You can’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo without a craft tequila cocktail
Roadside Taco Studio City hosted a special guest bartending event featuring Mark Wahlberg and Aron Marquez on behalf of Flecha Azul Tequila on March 31, 2023. Flecha Azul Tequila is dedicated to producing the world’s finest ultra-premium tequila while honoring centuries of tradition and heritage.
National Margarita day is celebrated on 2/22/23. We wanted to share some of our favorite alcoholic and nonalcoholic margarita recipes to honor national margarita day!
This past week, Michelin-recognized restaurant Sweetbriar hosted a special happy hour to celebrate their January partnership with the tequila brand we all know and love, Don Julio.
Actor and activist Adrian Grenier attends “Off the Canvas” Art Basel Music & Art activation featuring El Cristiano Tequila Silver in downtown Miami on December 1, 2022. The night featured performances by Camephat, Kaz James, Moojo, Eran Hersh, B2B, Darmon, Kasia, Talon and Ora, with Hurry Up Slowly.
According to IMDb, Adrian Sean Grenier is an American actor, producer, director and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of Vincent Chase in the television series Entourage (2004-2011). He has appeared in films such as Drive Me Crazy (1999), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Trash Fire (2016) and Marauders (2016). In 2021 he stars in the Netflix series Clickbait.
One of the Worlds’ fastest-rising events series, Hurry Up Slowly is an experiential events concept focused around immersive musical and Artistic voyages from a team of curators with over 30 years of experience. Native to Miami Florida, with more global aspirations on the horizon, the East-Coast tastemakers have quickly formed a unique identity within the industry’s electronic music landscape, welcoming renowned international artists, Global Brand Partners and more.
El Cristiano was a crowd favorite at the Hurry Up Slowly music Festival in Wynwood, Miami, serving El Cristiano in a Margarita & Paloma as the two speciality drinks. The Festival ran 9pm-3am from Wednesday, Nov 30th to Saturday, Dec 3rd with a surprise performance from Diplo on Thursday Night which was headlined by Blondish originally. It was a beautiful and lively crowd in attendance and the venue, Toejam Backlot, was extremely unique with a very cool vibe.
To kick off Art Basel in Miami, NOBELMAN hosted its annual celebration with Rolls Royce at Villa Positano, a waterfront property in Coconut Grove. A fantastic evening of music and connection, guests enjoyed the exceptional Miami weather as they sipped on delicious specialty cocktails featuring El Cristiano Tequila, with the Black Label Extra Añejo standing out as the go-to of the night and their signature Silver tequila another favorite of the evening.
The evening started with delicious cocktails from El Cristiano, hors d’oeuvres, and caviar with a shot of vodka. Guest mingled and enjoyed the breathtaking waterfront views that the waterfront property had to offer. I sipped the spicy margarita and loved the taste of El Cristiano in the marg, the flavor was bold but not overpowering, and completed the jalapeno notes very well.
Guest also got to look and sit inside the 3 Rolls Royce on the property as well as learn more about the brand and features that Rolls Royce has to offer. Rolls-Royce was a British luxury car and later an aero-engine manufacturing business established in 1904 in Manchester by the partnership of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. Rolls Royce has pledged to achieve net zero carbon in their operations by 2030 and has plans to play a crucial role in enabling the sectors in which they operate to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
According to the NOBLEMAN website, NOBLEMAN is a premier American men’s ultra-luxury magazine uniquely crafted for the modern gentleman. Distributed nationally, it focuses on the people, places, and events that define creative style, and beyond.
Founded in 2016 by leading publishing entrepreneurs, Doug & Lydia McLaughlin, and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, NOBLEMAN is the arbiter of taste in design, fashion, arts, travel and hospitality, fine dining, real estate, automotive, and technology. With an unparalleled commitment to design, photographic and editorial excellence, NOBLEMAN is more a coffee table book than magazine and defines what luxury is all about.
NOBLEMAN magazine and its digital platform are for the discerning and sophisticated man. The content presents compelling national, and international stories, features, and interviews, including: THE BEST OF MEN’S STYLE, LUXURY AUTO / YACHT / PRIVATE JET – TRENDS AND REVIEWS, LUXURY WATCH & ACCESSORIES, PRESTIGE REAL ESTATE & HOME DESIGN, ELITE TRAVEL + FINE DINING, GROOMING, HEALTH & FITNESS, GIFTS FOR HER / ALL SHE WANTS, PEOPLE: LEADERS OF LUXURY, BRANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW.
More About El Cristiano Tequila:
Just introduced El Cristiano, the world’s finest and additive free ultra premium tequila, made by third generation master tequila makers from the finest Jalisco Highlands Blue Agave. El Cristiano is dedicated to producing the purist tequila with no additives – (85% of tequila today has sugars and thickeners added) – with a high focus on harvesting only mature agave aged at least five years and certain sizing through sustainable agriculture practices. By establishing this process, they have eliminated the need for additives which would change the true essence of 100% Highlands Blue Weber Agave.
Created at the Casa Tequilera Aceves. Nom 1499, their foundation and premium flavor profiles, ranging from Silver, Reposado and Anejo to Aged Anejo, Extra Aged Anejos and Extra Aged Reposados, El Cristiano has introduced an entirely new flavor category with their 11 month barrel aged Extra Reposado. Using a distillation method of traditional distill pots with copper, and aging in American Oak barrels, their tequila is always additive-free and gluten-free, using sustainable practices. El Cristiano takes pride in their unique, unmatched collection offerings and tasting notes. This holiday season, featuring the finest Jalisco Highlands Blue Weber Aged Agave, offering exceptional quality and taste, El Cristiano Tequila provides sustainable, additive-free, and gluten-free tequila.
Website: https://www.el-cristiano.com
The Knockturnal: We ask, why a tequila company?
Kristopher DeSoto: Having been raised in Texas, I was introduced to tequila early on and since then, I’ve traveled throughout Mexico extensively and spent nearly 8 years living there. In that time, I noticed that tequilas south of the border were often different from those found on US shelves, the flavors and aromas more robust and expressive. When I moved back to the US after a decade abroad, I was surprised to find that many of the new tequila brands that had become popular were nearly unrecognizable within their flavor to what I knew tequila to be. So, I decided that a traditional, honest tequila crafted from the finest ingredients should be available in the US.
I have not had a linear career path and for the majority of it I worked in helicopter sales and marketing for some of the largest manufacturers. That experience, along with my deep-rooted passion for travel, led me to explore over 50 countries and live on multiple continents by my mid-30’s. That cultural exposure is the best education I could have imagined and influenced what I’m doing today.
Speaking on our brand, a hiatus is a break, pause, or interruption in continuity. In other words, taking time away from the daily routine. Ultimately this is what every culture I’ve encountered aspires to when they are enjoying their adult beverages. We are all trying to have that little escape when we take a break to enjoy our favorite libation. The brand name is literal in that way.
Hiatus Tequila speaks for itself. We put all our focus on what’s inside the bottle, not how fancy the packaging is or what celebrity is pushing it. Respecting traditional processes and the integrity of the farmers and producers involved are key to a product that we can be extremely proud of. Real is good and tastes great!
The Knockturnal: What inspired you to start Hiatus Tequila?
Kristopher DeSoto: I’ve always loved agave spirits, especially tequila, but so much of what we find available on the US side of the border is mass-produced and “watered down” with artificial flavors and especially sweeteners. Long story short, I wanted to make real tequila as I knew it from living in Mexico. My goal was to introduce American consumers to what high quality, authentic tequila can and should taste like. It is vital for me to highlight the true celebrities of the tequila world, who are the hard-working farmers and amazing people that create this complex spirit that is deeply engraved in their culture.
The Knockturnal: What is your favorite tequila cocktail?
Kristopher DeSoto: Honestly, I like to taste the tequila, so less is more. A Hiatus Tequila soda with a twist of lime is full of the natural flavors and aromas that I love, and the fewer ingredients involved also means less calories! But I typically will drink any of our tequila expressions neat at room temperature or possibly with a few rocks if I’m feeling fancy. Tequila can be used in any classic cocktail; with both clear and aged expressions you can basically substitute tequila in nearly any cocktail. Añejo “Old Fashion”, Blanco “Dirty Martini”, Reposado “Mule”….to name a few.
The Knockturnal: What makes your tequila different from other brands?
Kristopher DeSoto: We believe less is more. Our tequilas are all natural, no added artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. We age our reposado and añejo long enough to add unique characteristics but not so long that we lose the complexity of the agave, which is what tequila is all about. We know what we are and don’t try to be something we are not. We make tequila for tequila people, the old-fashioned way. The vast majority of tequila sold in the US is mass produced in very industrialized ways, that while can technically be called tequila, is far from the aromas and flavors that good tequila is meant to express.
The Knockturnal: Any advice that you would give to someone starting their own alcohol brand?
Kristopher DeSoto: Be patient. Everything will take much longer than you can imagine. When you think it is time to expand, wait another 6 months. Going too far too fast is not the path to success. And finally, this industry never sleeps, so be ready to work around the clock and particularly on holidays when everyone else is enjoying what your created!
The Knockturnal: Are there any new exciting projects/news you can tell us about?
Kristopher DeSoto: We can’t give away our secrets, so stay tuned! But we can say that we have a small production run concept in the works for the near term, and of course some big ambition for the longer term.
The Knockturnal: What are you and your team most looking forward to in the new year?
Kristopher DeSoto: We look forward to educating even more consumers and industry professionals about our favorite spirit! Knowledge is power they say. The more we know, the better decisions we make which ultimately helps keep our industry healthy. Millions of new consumers have started exploring the tequila category for the first time in the last few years. The market has seen a flood of new brands and there is generally very little information available where consumers drink or buy their tequila. Hospitality and alcohol retail professionals are the gatekeepers and the main source of information for their consumers. We, at Hiatus Tequila focus on education to all of these audiences, which is one of the most rewarding parts of our job!
To keep up with Hiatus Tequila check out the links below!
Website: https://hiatustequila.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiatustequila/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiatusTequila/
El Cristiano officially introduced to the world the first ever XR, hosted by founders of the Ultra Premium Tequila brand Karan Khanna and Priyanka Khanna, and co-founder Chris Shaffer. XR is an entirely new category of tequila, Extra Reposado, at Soho Works in West Hollywood, on November 15, 2022.
Guests, inclusive of notable industry players and house members enjoyed an intimate tasting event in the membership workspace’ Loft, featuring a lavish charcuterie spread by Chef Shane Fatemian. The tasting featured El Cristiano’s new XR Old Fashioned cocktail, prepared by mixologist David Brackett.
The launch of XR is El Cristiano’s latest expansion, and the first brand to introduce an Extra Reposado variety. XR is a brand new category in tequila, a delicate blend of 11 months aged Reposado from ex-bourbon american and ex-red wine french oak barrels for complexity and sweetness. El Cristiano tequila prides itself on being sustainable and additive free.
This ultra premium award-winning tequila which officially debuted in May 2022, is always additive free and made from at least six year old blue weber agave harvested from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. This properly aged highlands agave is the basis of the delicious and clean taste profile of their tequila. The brand has developed a signature and beautiful taste of 100% agave with no additives, and is a featured tequila at Soho House. El Cristiano was born by a passionate group of tequila and liquor industry leaders, award-winning generational premium tequila makers and agave growers, and seasoned business entrepreneurs.
Soho Works is located at 9000 Sunset in West Hollywood, the work-focused collaborative members space extension of Soho House members club. The gorgeous space features a modern design with rustic and refined accents, highlighted by floor to ceiling views of the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Strip.
Photos courtesy of El Cristiano/Jesse Richmond. Event was produced by The Influence.
Image Gallery: El Cristiano Mixology, TV Host George Satsidis with Founders Karan and Priyanka Khanna, Film Producer Tomik Mansoori with Author Jasmin Rosemberg and Artist Matt Smiley, Chef Shane Fatemian, Soho Works Loft, Cocktail Blogger The Gilded Bellini, and VIP Guests at the tasting including Dr. Raj Kanodia, George Satsidis and Ryan Phillippe with founders Karan and Priyanka Khanna and Chris Shaffer.
Tequila Cazadores celebrates its 100-year anniversary of their reposado recipe with an unveiling of their new limited edition release and an exclusive dinner with Chef Aarón Sánchez.
Four spirits were the highlight of the Lobos 1707 Tequila Tasting and Pairing on October 26 in NYC. Hosted by Founder, Diego Osorio, the evening was dedicated to appreciating the Lobos 1707 Joven, Mezcal Artesanal, Reposado and Extra Añejo expressions as both beverages and ingredients via cocktails and tasty h’ordeuvres. While entertaining guests in the Lobos Headquarters, Diego was able to explain how the brand came to be.
“Everything goes back to a story,” Diego explained to the Knockturnal. “The story told is my great-great-grandfather went from Spain to Mexico with some sherry wine barrels, drank them, filled them up with agave liquor; and then realized it tasted a lot better.” Often used to age whiskeys and bourbons, Diego’s family decided to partner sherry and Tequila. Each expression contains this special ingredient, also known as Pedro Ximenez, despite their contrasting flavors.
What started out as a creative outlet and something for friends to enjoy, turned into a company thriving in partnership with Lebron James. “We’re building something to stay,” Osorio asserted. “I think other brands are trying to capitalize and make just a moment, and sell something. We want to make something that’s here to stay.”
Check out Lobos 1707 for the next Taco Tuesday or gathering with friends. Like the company slogan says, “Protect your pack. Drink responsibly.”