Autumn is settling in, the holiday season is rapidly approaching, and you may be looking for the perfect gift to pair with the crisp air and seasonal spice.
Conventional thinking might nudge you toward the bourbons and brandies, but if you’re searching for something both adventurous and luxurious in equal measure — something to ignite a new fire inside of any sipping connoisseur — you’ll want to look toward the world of tequila. The finest artisanal tequilas offer a wealth of flavor and depth to please even the most seasoned beverage veteran. They bring great versatility and surprise to the table, and few in the game are on par with Avión.
Avión’s award-winning, single-origin tequila marries agave grown at the highest elevations in Mexico with a hands-on craft technique focused on producing a spirit of remarkable clarity and complexity. While most producers offer just one luxury expression designed to showcase the highest reaches of their craft, Avión offers two: the bold, richly flavorful Reserva 44 and the bright, playful, and immaculately clear Cristalino.
Two sides of the same coin, the 44 and Cristalino each represent excellence within their style and a perfect present for even the most discerning drinker.
Avión Reserva 44 Extra Añejo
It’s not only the whisky and brandy producers that can craft a superb, complex barrel-aged spirit. The same elegant mysteries within the oak open up beautifully and enticingly to the warm, natural fruit and black pepper of tequila.
Avión’s Reserva 44 Extra Añejo is a celebration of this delicate marriage of oak and spirit, and every step along its journey to the barrel is just as carefully crafted. As with all things Avión, the 44 begins with agave harvested from Mexico’s highest elevations, where the temperate climate and mountain elements allow for an especially pure, fresh fruit.
Once harvested, the hearts of that mountain agave are slowly roasted for three days in brick ovens, caramelizing the natural sweetness and imbuing the resulting mash with a toasty smokiness before pot-distillation and three full years in American bourbon casks. This attention to detail, along with the selection of the finest refill bourbon barrels, mirrors the time-honored and revered methods of the most acclaimed Scottish single malt whisky producers, and that’s exactly the company in which the 44 belongs.
Rich, decadent caramel and vanilla notes carry over from the bourbon casks as the oak’s baking spice flavors mingle with the agave’s pepper spice. Cigar aficionados will find the 44 to be an unparalleled partner to any bold, spicy smoke, and diehards of long-aged scotch and bourbon will be both surprised and easily converted to its charms. If that sounds like someone on your shopping list, look no further than the Reserva 44.
Avión Reserva Cristalino
If, however, the recipient of your thoughtfulness prefers the lighter, brighter side of things, Avión has the perfect option with the crystal clear and exceptionally pure Reserva Cristalino. Contrary to the belief that light or silver tequilas are exclusively young or unaged showcases for the sharp, spicy, untamed spirit, the Cristalino is a carefully crafted work of balance, approachability, and, yes, age.
The recently exploding Cristalino style is all about taking a well-aged, darkened tequila full of oaken richness and body, and filtering it until the color disappears, which leaves a deceptively transparent expression bursting with flavor beyond expectation. To achieve that return to absolute clarity, Avión turns to one of the most beloved techniques of the whiskey world: charcoal filtration.
After a full year of barrel-aging, the Añejo tequila is married with the even longer-aged Extra Añejo. The blend then goes through a double charcoal filtration process, returning the creamy, densely flavorful tequila to the crystal clear coloration of its youth, making it quite the unexpected tasting experience.
The result is a tequila that exists perfectly between the rich, semi-sweet Añejo style and the much more fruit-forward and fresh nature of the silver expression. This makes it perfect for anyone that enjoys sipping their tequila with ice and a twist.
The extraordinary versatility of the Cristalino means it’s also an unbeatable choice for the most adventurous cocktail creators. A high-end margarita is a given. However, Cristalino’s pronounced notes of tropical citrus fruits and natural minerality will also make for the Paloma of your dreams.
If your list includes anyone with a stocked cocktail bar and a penchant for crafting the highest-quality or most unique mixed drinks, the Reserva Cristalino is likely to be a perfect addition to their arsenal.
In Closing
You can get your hands on both of these luxurious offerings in our Avión Collection, along with their full range of exquisite tequilas, from the traditional to the unprecedented. For an even more unique and unforgettable gift, consider personalizing the bottle with our custom engraving.
