Star Struck Casamigos Tequila

What do you do when you can't find the perfect drink for partying the night away in a foreign country? Most of us would simply try a different brand or make do with what’s available. But apparently, that’s not what you do if you're rich, famous, and good-looking—best friends George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman faced this very dilemma and decided to make their own tequila!

The problem surfaced when George and Rande were having homes built in Mexico. As they indulged in local tequila, they struggled to find one that suited their taste perfectly. So, they set out to craft their own—a tequila so smooth that it wouldn't need to be masked by salt and lime. Unfortunately, that’s what many people associate tequila with—cheap, harsh liquor consumed in shots with salt and citrus. Proper tequila, however, is an art form with as much depth and complexity as rum.

With the help of a master distiller in the Jalisco Highlands, they spent considerable time testing different approaches and blind-tasting the results. Eventually, they perfected their formula, and Casamigos was born—its name derived from casa amigos, meaning "house of friends." True to its name, Casamigos was initially created solely for their own enjoyment and was the only tequila served in their homes. They had been drinking the finished product for years before deciding to release it commercially in 2013.

When you're worth as much as Clooney (approximately $180 million), you can afford such luxuries! Despite its humble beginnings, the ultra-premium tequila brand has grown at an astonishing rate and is the fastest-growing premium spirit in U.S. history. The brand is now going global and has won numerous awards, including the highest-rated gold medals from the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The Beverage Testing Institute, The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, and The Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition.

What sets Casamigos apart is the personal investment from Clooney and his partners—every new batch is tasted and approved by George and Rande before being signed off. George was even spotted wearing his Casamigos t-shirt for two days straight, and the brand’s slogan is "Brought To You By Those Who Drink It." Normally, this might come off as a marketing gimmick, but their passion for the product is unmistakable.

Casamigos tequila comes in three varieties: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. These small-batch, ultra-premium tequilas are made from the finest hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agaves, grown in the rich red clay soil and cool climate of Mexico’s Jalisco Highlands for a minimum of seven years.

After harvest, the agave piñas are roasted in traditional brick ovens for seventy-two hours before undergoing an extra-slow fermentation process over eighty additional hours—nearly double the industry standard.

• Blanco: Rested for two months, it is crisp and clean with vanilla and citrus, leading to a smooth finish.
• Reposado: Aged seven months in premium American white oak barrels, previously used to age fine whiskey, imparting soft oak and caramel notes with a silky medium-to-long finish.
• Añejo: Aged for 14 months, featuring a pure and refined complex aroma with soft caramel and vanilla notes. It offers the perfect balance of agave sweetness, subtle spice, and barrel oak, with a lingering smooth finish.

The refined process ensures the smoothest tequila, free from unnecessary additives and gluten. Simply put, this is proper premium tequila that will exceed expectations on every level. It's already a massive brand, and with international expansion underway, its reach will only grow. Here in the UK, we often miss out on exciting U.S. drink innovations—but this time, we got lucky!

Whether you choose one or all three, Casamigos is worth the experience.