Excellia is a

tequila Tequila (; ) is a liquor, distilled beverage made from the Agave tequilana, blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, Jalisco, Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands ...

range made from agave Tequilana Weber Blue. Its specific ageing process is conducted using Sauternes wine casks and Cognac barrels.

History

Jean-Sébastien Robicquet is a French

oenologist Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. Oenology is distinct from viticulture, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ' ...

and master distiller. This structure was founded to bridge

French wines French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and America ...

and spirits with the American market. It became Maison Villevert in 2011. He created EuroWineGate in 2001. Meanwhile, Jean-Sébastien Robicquet launched Ciroc in 2003. He created this vodka derived from grapes for the multinational

spirits Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

company

Diageo Diageo plc () is a Multinational corporation, multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London, England. It operates from 132 sites around the world. It was the world's largest distiller before being overtaken by Kweich ...

. He also launched G’Vine in 2006 (grape-based gin). Jean-Sébastien Robicquet worked in partnership with Carlos Camarena in 2011 to create the Excellia tequila range.

Overview

According to its website, Tequila is made from at least 51% Weber blue agave. Tequila gold are aged in oak casks. Excellia is a range of blue agave tequilas with a specific ageing process performed in Sauterne casks and Cognac barrels, including the Excellia Blanco white tequila. The barrels collect Sauterne and Cognac flavours which, then, permeate tequila during the ageing process. This range comprises three tequilas: Excellia Blanco (white tequila aged for several weeks in casks), Excellia™ Reposado (aged nine months in casks), and Excellia Añejo (aged eighteen months in casks).

Distribution

Excellia tequila are sold throughout the world, especially in Australia, the United-Kingdom and the United-States through Domaine Select Wine Estates. These tequilas are also used by bartenders and mixologists in California and Hong-Kong, among others.

Cocktails and food pairing

Bartenders and mixologists use them for traditional cocktails as well as for new creations.

Events

Excellia was represented at the Tequila Fair organised each year at Café Pacifico and at the La Perla bar in London. It was also presented at the Vinexpo Bordeaux exhibition in 2009.

Awards

The Excellia range got several awards in the premium tequilas range. It was awarded "Best in class" at the 2011 International Spirits Challenge. Excellia Reposado was awarded three gold medals the same year at the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and at the International World Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London.

References

{{Alcoholic drinks Tequila Distilled drinks Alcoholic drink brands