Avion

Avión Tequila is a premium highland Jalisco tequila founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Ken Austin in partnership with the Lopez family — fourth-generation agave farmers from Jesús María, Arandas, in the Los Altos highlands. Produced at the Vivanco family distillery (NOM 1416) at 7,000 feet elevation in the highlands, where the cool temperatures and mineral-rich red clay soil produce agave with a naturally sweeter, fruitier character than Tequila Valley lowland agave. Widely known from its appearance in the HBO series Entourage, which generated significant brand awareness before the brand had established wide distribution.

Avión’s production uses a slow-roasting process: highland agave piñas are cooked for 72 hours in traditional brick ovens — roughly three times longer than many commercial producers — and then cold-filtered after distillation through a proprietary ultra-slow filtration process that removes impurities while preserving the natural agave character. The extended oven roasting and extended filtration are the two production differentiators the brand was built around. The core lineup covers Silver (unaged blanco), Reposado (two months in American and French oak), Añejo (two years in small American oak), and Reserva 44 extra añejo — named for the 44 days it takes to complete the ultra-slow filtration process for that expression.

Avión Silver — Unaged blanco, 80 proof. Clean and crisp with citrus, fresh highland agave, and white pepper. One of the smoothest unfilitered blancos in the premium category, frequently recommended for Margaritas and Palomas. Avión Reposado — Two months in a mix of American and French oak, 80 proof. Light vanilla and caramel with the agave character still prominent. Avión Añejo — Two years in small American oak barrels, 80 proof. Rich caramel, dried fruit, and oak spice with considerable depth for a mainstream-priced añejo. Reserva 44 — Extra añejo, 44 days ultra-slow filtered, the pinnacle expression of the lineup.

Browse all tequila and extra añejo expressions at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Avión Tequila and why is it well known?

Avión is a premium highland Jalisco tequila that gained widespread consumer awareness largely through its prominent placement in the HBO series Entourage — the show’s characters were portrayed as investors in the brand, and Avión appeared throughout multiple seasons as a storyline element rather than incidental product placement. This gave Avión name recognition among a broad audience before the brand had typical retail distribution. Beyond the pop culture visibility, the tequila itself is genuinely well-regarded: produced from Los Altos highland agave by the Lopez family with a 72-hour brick oven roasting process and proprietary slow filtration that produces a particularly smooth, clean profile. Proximo Spirits acquired Avión in 2014, expanding distribution significantly.

What is Avión Reserva 44?

Reserva 44 is Avión’s extra añejo expression — the name refers to the 44-day ultra-slow filtration process used to finish the spirit after extended barrel aging. After aging in small American oak barrels for more than three years, the tequila undergoes a proprietary cold filtration process over 44 days that Avión claims removes impurities and harsh elements while preserving the complex flavor compounds developed during aging. The result is an extra añejo with exceptional smoothness and concentrated dried fruit, caramel, and oak complexity. At its price point, Reserva 44 competes with ultra-premium expressions from Don Julio (Real), Casa Dragones, and Clase Azul’s higher tiers.

Which Avión expression is best for Margaritas?

Avión Silver is the choice for Margaritas — its clean, crisp highland agave character holds up well against lime juice and orange liqueur, and the smoothness from the slow filtration process means it remains approachable even at the high proof of a shaken cocktail. Reposado is the premium upgrade: the two months of mixed American and French oak adds enough vanilla and caramel to add complexity to a Margarita without dominating it. Both are considerably smoother in cocktail applications than many blancos at the same price point, which is one reason bartenders frequently specify Avión for premium Margarita builds.