Produced by Legendary Third-Generation Bañuelos Family, Three Expressions Now Available in New Ultra-Premium Package
Santa Rosa, CA (April 9, 2025) – Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS), the family-owned wine and spirits company, announced the nationwide distribution and new package design of Tequila El Mexicano (NOM 1588*) from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. In 2024, FFWS was appointed the exclusive agent to import and sell Tequila El Mexicano in the US and globally outside of Mexico. Tequila El Mexicano is produced in the town of Arandas by third-generation Tequila producers, the Bañuelos family. In 1973, Don Félix Bañuelos and his son León partnered with family friends to create Tequila CAZADORES®, which became the number one 100% Agave tequila in 1998.
In 2002, the family sold their original brand and distillery. They now focus on a state-of-the-art distillery and a new brand that embodies three generations of tequila-making expertise. Tequila El Mexicano is made from three ingredients: 100% Blue Weber agave, water, and yeast. Honoring the traditional tequila production techniques, nothing is added or altered.
The three expressions of Tequila El Mexicano are:
- Blanco ($40 SRP): Unaged Blanco expression bottled at 40% ABV (80 Proof)
- Blanco 90 ($50 SRP): Unaged Blanco expression bottled at 45% ABV (90 Proof) geared towards cocktail enthusiasts who want an agave-forward cocktail
- Reposado ($45 SRP): Aged for 90 days in 80% American Oak and 20% French Oak, bottled at 40% ABV (80 Proof)
“Premium tequila trends are fueled by consumers and bartenders who are embracing more culturally authentic, superior, and pure quality tequilas that are crafted without additives,” noted Jason Daniel, FFWS CMO. “Tequila El Mexicano is like no other – a family owned and operated gem, backed by three generations of expertise and legacy, made the right way.”
Crafted by the current generation of Bañuelos brothers – León Jr. and Willy – in collaboration with their father, Tequila El Mexicano is a tribute to traditional Tequila production. The family uses a “low and slow” cooking process and open-air fermentation, to nurture the yeast and agave and allow each stage of production to develop naturally. The result is a unique flavor profile that cannot be achieved through modern, accelerated techniques.
The dedication and attention to detail extends to the custom-made pot stills in the distillery designed by León Sr. and the music in the fermentation room. “My father chose stainless steel over traditional copper to ensure the agave shines through, free from any added flavors or aromas that copper can impart. He chose Mozart’s classics for the fermentation based on studies that it calms and focuses living organisms,” noted Willy Bañuelos. “Tequila is more than a product for us; it’s a legacy and a lifetime of absorbing the knowledge and passion of our elders.”
Tequila El Mexicano’s redesigned packaging presents a contemporary interpretation of the brand’s legacy. Three concentric arches integrated into the glass represent the three generations of the Bañuelos family and the iconic Hacienda El Mexicano’s archways. Within these arches, an embedded glass symbol depicting an agave field with a piña and the setting sun, acknowledging the distinctive Jalisco highlands terroir.
Tequila El Mexicano joins the global portfolio of distilled spirits from the Foley family that includes High Ground Estate Vodka, Minden Mill (Single Estate Whiskeys), Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evil Bean Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Lighthouse Gin from New Zealand, the Loch Lomond Group portfolio of Scotch and spirits, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey and Killowen Distillery.
El Mexicano is also available online at Home – El Mexicano.
*The Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) is the four-digit code on the back of every bottle of tequila which represents the distillery where the tequila was produced and is an indication of the legitimacy and quality of the Tequila.
About Foley Family Wines & Spirits
Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and spirits from some of the world’s greatest estates. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery, each with its distinct style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. FFWS has expanded its portfolio significantly since its founding, now including such storied brands as Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Roth, Banshee, Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, and Lancaster in Sonoma; Merus, Silverado, and Foley Johnson in Napa Valley; Lincourt, Firestone, and Foley Estates in Southern California; Chalone Vineyard in Monterey County; Four Graces and Acrobat in Oregon; and Three Rivers in Washington. FFWS’s import wines include Lucien Albrecht in France, Nieto Senetiner in Argentina, and 14 wine brands spanning three of New Zealand’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions: Marlborough, Central Otago, and Martinborough. The growing global spirits portfolio includes Minden Mill Whiskeys, High Ground Vodka, Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evil Bean Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, New Zealand’s Lighthouse Gin, Tequila El Mexicano, the Loch Lomond Group portfolio of Scotch and spirits, and Two Stacks Irish Whiskey and Killowen Distillery.
To learn more about Foley Family Wines & Spirits, visit ffws.com/spirits.
