José Cuervo 1800 Blanco Jean Michel Basquiat “In Italian 1983”

This is the unaged 1800 blanco from Jose Cuervo's house, bottled here in the 2014 1800 Essentials Artists Series that wrapped six Jean Michel Basquiat works around the glass. The In Italian 1983 motif draws on the painter's blend of graffiti, symbols and his signature crown. Inside is a 100% Blue Weber tequila built at La Rojena in the town of Tequila, the oldest working distillery in Jalisco, and twice distilled for a bright, mainstream blanco.

Steam cooked agave is the spine, so expect baked agave sweetness rather than smoke, lifted by citrus and a peppery snap into a clean finish. Bottled at 40%, it reads as a polished, lowland style blanco that leans approachable, with the agave kept legible behind the gloss. The bottle is as much the point as the liquid, an art object that still holds a straightforward sipping or mixing tequila.