Crafted by Carmen Villarreal of Casa San Matías, the visionary distillery that pioneered the Extra Añejo category, and the newest member of The Assembly
LOUISVILLE, KY (NOVEMBER 3, 2025) – The Last Drop Distillers, curators of the world’s most remarkable spirits, today debuts an extra añejo tequila to mark the brand’s 40th release and first-ever tequila in the collection. Created by Carmen Villarreal, a pioneering tequilera and the newest member of The Last Drop Assembly, this extraordinary expression embodies the artistry of Mexican tequila-making and The Last Drop’s uncompromising pursuit of rarity and excellence.
Since its inception, The Last Drop has sought out the world’s finest spirits that embody the delicate equilibrium between age, character and enduring vitality. Each release is finite, sourcing rare casks and laying down only those that are both exceptional and worthy of maturation. Aged for more than twice the time required of an extra añejo, this refined tequila is crafted from three distinctive casks including European oak, a reflection of Carmen’s passion for uncovering how these barrels impart depth, balance, and graceful complexity to agave spirits. Every drop is precious, its rarity underscored by a release of only 435 bottles worldwide.
Carmen stands among the rare few women leading a tequila distillery in Mexico. As the steward of Casa San Matías – one of the country’s oldest family-owned tequila houses, proudly crafting tequila since 1886 in the Highlands of Jalisco – she carries forward a legacy defined by artistry, authenticity and innovation. Since stepping into the family business in 1997, following the passing of her husband, Don Jesús López Román, she has dedicated herself to honoring its traditions while guiding it toward a sustainable and innovative future. Under her direction, Casa San Matías has continued to push boundaries, building on her family’s groundbreaking introduction of the world’s first extra añejo tequila in 1991 – an achievement that redefined aged tequila long before the category was officially recognized.
Carmen now joins The Assembly, an exclusive panel of renowned experts established by The Last Drop to champion collaboration and innovation across the global spirits landscape. As a member, she will lend her expertise to the selection, blending, and creation of extraordinary spirits, such as this exceptional tequila, united with her peers in pursuit of the remarkable.
“For generations, Mexico’s most skilled tequileros have crafted spirits that capture the soul of the land. Yet, even in my decades at Casa San Matías, opportunities to shape an extra añejo of this rarity – exploring the nuances that come from experimenting with unique casks and innovative aging techniques – are extraordinary,” said Carmen Villarreal. “I am immensely proud of the depth and elegance of this liquid. To see it selected by The Last Drop, and to contribute as a member of The Assembly to its release, is both humbling and inspiring.”
Presenting bold, yet elegant flavors direct from the Highlands of Jalisco, The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila’s journey began with the careful cultivation of 100% Blue Weber Agave, nurtured for up to a decade in the region´s deep red soils beneath the generous sunlight of Jalisco. Over time, three exceptional casks were chosen – two aged for ten years in ex-bourbon barrels and one aged for seven years in a port pipe – each adding unique layers of character. Final selections were blended together under Carmen’s vision to create the resulting rich and luxurious liquid, retaining a vibrancy that belies its age, with notes of roasted nuts, tropical fruits, dulce de leche and warming spices lifted by delicate floral elegance. This rare expression reflects not only the patience of long aging, but also the vision of a trailblazing producer whose work redefines what tequila can be.
“Our goal has always been to uncover and share extraordinary spirits that might otherwise never have been tasted, and this release marks a new milestone as we bring tequila into our collection for the first time,” said Rebecca Jago, Director of Brand Experience, The Last Drop Distillers. “With Release No. 40, we are honored to work with Carmen Villarreal, whose artistry and innovation created this extraordinary tequila, and to welcome her into The Assembly, as together we curate our first tequila release and expand our journey to embrace remarkable creations from around the world.”
Tasting Notes: The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila (46.3% ABV, 92.6 proof)
APPEARANCE: A captivating golden amber hue with subtle coppery-pink reflections.
NOSE: Roasted nuts and spiced oak, followed by waves of tropical pineapple and vanilla. Floral notes of orange blossom and jasmine add a fresh lift, balancing richness with elegance.
PALATE: Creamy dulce de leche and cooked agave open, followed by plums, dates and a hint of green jalapeño skin. A warming cinnamon and clove tingle emerges, underpinned by floral sweetness and toasted oak.
CONCLUSIONS: This tequila encapsulates the essence of time and the land; a masterful balance between the spiced oak notes, the richness of dried fruits, and the freshness of the native agave plant.
Each 700ml bottle of The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila is individually numbered and includes the signature of its creator, Carmen Villarreal. Presented in a handcrafted wooden case with a 50ml miniature, tasting book, cork stopper and set of wooden coasters, it reflects the meticulous detail and artistry behind every Last Drop release.
The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila will be released in limited quantities through Sazerac’s United States and global distributor networks, which will ship to retailers, bars and restaurants as of November 2025 at a suggested retail price of $2,300 (local taxes and fees apply). A limited supply will also be available for purchase directly via Legacy de Forge, a new global platform powered by Blockbar for purchasing some of the world’s most coveted bottles (shipping restrictions apply).
For more information, please visit https://www.lastdropdistillers.com/.
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About Carmen Villarreal
Carmen Villarreal leads Casa San Matías, one of the oldest family-owned tequila distilleries in Mexico. Since taking the helm of Casa San Matías in 1997, Carmen has guided the Casa into a globally respected name – celebrated for its award-winning portfolio that includes Corazon, Pueblo Viejo and Rey Sol. With an unshakable commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and social responsibility, she has redefined industry standards and elevated the art of tequila-making to raise the bar for the production of quality, ecologically-responsible spirits. Under her leadership, the Casa remains 100% Mexican-owned and continues to champion quality, sustainability and innovation across global markets. In 2025, she joined The Assembly, a carefully selected panel of experts and category leaders across the spirits industry, following her creation of The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila.
About The Last Drop Distillers
The Last Drop Distillers was founded by two icons of the spirits industry, Tom Jago and James Espey with over 80 years of experience between them. Their aim was to curate the world’s most remarkable spirits by finding treasures across aged spirit categories and sharing them with those who seek the genuinely extraordinary.
Since the company was founded in 2008, The Last Drop Distillers has released just 40 limited bottlings across Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Bourbon and Rum, Japanese Whisky and Irish Whiskey, as well as aged Ports and Pineau des Charentes, comprising fewer than 15,600 to date. Seeking nothing less than the remarkable in the spirits they curate, the company’s unwavering commitment is to the quality of the liquid and the pleasure of sharing the treasures they uncover.
At the heart of this pursuit is The Assembly, a collective of some of the world’s most revered Master Blenders, including luminaries. With decades of expertise across multiple spirit categories, these icons of the industry play a pivotal role in selecting, blending and refining The Last Drop’s releases, ensuring that each bottling is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and heritage.
In 2016, The Last Drop was acquired by The Sazerac Company, one of America’s oldest private, family-owned spirits producers.
About Sazerac
With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world.
Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.
Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.
To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.
