MEET THE DISTILLER
Avión AVIÓN MAKES TEQUILA THAT’S LOVE AT FIRST SIP BY MICHAEL PRAMIK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESTY OF AVIÓN TEQUILA
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The freshest of ingredients go into Avión.
hen many Americans drink tequila, they typically reach for the saltshaker and start slicing lemons. The makers of Avión tequila suggest an alternative approach — pour the spirit in a glass and sip. Produced in the highland state of Jalisco, Mexico, Avión is a 100 percent agave tequila that employs old-fashioned methods to bring out the essential qualities of the ingredients. Its five lines range from super-premium to ultra-premium, making them ideal for sipping as well using in a margarita, Paloma, or other cocktail. Avión burst onto the scene in 2010, when the popular HBO series Entourage featured it in a story line. Founded by U.S. entrepreneur Ken Austin in 2007, Avión has always been positioned as an upscale tequila. The publicity it garnered from Entourage led Austin to approach spirits powerhouse Pernod-Ricard about adding the brand to its portfolio. The answer, eventually, was yes. Pernod-Ricard purchased a majority stake in Avión in 2014 and acquired the rest four years later. The TV boost has worn away, but Avión’s reputation for quality remains. Appreciating its subtleties often requires sipping it neat. “Americans, like Mexicans, are in love with tequila,” said Carlos Ramirez, head of Ohio Department of Commerce
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