Padre Azul is unusual before you get anywhere near the liquid. Every bottle is hand blown glass, wrapped in hand woven leather stitched like a jacket, and topped with a hand sculpted pewter skull that gives the whole thing real weight in the hand. The Día de los Muertos Artist Edition takes that format and hands the leather over to José Parra, a painter born in Guadalajara who trained at the Art Students League of New York and the University of Guadalajara. His subject is the Calavera Catrina, and what he does with her is the reason the bottle is worth looking at properly. She is turned away, elegantly dressed in a wide brimmed hat and lace collar, and her skull face is never fully shown. Behind her a cathedral rises above a field of flickering candles, each one standing for a guest. Whether she is celebrating or reflecting is deliberately left unresolved, which is closer to the actual mood of the holiday than most Día de Muertos packaging manages. The tequila inside is the Padre Azul Super Premium Añejo, made from 100 percent Blue Weber agave grown eight to ten years before harvest, slow cooked, double distilled in small batches, and aged at least eighteen months in hand selected American oak bourbon barrels under Master Distiller Erika Sangeado. It shows cooked agave, vanilla and bourbon oak on the nose, then a velvety palate of caramel, apricot and cooked agave with cinnamon, almond and cocoa behind, closing long and sweet on dry oak. Produced under NOM 1466 in Amatitán, Jalisco. Best neat or over a single cube.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
40% |
| Proof |
80 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Mexico |
| Region |
Amatitán, Jalisco (Los Valles) |
| NOM |
1466 |
| Brand |
Padre Azul |
| Category |
Tequila Añejo |
| Expression |
Super Premium Añejo, Día de los Muertos Artist Edition |
| Artist |
José Parra |
| Master Distiller |
Erika Sangeado |
| Agave |
100% Blue Weber Agave, matured 8 to 10 years |
| Age |
Minimum 18 Months |
| Maturation |
Hand selected American oak bourbon barrels |
| Distillation |
Double distilled in small batches |
| Packaging |
Hand blown glass, hand woven leather sleeve, hand sculpted pewter skull stopper |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm golden amber.
Nose: Cooked agave leads, with vanilla, bourbon oak and fruit compote behind.
Palate: Smooth and velvety. Sweet cooked agave with vanilla and apricot, then cinnamon, caramel, almond and cocoa.
Finish: Long and smooth, with lingering sweetness and dry bourbon oak.
FAQ
Q: Who is the artist?
A: José Parra, a painter born in Guadalajara who trained at the Art Students League of New York and the University of Guadalajara. He designed the Día de los Muertos artwork for this edition.
Q: Why can't you see the Catrina's face?
A: That is deliberate. Parra turns her away so her skull face is hidden, leaving it open whether she is celebrating or reflecting on the lives of her guests, each represented by a candle.
Q: How is the tequila aged?
A: At least eighteen months in hand selected American oak bourbon barrels, which is where the vanilla, caramel and oak character comes from.
Q: What is the bottle made of?
A: Hand blown glass wrapped in hand woven leather, topped with a hand sculpted pewter skull. It is considerably heavier than a standard bottle.
Q: Where is it produced?
A: In Amatitán, Jalisco, under NOM 1466, from 100 percent Blue Weber agave grown eight to ten years before harvest.
Q: Where can I buy Padre Azul Día de los Muertos online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
