Jose Cuervo, a world chief within the huge realm of tequila manufacturing, did the world a grand favor by introducing the household reserves of their globally famend spirits to the broader market. Yearly, Reserva De La Familia, Jose Cuervo’s high-end tequila providing, options the work of an artist by means of a collectible field set, enlisting Mexican artist Gonzalo Lebrija for the 2022 launch of the road.
Spirit.Ed’s D.L. Chandler had the honour of touring to Mexico to expertise Reserva De La Familia, studying the historical past of tequila within the nation, how the agave plant is harvested that varieties the bottom of the spirit, plus far more. The journey started in Guadalajara, full with meals pairings with the Platino, Reposado, and Further Añejo kinds of the Reserva De La Familia assortment throughout a dinner at Restaurante Alcalde, an award-winning institution ranked #68 in 2021 Worlds Finest Eating places Checklist and #14 throughout Latin America.
Among the many journey’s many highlights, touring among the many Mexican roadways and hillsides to the city of Tequila stands out. A go to to the La Rojeña distillery, the place Jose Cuervo is made, can also be a should for followers of tequila. Our time spent on the distillery and witnessing the efforts that go into producing the spirits is an artform itself. Later within the day’s go to, a lavish gathering on the grounds of La Rojeña revealed Lebrijta’s rendition of the gathering’s cowl, evidently influenced by the agave plant. Whereas Lebrija was far too swamped to talk with the press on the gathering, he was gracious sufficient to supply Spirit.Ed some perception into his life’s work and the expertise of working with Jose Cuervo through the next interview.
CASSIUS: Your artwork is the mere definition of “multi-media” because you have interaction in a number of kinds of expression. Which of the mediums do you’re employed in essentially the most and why?
Gonzalo Lebrija: I began making artwork with photograph mechanic mediums equivalent to images, movie, and video, after which I began working with efficiency, set up, sculpture, and at last with portray. I have to say that my precedence as an artist has at all times been language, irrespective of the medium. Each time I have interaction in a brand new venture, I by no means consider it when it comes to the medium reasonably than language and ideas; the usage of the medium comes later naturally. With my work, the method adjustments because it requires a distinct dynamic, a sword of meditation between mild and house.
C: Though you have been born in Mexico Metropolis, your work encompasses the huge panorama of Western Mexico. The place do you most draw inspiration from when creating?
GL: Certainly I used to be born in Mexico Metropolis however moved to Guadalajara at a really younger age. Ever since, I’ve at all times been very keen on landscapes, not solely from a contemplation perspective but additionally via bodily interplay and displacement equivalent to strolling, horseback using, biking, and crusing. I suppose I spend a variety of time interacting with nature, therefore the significance of my bond with nature. In a method, nature can also be my studio.
C: Jose Cuervo commissioned you to design its 2022 Reserva De La Familia design. What was your imaginative and prescient for the design?
GL: The “paisaje agavero” or agave landscapes in English has at all times been very current in my life, I’ve walked previous them so many instances in numerous hours of day and evening, it has at all times caught my consideration how the sunshine adjustments majestically all through and the infinite pallet of colours that composes kilometers of agave plantations: the unintended panorama, the distinction between the blue agave vegetation, the purple soil, and the sky. It is sort of a massive portray altering dramatically on a regular basis.
After I was invited to design the brand new field for Reserva de la Familia, I knew that I needed to work with these supplies. I used the identical approach that I take advantage of in my glazing work (veladuras) utilizing a really particular pallet of colours for every field that was fastidiously chosen from the identical panorama at a distinct time of the day, to lastly characterize — in an summary method — the ambiance of sunshine and house via silkscreen glazings printed within the cage.
C: When individuals consider Mexico, they usually give attention to tequila and music however the visible arts get pleasure from prominence within the nation as properly. What wouldn’t it take for Mexico to be seen for its artistic contributions?
GL: I believe tequila, Mexican music, and artwork are an important a part of our souls. Artwork is changing into extra seen lately, our inventive communities have been rising impressively in the previous couple of years. I consider it’s a widespread effort that makes it doable due to the beneficiant help of initiatives like Reserva de la Familia and Jose Cuervo.
C: Lastly, if you happen to’ve sampled the Reserva De La Familia line from Jose Cuervo, which of the expressions are your favourite?
GL: My favourite is Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Platino
To study extra about Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia, together with how one can buy the product, please go to this web page.
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Photograph: Jose Cuervo
