonseca "achieves a comfortable, familiar finish with unparalleled, underlying complexity," says Lustig. Seleccin ArteNOM 1146 Tequila Aejo has notes of toasted almonds and creamy vanilla, which are followed by layers of dried fruit and baking spices. The long, earthy finish is complemented by hints of vanilla, caramel and oak.Seleccin ArteNOM Tequila is the only project of its kind. Pick up three unique tequilas that reflect Mexicos heritage and geography today!