HAVING ‘long looked on with jealousy’ at the burgeoning tequila category, Scottish craft drinks disruptor BrewDog has once again put its money where its mouth is with the creation of its own agave spirit brand, Casa Rayos Tequila.
Prevented by the realities of geography from ‘creating some agave magic’ at its own distillery in Scotland, the company has gone into partnership with the Orendain family, reputedly the third oldest tequila distilling family in the town of Tequila, in the Jalisco region of Mexico.
Working closely with the Orendains, BrewDog Distilling Co’s CEO, Martin Dickie, and MD, Steven Kersley, have used 100% agave to create a ‘flavourful’ Blanco tequila, blended from 12 or more varieties distilled using both copper pot and stainless steel systems.
The name Casa Rayos is a reference to the ‘lucky strike’ – a Mexican tequila creation myth that suggests a lightning bolt once hit an agave plant and fermented the juices inside.
The liquid itself is described as ‘loaded with lime and orange citrus zest, underpinned by spicy cracked black pepper, pink peppercorn, and an earthy component typical of the region in which the agave has been grown’.
Kersley said: “With a clear vision of the style of tequila we wanted to create we didn’t want to wait any longer so set off to find the spirit we wanted to bottle. The partnership with Orendain made this possible.
“They distil some of the best tequila in Mexico and it was a dream for us to collaborate on creating this one of a kind tequila, Casa Rayos.”
A spokesperson from the Orendain family commented: “When we were approached by the team at BrewDog Distilling Company to help them craft their own tequila, we were seriously impressed by their passion for the product, history of tequila and the category.
“It was apparent from day one that they take what they do very seriously which struck a chord with us, because we do too. We worked closely with Martin and Steven to develop a unique blanco-style tequila using 100% Blue Weber agave. We went through over 40 different tequilas before we agreed on a final product.”
The result is, according to Brewdog: “Delicately smooth and coating the palate, this is a tequila that can be sipped or can transform a standard Margarita and Paloma into something special.”
Business-wise, the plan for Casa Rayos is to ‘reach as many tequila lovers as possible’ by focusing on the on-trade through its newly appointed distributors Oak & Still in the UK – then explore the possibility of adding a Reposado and Añejo to the range.
