Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo, the tequila brand that dates back to 1795

Jose Cuervo is a tequila brand whose history dates back to 1758, when José Antonio de Cuervo received permission from the King of Spain to settle in the town of Tequila, in Mexico, and cultivate blue agave. Thirty-seven years later, his son José María Guadalupe de Cuervo obtained the first license to produce and distribute tequila. The company presents itself as the oldest tequila brand in the world and places the start of its activity in 1795.

The La Rojeña distillery, in Tequila, is the origin of production. According to the brand's own account, hundreds of agave plants were transformed there into millions of units, and in 1852 the first barrels were exported to California. Cuervo also notes that it was a pioneer in incorporating advanced distillation machinery and in bottling tequila individually, a milestone that allowed it to set records in the industry.

Tequila catalog

The offering is organized into several product families, from ready-to-drink mixes to premium tequilas and ultra-rare editions.

• Tradicional: handcrafted 100% blue agave tequila, available in Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Cristalino variants. The Reposado is described as warm and spicy; the Añejo is aged in American oak; the Cristalino is presented as especially smooth.
• Especial: a mixed tequila line with the Silver variant, described as smooth and crisp, and Gold, which the brand identifies as the world's number one tequila.
• Reserva de la Familia: the Cuervo family's private reserve, with the Extra Añejo variant.
• Devil's Reserve: a special edition of ultra-rare tequilas.
• Margaritas: pre-mixed and ready-to-mix blends.

Canned cocktails and pre-mixed blends

The brand sells canned cocktails made with real tequila, designed to be enjoyed anywhere. The catalog includes four references: Sparkling Classic Margarita, Sparkling Paloma (with sweet, bubbly grapefruit), Sparkling Pink Lemonade and Sparkling Strawberry Margarita. It also offers cocktail recipes such as the Pineapple Peppercorn Margarita, the Pomegranate Paloma and the Agave Margarita with Spicy Rim.

Origin of the margarita

According to the company's version, the first margarita was prepared in 1938 at the Tail O' The Cock establishment in Los Angeles. Bartender Johnny Durlesser is said to have used Cuervo to make the drink with which he intended to impress a customer, giving rise to the classic recipe.

Mundo Cuervo and distillery visits

The company offers the possibility of visiting the La Rojeña distillery, in the town of Tequila, presented as the original home of Jose Cuervo and the place where tequila making was born. The experience, called Mundo Cuervo, includes tours of the facilities and activities linked to Mexican tradition and fiestas.

Editorial content and community

The brand's site publishes news and stories about tequila, including articles on the brand's age, recommendations for canned and pre-mixed margaritas, and content on sustainability, production processes and basic tequila facts. It also maintains a subscription program to receive notices about events, giveaways and limited-edition releases.

Sales and distribution

Cuervo's online store sells the brand's products and offers free shipping on orders over $200. The brand has a store locator to find points of sale. Jose Cuervo's trademarks belong to Becle, S.A.B. de C.V., and the operation corresponds to Proximo, headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.