Orendain Tequila

Specialist spirits distributor Spirit Cartel has secured UK distribution for Mexican tequila brand Orendain.

The deal will see Spirit Cartel manage the brand’s flagship Cantinero Reposado tequila, and launch a brand new Cantinero Blanco created in collaboration with Spirit Cartel.

The new launch, Blanco, had “agave at the forefront, with an abundance of orange citrus and a long dry, earthy, finish”. Meanwhile Reposado, the core SKU, had “subtle oak spice with vanilla bean and hints of stone fruit”, said Spirit Cartel.

It will also take responsibility for Orendain’s premium Ollitas, which includes Blanco and Reposado variants, and its six-strong Gran Orendain range of triple distilled tequilas.

It marked “a real coup” for Spirit Cartel, said the distributor’s GM David Hood. “We want to show agave at its best - it’s time to move on from those ‘thin’ industrial tequilas and give customers a taste of some of Mexico’s finest.”

Orendain opts not to use mechanical diffusers in its production, which it said extracted “the last drops of liquid from agave, but in doing so can strip away flavour and add bitter notes to the end product”.

Spirit Cartel’s portfolio also includes the likes of upmarket bourbon brand Four Roses, Greek liqueur Roots, Ron de Jeremy rum and Mancino vermouth.