CLASE AZUL DIA DE MUERTOS EDICION LIMITADA 'TRASCENDER'
ANEJO TEQUILA
JALISCO, MEXICO
WHY BUY:
Today’s your chance at early access to Clase Azul's Día de Muertos 2026 release. This year's edition is something rare, and possibly unprecedented: an añejo aged for more than 30 months in Champagne casks (think: rich, buttery notes of toasted walnut and fresh bread) combined with an añejo aged in American whiskey casks (depth, leatheriness). The result is an uncommonly elegant tequila, profound in all the right ways but still, somehow (and marvelously) light on its feet. Demand for this release will spike when the handcrafted dynamic bottle is revealed on October 1st, so secure yours now.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
There’s so much going on in this tequila, both at the immediate, sensual level and below the surface, that a quick description hardly suffices. But we’ll try. The nose is as explosive and as evocative as anything we’ve sampled this year, with beautifully developed notes of pear compote and ripe apple, which then morph into peach, then into honey, and finally into something akin to sourdough just out of the oven. On the palate, that fruit turns silkier still, with agave nectar and cacao nib and toasted walnut joining the mix. A thread of acidity keeps all this richness from crossing the line into excess, and a strong vein of oak anchors the drink and imparts a kind of stately majesty. The finish is long and unhurried, with a faint whiff of spice that primes you for the next slow sip. A masterpiece.
BACKGROUND:
After five years of the renowned Nuestros Recuerdos series, Clase Azul’s Master Distiller, Viridiana Tinoco, has launched something new with this release: it's the first of a new sequence of standalone, one-off creations that are sure to be collectibles.
THE STORY:
Día de Muertos is a holiday to honor the dead that demands something of the living, namely: that they understand death as a transformation rather than an ending. Also, that memory and ritual exist to keep the departed close by in the here and now. Tinoco found her own version of this notion in an old Champagne cask. Think about it: the lees are gone, their work long done … and yet they keep on shaping what comes after, for years and years. Or as Tinoco puts it, by way of explaining her casking choice: "What once existed continues to shape the present.” Those words could be said to speak, as well, for the entire Clase Azul project. It was founded in 1997, in Guadalajara, by a man named Arturo Lomelí, who was motivated by more than turning out a merely great tequila. Lomeli’s mission was to treat the spirit as a genuine art form, a vehicle for experimentation and boundary-pushing and a showcase of Mexican cultural heritage. That ambition has held for more than a quarter century, and runs through every thrilling and exacting release.
THE BOTTLE:
The decanter is a work of art. The exterior features a gorgeous gradient glaze that transitions from a deep blue into a vibrant magenta, the color of mano de león, a flower traditionally used to decorate ofrendas, the ceremonial altars built in celebration of DDM. Around its base, you’ll find a delicate floral composition that evokes the petal-strewn paths that are believed to guide souls home during the holiday, along with tiny skulls and delicate droplets that evoke water. Take particular note of the hand-painted gold brushstrokes that rise from the flowers toward the top of the bottle: that’s 24-karat gold. And in the right light, it positively shimmers.
FUN FACT:
2026 marks an exciting new chapter for Clase Azul Mexico with the opening of two extraordinary destinations. Casa de los Leones, the brand’s first home in Mexico City, offers private tastings, limited-edition access, and a dedicated Collector’s Lounge. In Jalisco, La Hacienda invites visitors inside the complete world of Clase Azul, from tequila production and decanter craftsmanship to exclusive cask tastings and special creations available only on-site.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer, so rest assured: your bottle will arrive as it should, with impeccable provenance. Secure yours today, before this allocation vanishes!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer will expire on Thursday, October 1, 2026.