The New Tequila You Need To Try: Elevación 1250
Maybe two years ago, I noticed Elevación 1250 sneak onto the shelves at the LCBO. I thought the label and bottle were aesthetically lacking, even a little tacky looking, but one thing caught my eye: the name and signature of Iliana Partida as master distiller. Partida is a brand I quickly became fond of when I first started exploring tequila, almost two decades ago, so I was curious. Standing in the aisle, I did a quick google search on Elevación 1250, but at the time there was close-to-zero information available online. Even info on Iliana was scant. I decided to take a chance that the Partida name would elevate this liquid above the other swill that dominates the LCBO’s tequila selection. The risk paid off. This tequila was lovely.
Somehow, the tequila in that bottle disappeared rather quickly, and Elevación 1250 disappeared from the LCBO shelves. Then, recently, it emerged again with a handsome redesign. The front label is tastefully minimal with stylish art printed on the backside of the back label that shape shifts pleasingly through the liquid as you rotate the bottle. The batch number, L EL02, is laser printed on the back label, which I’m guessing means this is their second batch?
The first batch I tasted was very good; this recent batch is absolutely sublime. There is a big, almost chewy mouthfeel. A nice complexity you wouldn’t expect from an unaged spirit. A bit peppery, hints of orchard fruit, a fine balance of sweet and spice. But roasted agave is what reigns in each sip. This is what I want from a blanco tequila. If you have been to a distillery in the Tequila valley and tasted the agave right out the oven, this is what you get in the Elevación 1250 blanco. This is an inviting, no-nonsense, beautifully crafted tequila.
The quality of Elevación, no doubt, can be credited to Iliana Partida, a 4th generation master distiller. Nowadays, googling Elevación 1250 provides much more info on Iliana and the brand. One thing I was delighted to learn, listening to an episode of The Agave Social Club, is that a Canadian, Todd Hummel co-founded Elevación 1250 with Iliana Partida. These days, anybody can go to Mexico and contract a distillery to produce tequila, and this often results in generic, lackluster product with a manufactured brand heritage. The difference with Elevación 1250 is that Todd has brought the master distiller in as a partner in the brand; and, it’s not easy to find a master distiller with four generations of experience. The result is a tequila that feels unique and contemporary but still steeped in tradition.
The current tequila list at the LCBO is overwhelmed by conglomerate-owned and celebrity-branded products; most of it is garbage. There are a few bright spots, and this Elevación 1250 blanco might be the brightest. Seek it out, if you want an authentic, enjoyable tequila.
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