Dobel finishes extra añejo Tequila in mezcal barrels

Proximo Spirits-owned Dobel Tequila has kicked off its new range with a mezcal barrel-finished expression, which claims to be a 'world first'.

The Francisco Toledo Edition is the inaugural release from Dobel Tequila's premium extra añejo range, designed to combine two Mexican art forms: Tequila production and contemporary art. Making its debut in the US, Dobel Grandes Maestros's first release is said to be 'the world's first' extra añejo Tequila finished in mezcal barrels. The limited release collection features artwork by Mexican contemporary artist Francisco 'El Maestro' Toledo, who died in 2019 aged 79. Honouring the memory of the late artist, The Francisco Toledo Edition is a legacy project featuring one of Toledo's final creations: a sculpture designed by the Mexican visionary before his death. The piece is said to embody the creative partnership between the artist and Juan Dobel, an 11th-generation Tequila maker and the founder of Dobel Tequila. The artisanal Tequila is aged for a minimum of three years in new oak barrels and finished for a minimum of four months in American oak mezcal casks, creating an expression with notes of mezcal smoke, dried fruits, cooked agave, toasted nuts, and vanilla. Juan Dobel said: "Francisco 'El Maestro' Toledo and I began dreaming up this collaboration in 2016. Francisco and I shared a deep passion for Mexico and its culture, which we reflected through art and Tequila. "El Maestro and I envisioned a timeless art piece, one that would transcend conventional expectations and become an object that embodied Toledo's artistic principles and exceptional craftsmanship while showcasing Dobel's commitment to Tequila excellence and innovation." The bottle for the release was inspired by Toledo's 'Lagartos' series. The rare Tequila is housed in a custom frosted bottle adorned with etched artwork and a rotating four-cube wood prism base, with each facet showcasing Toledo's lizard design. Each set includes a hand-carved Teotihuacan stone bottle top, a stone pedestal, and a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. The release is limited to 15 collection sets in the US, out of a total of 281 bottles available globally. One of the 15 Francisco Toledo Edition bottles will be auctioned on Artnet, marking the platform's first curated spirits auction. The auction will close on 29 April 2025. Dobel Tequila will donate part of the proceeds from the sale of the work to benefit Friends of IAGO (Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca) and the Manuel Álvarez Bravo AC Photographic Center. The remaining 14 bottles are available for US$5,000 through select luxury retailers and on-premise partners. Last year, Dobel returned to the US Open as the tournament’s official Tequila.