LONG-TIME COLLABORATORS AND UNLIKELY BFFS NICK JONAS AND JOHN VARVATOS JOIN FORCES YET AGAIN FOR A SMALL BATCH, ULTRA PREMIUM TEQUILA
BY AMANDA MCCOY
The age difference was irrelevant when teenage heartthrob and boy band front man Nick Jonas met longstanding fashion designer and contemporary style icon John Varvatos. Jonas, a perennial fan of Varvatos’ rocker aesthetic, later said in an interview that he knew immediately that he and the three-time Menswear Designer of the Year would be lifelong friends. Since his brand launched in ‘99, Varvatos has tapped several high profile rock gods for his seasonal campaigns, from Alice Cooper to Ringo Starr, KISS to Willie Nelson, but it wasn’t until he met the twenty something crooner that he entered a true collaboration. The duo launched a seven-piece design capsule collection in early 2018 followed by a fragrance, JV x NJ cologne. The following year, they shifted their focus from style to spirits and founded Villa One Tequila.
To craft the recipe the duo called upon the expertise of none other than the “Godfather of Tequila” himself Arturo Fuentes, royalty in distilling circles with three decades of experience in fine cognac, luxe French champagne, and barrel-aged tequilas. The tequila’s composition is unique in that it’s comprised of 100% blue weber agave from both the Highland and Lowland regions of Jalisco, Mexico. The Lowlands are famed for their herbaceous, earthy notes, while the Highlands yield a sweeter, fruity finish, thus the combination of the two offers a multi-faceted, well-rounded flavor profile.
There are three expressions available: silver, reposado, and the flagship añejo. The latter is aged for more than 12 months in American Oak barrels, lending a dark amber tint and notes of rich caramel, wood, vanilla wafer, and banana essences. Expect a full-bodied mouth and lasting finish with lingering notes of chocolate and smoke. It typically retails for $50.
BLOODY MARIA
Jazz up your weekend brunch with a tangy twist on the traditional Bloody Mary. This recipe swaps vodka for Villa One Silver, adding a distinct earthiness that pairs beautifully with spice.
Ice cubes
2 oz of Villa One Silver
4 oz tomato juice
1/2 oz lemon juice,
freshly squeezed
1/2 tablespoon horseradish
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
4 dashes Tabasco sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
Jalapeño to garnish (optional)
Shake all ingredients (excluding the jalapeño) with ice to chill, then strain into a pint glass or, if you’re feeling fancy, a margarita glass. Garnish with jalapeño.
