Clase Azul México has introduced Clase Azul Tequila Blanco Ahumado in Malaysia, a distinctive unaged tequila that combines traditional pit oven cooking methods with the brand’s signature artisanal craftsmanship, creating what the company describes as an innovative expression with a delicately smoky profile.

The new release represents the brand’s exploration of lesser-known ancestral tequila-making techniques, specifically the use of earthen pit ovens heated with wood and volcanic rock – a cooking method that imparts characteristic smoky undertones to the agave before distillation.

According to Clase Azul México, the spirit “captures the transformative power that fire exerts upon agave,” resulting in a tequila that distinguishes itself from conventional blanco expressions through its subtle smoke element while maintaining the fresh, bright characteristics associated with unaged tequila.

Clase Azul Tequila Blanco Ahumado is produced exclusively from blue agave (Agave tequilana var. azul) cultivated in Los Altos de Jalisco, the highlands region of Jalisco state known for producing agave with distinctive flavour characteristics.

The defining feature of this expression lies in its cooking process. Rather than using modern industrial autoclaves or even traditional brick ovens (hornos), the agave for Blanco Ahumado is cooked in a traditional pit oven dug into the earth in Los Altos de Jalisco. The pit is heated with wood and volcanic rock, a labour-intensive artisanal method that the brand notes “imparts a unique depth to the spirit, infusing it with rich, smoky agave undertones.”

This ancestral cooking technique, while common in mezcal production, remains relatively rare in tequila making, where efficiency and consistency have largely driven producers toward more controlled cooking environments. By reviving this method, Clase Azul positions Blanco Ahumado as both an homage to historical practices and an exploration of how traditional techniques can create distinctive flavour profiles within the tequila category.

Official tasting notes describe the spirit as brilliantly crystal clear with silver highlights and a full body. On the nose, it presents smoked agave alongside fresh plum and red apple. The palate offers smoked agave and fresh lemon with a mineral character that transitions into what the brand describes as “a silky finish with smoky undertones.”

Bottled at 45% ABV, Clase Azul Tequila Blanco Ahumado has been granted kosher certification by OK Kosher, consistent with all expressions in the Clase Azul portfolio.

True to Clase Azul’s reputation for distinctive presentation, Blanco Ahumado arrives in a specially designed decanter that the brand states reflects the traditional processes used to create the tequila itself.

The finish on the glass is intended to evoke smoke during the cooking process, while the dark ceramic base recalls the volcanic rocks used in the pit oven. The copper cap and emblem reference the copper pot stills employed during distillation – design elements that create a visual narrative of the spirit’s production journey.

The inaugural release is presented in an exclusive case celebrating its debut as part of the brand’s permanent collection, available while supplies last.

The brand recommends enjoying Blanco Ahumado neat in a flute glass to appreciate its subtle smoky character and fresh agave notes.

Clase Azul México has built its identity around what it describes as a mission “to captivate the world through the magic of Mexican culture while transforming ourselves into better human beings.”

The company’s approach centres on celebrating Mexican heritage through spirits that combine traditional methods with meticulous craftsmanship. According to the brand, its icons “reflect the richness of our exquisite Mexico,” and the development of new expressions involves rescuing “little-explored ancestral methods” and combining them with contemporary artisanal techniques.

The company’s emblem incorporates symbolic elements: a circle representing transformative spirit, leaves representing nature, and brushstrokes capturing the human touch – design elements that appear across the brand’s portfolio.

Clase Azul México has been granted the Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury, a certification that the brand notes “reaffirms our commitment to the planet and our efforts to positively transform our environment.” The Butterfly Mark is awarded to luxury brands that demonstrate measurable positive impact across environmental and social criteria.

Beyond environmental commitments, the company actively supports Mexican artisan communities through Fundación Causa Azul, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering artisans to conserve and promote their cultural and family legacies. This initiative aligns with Clase Azul’s broader mission of preserving and celebrating Mexican cultural heritage.

Clase Azul Tequila Blanco Ahumado joins the brand’s portfolio of premium tequila expressions, which includes the widely recognised Clase Azul Reposado, presented in the brand’s iconic hand-painted ceramic decanters, as well as limited edition releases that have positioned the company at the luxury end of the tequila market.

The introduction of Blanco Ahumado expands the brand’s offering in the unaged tequila category, typically dominated by straightforward blanco expressions designed for cocktails. By incorporating smoke elements more commonly associated with mezcal, the spirit may appeal to consumers seeking more complex flavour profiles in white spirits while remaining within the tequila denomination of origin regulations.

Clase Azul Tequila Blanco Ahumado is now available in Malaysia.

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Photo credits: Clase Azul and the author’s own