1800 Tequila announces their newest offering, Colección, a perfectly aged, highly limited edition extra añejo tequila. 1800 Colección is available in limited batches and carefully filled in a unique, one-of-a-kind pewter decanter designed by celebrated artist Gary Baseman. The design is inspired by the tragic love story between a Mexican warrior and a magical mermaid. Only 40 bottles of this exceptional, handcrafted tequila will be available in retailers across the country.
At a price tag of $2,000 per bottle, 1800 Colección caters to the luxury tequila connoisseur. Using the same methods that create the award winning 1800 Tequila, the liquid for 1800 Colección is handcrafted in Mexico’s esteemed tequila producing region of Jalisco in the town of Tequila. The result is a culmination of over 50 years of knowledge, innovation and expert craftsmanship passed down through generations of Mexican tequileros. Blue agave is harvested upon optimal maturation and is hand selected and steamed cooked in stone ovens for several days. It then goes under double distillation in copper pot stills to create a remarkably smooth liquid. The final step requires aging the tequila in charred French Oak barrels for over three years, giving the spirit its rich, complex character. Each bottle of tequila is carefully filled, hand-numbered and shipped in wooden crates.
The launch of Colección showcases the brand’s commitment to innovative, creative packaging. 1800 Tequila commissioned famed artist Gary Baseman, a Los Angeles based artist known for his dynamic pop art imagery, to create a stunning sculpture to encase the exceptional liquid. Baseman designed a pewter decanter named “Sirena Del Deseo” (translated to “Mermaid of Desire”), which tells the tragic love story of true love and the fight to achieve. This Mexican folklore staple is about a Mexican soldier who perishes in the sea after traveling down ocean depths in search of his enchanted mermaid. The handmade decanter, which took close to three years to create, exhibits Baseman’s artistic philosophy of “the beauty of the bittersweet of life.”
“I am incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to work with 1800 Tequila to create an iconic decanter to celebrate such a special spirit” said Baseman. “This design exemplifies our shared dedication to Mexican culture, craftsmanship and creativity. We hope that tequila aficionados everywhere will have the opportunity to experience Colección and that this exceptional decanter will become a staple in home bars across the country.”
1800 Colección (40% ABV/750ml) is packaged with Gary Baseman’s decanter design and will be available February 2015 in select retailers across the country. This limited edition tequila is an extraordinary añejo and is best enjoyed neat or over ice. Order from your local Beverly Hills or neighborhood liquor store.
About 1800® Tequila
Tequila 1800® Tequila is the United States’ best selling super-premium tequila, renowned for being expertly aged and consistently smooth. Named after the year it was created, 1800 Tequila is 100% blue agave tequila grown on family-owned ranches and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico. Each bottle of 1800 Tequila is double-distilled and matured in French and American oak barrels for superior drinkability. 1800 Tequila is recognized for its iconic packaging, which includes a stopper that doubles as a shot glass. The complete 1800 Tequila portfolio includes Select Silver (the first 100-proof Silver tequila), Silver, Reposado, Añejo, and 1800 Colección, an extra-añejo tequila that is released annually in highly limited quantities. 1800 Tequila is available nationwide at most exclusive bars and retailers.
About Proximo Spirits
Proximo is a family-owned company based in Jersey City, NJ and is a leading producer, importer and marketer of prized spirits in the United States. As one of the fastest growing spirits distributors in the US, Proximo was formed in 2007 and sells brands including Three Olives® Vodka, 1800® Tequila, Gran Centenario® Tequila, Dobel® Tequila, Matusalem® Rum, Azul® Tequila, El Zarco® Tequila, Hangar One® Vodka and Kraken® Rum.
About Gary Baseman
Los Angeles-based Gary Baseman explores the “beauty of the bittersweetness of life” through painting, performance, film and fashion. Current projects include a collaboration with COACH ready-to-wear for the Spring 2015 Collection; a documentary “Mythical Creatures” about his family heritage; and a traveling retrospective that started in the United States in 2013 and continues at the K11 Art Museum in Shanghai through March 2015. Baseman’s multifaceted career includes illustration for clients including The New Times, Rolling Stone, and the Wall Street Journal and the bestselling board game Cranium; as well as animation for which he created the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning ABC/Disney series “Teacher’s Pet.” Baseman with his dynamic and abundant imagination continues to cross media platforms addressing both light and serious subject matter – fitting for today’s complex global society, where art reaches all from the digital and commercial realms to museums and beyond.