n
nBased in New York, The 86 Co. was founded by industry veterans Simon Ford of Pernod Ricard and Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas of the Employees Only bar. They launched 4 spirits in 2012: Fords Gin, Cana Brava Rum, Aylesbury Duck Vodka, and Tequila Cabeza.
n
nWith mixology and bartenders in mind, it’s a versatile lineup of spirits with ergonomic bartender-friendly bottles. The company was acquired by Brown-Forman in 2019.
n
nTequila Cabeza Blanco is a single-estate tequila that is crafted by the 5th generation agaveros of the Vivanco family at the El Ranchito Distillery in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. After the mature agaves are picked from the 800-acre mountainside field, they are cooked in brick ovens for 24 hours.
n
nFermentation takes place during the winter months, allowing for longer fermentation using Champagne yeasts, resulting in more fruity notes. The double distillation takes place under the watchful eye of master distiller Jose Manuel Vivanco using two separate copper-pot stills with a filtration process in between. Finally, the tequila is cut to 86 proof and bottled.
n
nExtremely agave-forward, fruity, and herbal, this unaged tequila has citrus, floral, and green notes that make it delicious on its own or as a versatile cocktail ingredient. It has received 96 points from the Ultimate Beverage Challenge and an Ultimate Recommendation from Ultimate Spirits Challenge among other accolades.
n
nGrab a bottle today!
n
n