The Last Drop Distillers of London announced they are releasing their first-ever tequila to mark the brand’s 40th release. The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Anejo Tequila was created by Carmen Villarreal of Casa San Matias distillery, a pioneering tequilera and the newest member of The Last Drop Assembly.
The Last Drop No. 40 Extra Anejo Tequila
The Last Drop adheres to a philosophy of bottling only the most exceptional spirits, focusing on age, rarity, and barrelling. Release No. 40 was aged for more than six years, over twice the three-year minimum required for the extra anejo classification, and bottled at a robust 46.3% ABV. It was crafted from three distinctive casks, including European oak, a choice made by the master tequilera to explore how non-traditional barrels impart depth and complexity to the aged agave spirit.
By its nature, The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Anejo Tequila is finite and exclusive. It is limited to just 435 bottles worldwide and carries a suggested retail price of $2,300. Each 700ML bottle is numbered and signed by Carmen Villarreal and comes in a handcrafted wooden case with a 50ML miniature, tasting book, cork stopper and wooden coasters. The Last Drop has released only 40 bottlings since its founding in 2008, comprising fewer than 10,000 bottles in total.
Master Tequilera Carmen Villarreal and Casa San Matías
The spirit’s creator, Carmen Villarreal, is a pioneering figure in the Mexican spirits industry. She stands among the few women leading a tequila distillery as the steward of Jalisco’s Casa San Matías, one of the country’s oldest family-owned tequila houses, which traces its history back to the 1800s. The distillery also produces widely recognized brands, including Corazón Tequila, who produced 2024's TSR's "La Tortuga" single barrel tequila anejo.
Villarreal joined the family business in 1997, following the passing of her husband, Don Jesús López Román. Since then, she has dedicated herself to honoring its traditions while placing sustainability at the center of Casa San Matías’ plans for the future. For Villarreal, the distillery's mission is about more than just tequila. She is a passionate advocate for education and promoting opportunities for those most vulnerable within her community. As a member of The Last Drop Assembly, she will lend her considerable expertise to the selection, blending, and creation of future extraordinary spirits.
The Last Drop Distillers of London
The Last Drop Distillers was founded by spirits industry icons Tom Jago and James Espey to curate the world’s most elusive and storied casks. The company operates as a sub-division of the Sazerac Company (parent to the Buffalo Trace Distillery) following its acquisition in 2016. This relationship allows The Last Drop to access exceptionally rare stocks, such as the Buffalo Trace-produced bourbon featured in recent collections, while remaining fiercely independent in its quest to find and share the finest aged spirits from around the globe.
All photographs courtesy of The Last Drop Distillers of London.
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