The Last Drop Distillers was founded by spirits industry veterans Tom Jago and James Espey in 2008, with a focus on finding and bottling the literal last drops of rare spirits from around the world. In 2016, the brand was acquired by Sazerac, the parent company of Kentucky distillery Buffalo Trace, and has put out some fantastic spirits since then like last year’s 27-year-old bourbon. The 40th release, however, marks the first time the brand has ever released a tequila—an extra añejo blend put together by a leading name in the agave spirits industry.
Carmen Villarreal is the woman behind the new Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila. She is also in charge of Casa San Matías, a distillery in Jalisco that has been making tequila since the late 19th century. In addition to producing its eponymous brand, Sazerac’s Corazon Tequila is also made there along with a few others. Villarreal got into the business in 1997, and has continued to build on the legacy of her family business, which is credited by some with releasing the first ever extra añejo tequila back in 1991 (Reserva de la Familia and El Tesoro are two other brands that might dispute this, however).
Extra añejo refers to tequila that has been aged for more than three years, and this new expression from the Last Drop far surpasses that. It’s a blend of three different casks selected by Villarreal—two 10-year-old ex-bourbon barrels, and one seven-year-old port pipe. “For generations, Mexico’s most skilled tequileros have crafted spirits that capture the soul of the land,” she said in a statement. “Yet, even in my decades at Casa San Matías, opportunities to shape an extra añejo of this rarity—exploring the nuances that come from experimenting with unique casks and innovative aging techniques—are extraordinary. I am immensely proud of the depth and elegance of this liquid.”
We did not get to sample the tequila yet, but the official tasting notes describe flavors like roasted nuts, tropical fruits, dulce de leche, and warming spices with a delicate floral elegance. The final blend was bottled at 92.6 proof. This is certainly a luxury bottle with a price tag of $2,300, but if you’re more of a collector than a sipper you’re in luck because each comes with a small 50-ml miniature on the side so you can taste the liquid without cracking the bottle’s seal. The Last Drop Release No. 40 is available starting this month at specialty retailers and Sazerac’s Legacy de Forge website, and you can find previous Last Drop releases still for sale on the secondary market as well.
Authors
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Jonah Flicker