Arette, a family-owned tequila brand deeply rooted in the town of Tequila, proudly announces a milestone year: the 125th Anniversary of El Llano Distillery, the historic birthplace of Arette and the third-oldest distillery in the region.
Founded in 1900 by the Orendain family, El Llano is the oldest remaining family-owned tequila distillery in Mexico, still run by the same family today.
Established in 1986 by brothers Eduardo and Jaime Orendain, Arette continues the proud tequila-making tradition that spans five generations. Today, Eduardo Jr. and Alex Orendain carry forward their family legacy, ensuring that Arette remains synonymous with family, heritage, craftsmanship and patriotism.
To mark this historic occasion, Arette will release a special edition at the BCB Berlin trade show in October: Arette Aniversario 125 a blanco tequila rested for seven years in glass in El Llano’s original first cooking oven that has not been used for over 40 years and has now been used to age the family’s special productions. This limited release reflects the Orendain family’s dedication to authenticity and craftsmanship, highlighting a century-and-a-quarter of tradition and innovation.
A Tradition of Craft
Tequila Arette’s quality begins in the fields, where estate-grown Blue Weber Agaves are carefully nurtured for over seven years before harvest. Once matured, the agaves are cooked in traditional brick ovens for up to 48 hours, a slow process that unlocks rich and complex flavours.
Fermentation takes place in open-air concrete tanks with proprietary yeast, a practice dating back to 1900 that enhances earthy, mineral-forward notes. The resulting liquid undergoes double distillation in alambique pot stills with copper coils, ensuring purity and depth of flavour.
Reposados, añejos, and extra añejos rest in white American oak ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky, where they develop natural colour, flavour and layered character – always additive-free and crafted with care. Each bottle is filled and labelled at El Llano distillery, preserving the integrity of tequila made entirely on-site.
What’s in a Name
The name ‘Arette’ pays homage to Arete, the legendary Mexican horse that carried General Humberto Mariles to Mexico’s first Olympic gold medals in 1948. Symbolising excellence, pride and heritage, the horse’s story embodies the same spirit found in every bottle of Arette tequila. The addition of the ‘T’ honours the two Orendain brothers who founded the brand.
