THE ROCK’S NEW PREMIUM, SMALL-BATCH TEQUILA IS A SALUTE TO THE SWEETNESS OF SIMPLICITY

BY AMANDA MCCOY

For an emerging liquor brand, boasting a prominent name like Dwayne Johnson will undoubtedly boost initial visibility, but it takes much more than moniker recognition to craft a spirit worth pouring. But make no mistake, Teremana Johnson’s newly released tequila from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico is the real deal. Officially released in March, the premium small-batch spirit is a collaboration between the actor/businessman and his longtime manager and business partner Dany Garcia, plus liquor industry vets Jenna Fagnan and Ken Austin.

The name Teremana loosely translates to “Spirit of the Earth” (“Terre” represents the earth, while “Mana” is the Polynesian word for the spirit that guides us) and was inspired by the founder’s fervor for sustainability, community, and bringing people together (over drinks, fittingly). The process is simple yet painstakingly meticulous. The agave is oven roasted for three days to coax out the bright citrus flavors then shredded to extract the juices, and all leftover fibers are collected to create an organic compost to put back into the agave fields. Distillation occurs in artisan-made copper stills, a traditional tequila-making method that produces a clean, gloriously smooth flavor. “After years of hard work, this is truly a dream come true,” said Johnson. “My team and I are committed to bringing you the highest in quality tequila, because quality, the people, the land, and legacy are what matter most.”

Two expressions are available, both 80-proof and comprised of 100% Blue Weber Highlands Agave. Teremana Blanco has tasting notes of bright citrus with a clean, fresh finish, while the Reposado offers deeper notes of oak and vanilla with a fuller, richer prole.

Cellini Spread