Sam's Club Bows Private Label Tequila

Just in time for the holidays, Sam’s Club’s private brand Calle Azul anejo tequila is now available in more than 250 of the warehouse club chain’s locations. Calle Azul is 100 percent agave anejo tequila manufactured by the Rodolfo Gonzalez family of Mexico and imported by The Sazerac Co.

“We know that our members are looking for great values on the items they need for entertaining family and friends,” said Mark Kenny, senior director, wine, beer and spirits at Sam’s Club, of the “fine unique artisan tequila.”

Double distilled using the traditional pot-still method from hand-selected agave growing in the highlands of Jalisco and aged for at least 18 months in American oak barrels, the tequila has already garnered a 2010 Gold Medal at the Spirit of Mexico Tequila Competition, a score of 91 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute, and a score of 92 points, meaning “excellent and highly recommended,” from Paul Pacult’s 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

According to David Grapshi, tequila national sales manager for New Orleans-based Sazerac, “[Calle Azul’s] unique taste and aroma are a result of the small-batch distillation process passed down through three generations of the Gonzalez family.

The tequila comes in a 750-milliliter bottle and retails for $19.99. Membership is not necessary to purchase alcohol on location.

Sam's Club, a division of Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., serves more than 47 million U.S. members with locations nationwide, as well in Brazil, China and Mexico.