So when Heughan teased a big announcement on Dec. 8—with an Outlander GIF that shows Jamie telling wife Claire, “I need you to trust me"—no one had any clue which of his ventures it was about. The next day, fans had their answer: Heughan is expanding his Sassenach brand to include his own tequila. “So thrilled and so excited to introduce our latest @SassenachSpirit baby! The Sassenach Select,” Heughan tweeted. “The perfect blend of our cultures and passion, a partnership steeped in tradition, heritage, and a love of good tequila!” While some fans may have been a little confused—a Scotsman putting out a Mexican spirit?—clearly, many of them were instantly on board. As Heughan revealed less than two weeks later, the first batch of the tequila quickly sold out. And now wonder it did, because clearly it’s top-shelf booze! As Heughan later revealed in a February 2022 tweet, his Sassenach Select tequila just won a Masters Medal from the Global Spirits Masters. If you’re curious (and maybe craving some booze to boot), keep reading to find out all about Sam Heughan’s tequila, including when and where you can buy it.
What is Sam Heughan’s tequila called?
Heughan’s tequila is called El Tequileño: The Sassenach Select. He worked on the finished product with Mexican tequila distillery El Tequileño (more on that later), which is why the bottle bears that name. Outlander fans already know the significance of “Sassenach,” but for the uninitiated, that’s the pet name Jamie gives Claire (normally a derogatory terms for an English person) on Outlander. The bottle also bears the year 1959, which was the year the distillery was established.
Was Sam Heughan in Mexico?
Yes! In an interview with Forbes, Heughan revealed that a pre-COVID visit to Mexico found him discovering tequila in the town of Tequila itself at the El Tequileño distillery. Then in August 2021, fans wondered what Heughan was doing in Mexico while they thirsted over his workout pics in Tulum, which showed off his amazing abs. Why was he there? Likely putting the finishing touches on his tequila. In a video featuring Sam in cowboy gear—more of this, please!—Sam discusses his appreciation for the liquor that he discovered on his Mexican travels. “You’re literally tasting the soil and the landscape in the tequila,” Heughan marvels in the clip as he explores the fields of agave, the plant that tequila is made from. Although at first Scotland and Mexico might seem an odd combination, Heughan has noted the similarities between the two cultures, tweeting, “This bottle represents friendship, craft blending two amazing cultures.” He expanded on that to Forbes: “It’s a very dear place and they’re very similar actually, the Mexican culture and the Scottish culture. This love of storytelling and celebration and family. We just feel really honored to be part of that family.” Heughan was also keen to share his newfound love of tequila with his home country, which he says doesn’t yet have an appreciation for the liquor. “We in the UK don’t really understand tequila and I’m trying to educate,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s incredible stuff.”
Is Sam Heughan’s tequila a collaboration?
Yes, with the El Tequileño distillery. “A couple of years ago, I met and became friends with the brilliant 3rd generation master distiller Tony Salles,” Heughan explained on Twitter. “We were welcomed into his family and discovered we shared a passion that runs deep. We talked, laughed and explored the Mexican landscape.” At first, the Mexican company was not interested in a collaboration—they pride themselves on their singular label, pure ingredients and authenticity, having been a family company for over 60 years. But eventually, Heughan won them over by agreeing to bottle the liquor under the El Tequileño name, a spokesperson for the company told Men’s Journal. “It’s the first time Tony has collaborated with anyone,” Heughan wrote on Twitter. “We used the heritage of El Tequileño and the history of our brand. The unicorn [the Sassenach logo] meets the agave,” he said in another tweet. This wasn’t just a business decision, but a true desire to create. “It was a natural progression,” Heughan explained on Twitter. “We became friends, Tony loves our whisky, we love his tequila and we decided to make something special!”
Where is Sam Heughan’s tequila made?
Heughan’s tequila is made in Mexico at the El Tequileño distillery. But, Heughan and Salles worked together to craft the product’s specific, custom blend. A “reposado,” which means “rested” or aged tequila, The Sassenach Select is special in part because of the barrels used to age it. “Aged two years in American oak… what makes it unique is the extra months then spent in french oak. Tony has never done this before,” Heughan explained on Twitter about the formula they came up with. Interestingly, most tequila made in the Jalisco region (one of five Mexican states in which tequila can legally be made) uses agave grown in its lowlands—but El Tequileño uses agave from the Jaliscan Highlands, a fitting symmetry with the Scottish Highlands that inspired The Sassenach whisky. Heughan explained The Sassenach Select is meant to be sipped and drank neat—although he’s not opposed to a tequila negroni. “I’d rather savor it than shoot it,” he wrote on Twitter. As for its taste, “cooked agave, toasty oak, light vanilla, sweet spice, and herbal notes with a hint of caramel,” Heughan wrote. He says that there are no additives, added flavoring or coloring (the gold color is from the natural aging process).
Is there a worm in Sam Heughan’s tequila?
No worm. “If you want a worm, go outside,” he joked on Twitter. “No creepy crawlies.”
How much is Sam Heughan’s tequila?
All this experience, flavor and uniqueness does not come cheap: A bottle of The Sassenach Select will run you $99. But, this tequila is 100 percent agave, which is always more expensive than tequila that’s not pure. And so far, The Sassenach Select has had some very positive feedback. “This is not just another ‘celeb tequila,’” event management company Twist London Limited wrote on Twitter. “Legitimately some of the best tequila on the market. It will be hard to get hold of, it will be worth it.” Such positive reviews are no surprise given not just the popularity, but the critical acclaim of The Sassenach whisky, which won double gold (the highest prize!) two years in a row at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Where can I buy Sam Heughan’s tequila?
Only 55,000 bottles of The Sassenach Select have been produced, and as Heughan noted in his Dec. 20 tweet, the first batch of those bottles has already sold out. Here’s the good news: Heughan tweeted on Feb. 14, 2022, that the tequila is once again available for pre-order at SassenachSelect.com or ReserveBar.com. Next, raise a wee dram to Droughlander nearly being over with our behind-the-scenes photo gallery from Outlander Season 6!
