The Butterfly Cannon tequila has released a new ultra premium 100 percent agave Reposado expression – The Winged King – available to UK specialist retailers, food and drinks stores and independent outlets now with an RRP of £99.00 for a 700ml bottle.
The premium tequila brand has also launched a new direct to consumer (D2C) e-commerce site, which allows online shoppers to explore and purchase all four expressions in the Butterfly Cannon range, and features lists of UK stockists, serving suggestions and cocktails, and details of activity with the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund.
Part of the Biggar and Leith portfolio, the new-to-market Butterfly Cannon Reposado uses quality blue agave from the finest seven and eight year-old blue agave plants in Jalisco, Mexico. The Winged King is crafted using two methods; 50 percent of the piñas are slowly steam-roasted in centuries old stone walled brick steam ovens for up to 54 hours to release rich and dynamic flavours, then cooled for up to three days before being mashed and distilled. The remaining piñas are cooked by autoclaves with high pressure steam to produce a clean and smooth tasting tequila. The method unites old-world traditions with new-world innovation, before fermentation that exceeds 48 hours, and double distillation in pot stills.
The spirit is then rested in American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels for a minimum of eight months, surpassing category standards, to create a rich amber liquid with a golden hue and a nose of mellow oak and citrus and notes of natural agave, warm vanilla, tree nuts, spiced cloves, ground cinnamon, caramel, and oak.
Honouring its old world heritage and to command attention on fixture, The Winged King is beautifully presented in a handmade, heirloom quality, black gloss ceramic bottle, adorned with tactile embossing with silver accents. It carries a solid chrome stopper featuring a life size monarch butterfly statuette. A matching branded black and white box features the name ‘The Winged King’ alongside subtle imagery of butterfly wings.
Tim Dunlop, European commercial director at Biggar and Leith, says: “We’re so excited about the launch of The Winged King Reposado into the UK retail market and we know consumers are ready for it. It’s a standout tequila with striking branding and a unique bottle, and it’s certain to create a buzz in store and really bring a feeling of luxury the home drinks cabinet. It makes a decadent gift idea for tequila fans with its premium black box and is set to be the tequila to know about in 2024.
“Hailing from Mexico’s most awarded distillery, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila (Casa Maestri), The Butterfly Cannon Reposado offers the UK a high end, ultra-premium and beautifully executed tequila. It will capture the attention of consumers brought into the category who are seeking something truly special, that tastes as good as it looks. It’s suggested to serve neat, over ice or in a Reposado Margarita and gives retailers the opportunity to stock an exceptional agave spirit when exploration and graduation within tequila and its popularity is at an all-time high.”
“It’s no secret tequila is booming. For specialist retailers, the new expression presents an opportunity to attract consumers into the ultra-premium sector at a time when the category is moving at pace and establishing itself in the home. In addition, our new D2C e-commerce platform gives consumers the option to purchase all four expressions for home delivery – it’s a channel that is growing for us globally so we wanted to bring that option to the UK market too.”
The Winged King joins the brand’s range of 100 percent agave tequilas which draws inspiration from the butterfly migration from the United States to the agave fields in Mexico. The range also includes The Butterfly Cannon Silver Cristalino which is aged in barrels for up to 30 days before being charcoal filtered, The Butterfly Cannon Rosa, infused with pink grapefruit peel silver tequila, and The Butterfly Cannon Tequila Blue, the world’s first colour changing tequila.
The Butterfly Cannon brings a fresh approach to tequila, focused on mixability and approachability, while offering consumers a compelling cause to get behind – the brand donates to the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund as, sadly, more and more of the Monarch butterfly habitat in Mexico is being destroyed by intensive and often illegal farming. The fund aims to conserve the magic of the Monarch migration to the US from Mexico. Consumers care what is in their glass and positive sustainability action is certainly a driver when it comes to making purchase decisions.
