Don Julio 1942 is an icon of the tequila world. Its bottle, seen on many a table in many an exclusive nightclub, has helped elevate the Mexican spirit from frat boy’s shot of choice to the top shelf. Now, the Don is going one step further into the fine and rare market by selling five entire casks of the precious 1942 liquid at auction with a hefty starting price of $35,000 each.
Named the Don Julio 1942 Cask Finish series, the five casks will all produce unique versions of the prized tequila. Don Julio 1942 is usually aged for 2.5 years in American oak casks. To set these apart, the liquid has been placed in another cask for an extended period of aging, known as a cask finish. The cask types include ex-bourbon, ruby port, orange wine, Madeira wine and crémant.
There is just one cask of each type on offer, so this represents a one-time chance to own what may be a defining moment for the fine and rare tequila market. The casks will reap 40 cases for the winning bidder, giving them around 240 specially designed bottles to drink, hoard, gift or sell.
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All you have to do is decide which cask to bid for. The ex-bourbon cask will strengthen the classic toasted oak and banana notes; the ruby port cask will add dark chocolate and spice; the orange wine will give the tequila a tea-like quality; the Madeira wine will add toffee and spices; the crémant will add floral and citrus notes. Importantly, all the cask types were chosen specifically for their potential to complement the 1942 flavor profile.
“The culture surrounding agave-based spirits is exciting, constantly evolving, and this inaugural Tequila Don Julio 1942 global cask sale demonstrates our commitment to continue to push the boundaries of what a luxury tequila experience can be,” said Sophie Kelly, SVP of global tequila and mezcal at Diageo. “We recognize that for many, luxury tequilas are considered an extension of one’s lifestyle, so we’re meeting the demand for prospective buyers and tastemakers to not only own an extremely rare, super luxe-tequila, but to own a piece of the Tequila Don Julio history and legacy.”
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The auction runs until June 20, but anyone hoping for a quick delivery will be left disappointed. The tequila is still aging on the Don Julio estate, and the company expects bottling to occur between December 2024 and March 2025, depending on when the liquid has reached its peak.
That is perhaps why the company chose to partner with Blockbar, an online wine and spirits marketplace that specializes in blockchain technology. Winning bidders receive a unique NFT that proves their ownership within the blockchain. When the bottles are ready, owners can exchange their NFT or allow Blockbar to store the bottles for a later date. For those hoping for a quick resale, Blockbar allows secondary sales on its platform, meaning bottles can change hands without ever leaving the sanctity of Blockbar’s high-tech storage unit.
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To help pass the time, Don Julio will invite each of its winning bidders to its distillery for an exclusive cask ownership community event.
The auction ends at 10am EST on Tuesday, June 20. You can join the auction by clicking here.
