There is perhaps no better time of year to enjoy a glass of premium Clase Azul tequila than the holiday season. Be it Christmas or any other celebration this winter, the offerings from the Mexican luxury house, Clase Azul México, represent some of the finest examples available of the precious spirit.
Offering a range of styles, from its classic Clase Azul Reposado — the decanter itself an icon in its own right — to Clase Azul Tequila Ultra, the choice of true connoisseurs, Clase Azul also offers a range of mezcals and limited-edition decanters that take craftsmanship to the next level.
So if you’re planning a get-together this holiday season and are looking to take things up a notch with a bottle of ultra-premium tequila, or perhaps you’re in search of that perfect gift, when it comes to tequila, Clase Azul México is certainly an esteemed choice.
For those looking to get the most out of this holiday season, here are a few ways you can incorporate Clase Azul México into the happiest time of the year.
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The Minted Mirth
The dinner party remains an integral part of this season. Whether it’s celebrating one of those special days or reconnecting with old friends, every dinner party is improved with a good cocktail, particularly a new creation that most will have never tried before.
This year, the team at Clase Azul México has developed a brand-new cocktail that’s ideally suited for the holiday season. The Minted Mirth is a delectable serve that combines Clase Azul México’s iconic signature tequila with a host of wintery flavors to create a drink that looks as good as it tastes.
So be it an after-dinner digestif, perfect for rounding off a great meal, or a welcome drink to get the evening started in style, the Minted Mirth brings both looks and tasteful notes to the party. Also given you’ll be using a cocktail shaker, it poses a great opportunity to show off your mixology skills to your guests.
Ingredients
—¾ oz Clase Azul Tequila Reposado
—½ oz white crème de cacao
—1 oz green crème de menthe
—1 oz half and half
—Mint sprig
—Nutmeg
Method
Add all the ingredients apart from the mint sprig and nutmeg to a shaker with ice. Shake and then double fine strain into a coupe glass. Top things off with a pinch of grated nutmeg and delicately place the mint sprig on top.
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Gifting Galore
Cocktails are always a winner at this time of year, however Clase Azul México earned its reputation as a purveyor of premium tequila by distilling liquid that can not only be enjoyed as part of a cocktail, but sipped and savored neat to experience its true notes.
Due to this, Clase Azul tequilas make perfect gifts during the holiday season. And when the owner finishes the liquid, the craftsmanship and artistic detailing that goes into each decanter will ensure they never throw it away. Clase Azul’s lineup is thorough and covers all the bases a tequila connoisseur could ever want, however we think four bottles in particular make superb gifts.
Clase Azul Tequila Gold pays tribute to sunsets — which at this time of year can reach even higher levels of beauty — with this tequila’s inspiration reflected in the detailed gradient of the decanter and handpainted 24-karat gold ribbons. It’s a joven tequila comprised of Clase Azul Tequila Plata, a reposado tequila matured in French Oak and an extra añejo finished in Pedro Ximenes sherry casks.
Clase Azul Tequila Añejo honors the extensive process required to craft premium tequila, and the skill required to transform agave into tequila. This añejo tequila spends over two years in American whiskey casks, resulting in a flavor that’s subtle yet full of character. The decanter’s design is equally as special, charting the stages of the process from fertile soil to agave core and on to a delicious tequila.
Alternatively, Clase Azul Tequila Ultra is the brand’s most time-intensive creation. Matured for five years, this extra Añejo tequila is first aged in American Whisky casks, before being separated and aged in amontillado, oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and then recombined. The result is a tequila that sits shoulder-to-shoulder with the greats of the industry.
In true Clase Azul Mexico fashion, the decanter is just as special and can only be crafted by the brand’s most talented artisans. Decorated with a combination of platinum, silver and 24-karat gold, the feathered motif that adorns the decanter has to be reproduced entirely from memory as the platinum is only visible once it has been fired.
[See also: Clase Azul México Unveils Día de Muertos Limited Edition Música]
Finally, Clase Azul Tequila Master Artisans Edición Limitada por Fernando Jimón y María Elena López, is the third instalment of Clase Azul’s Master Artisans collection and is exeptioanlly limited to only 300 decanters. Celebrating the talent and craftsmanship of Mexican artisans, Fernando Jimón and María Elena López, have created three separate decanters inspired by Mexican pottery. Each contains an extra añejo tequila that has been aged for over eight years, first in American whisky casks and then in one of three wine casks from across Europe.
For those looking to make this holiday season one that will be remembered for years to come, the addition of a Clase Azul México cocktail or decanter is sure to have the desired effect.
