Tequila is having something of a renaissance. The signs are everywhere: tequila being on pace to overtake vodka as America’s most consumed spirit; tequila cocktails dominating menus at every sceney cocktail bar; and countless pop-culture references to the beloved Jalisco spirit everywhere you look. There’s never been a better time to be a tequila fan—and now, there’s a new elite tequila making waves in the industry, one that has quickly become synonymous with excellence.
You have to be making something special to stand out in a saturated market, and Gran Coramino is doing just that. The brand officially launched in the spring of 2022 with a crystal-clear Cristalino expression. It has since gone on to add a second: an Añejo aged for over 12 months. Gran Coramino isn’t like any other tequila brand out there—it is a culmination of two massively successful personal journeys, a tribute to the country and the people who brought the beloved spirit to the world, and a tasteful representation of style, craft, and passion. On top of that, it tastes delicious. Here’s everything you need to know about your new favorite luxury tequila brand.
.jpeg)
Kevin Hart and Juan Domingo Beckmann
How It All Started
When legendary comedian Kevin Hart wanted to turn his passion for tequila into a part of his legacy, he knew he needed to find the right partner to bring his vision to life. Hart has a reputation for his unwavering work ethic and commitment to excellence in every project he undertakes, so he wouldn’t just settle for any partner. It took a few years of searching, but eventually, he found his match.
Enter: Juan Domingo Beckmann, a storied visionary of the tequila industry. Beckmann’s family has been producing the world’s most-awarded tequila from the same agave fields for 11 generations. In fact, it was his family who brought tequila to the global stage over 250 years ago. Widely known within the tequila industry as a boundary-pushing leader, it comes as no surprise that when Beckmann and Hart met in Tequila, Mexico, each recognized the passion and potential in the other.
The combined expertise of the two men, both industry leaders in their respective fields, created a momentum that was the starting point for Gran Coramino tequila. The industry hasn’t been the same since.
.jpeg)
The Two Tequilas
Gran Coramino initially launched with a Cristalino, a barrel-aged reposado filtered for color and smoothness. The desire to create a more accessible expression of aged tequila is what drove Beckmann to initially create the Cristalino expression of tequila. Cristalino is a richer, sweeter spirit stripped of its color and heavy wood notes.
Gran Coramino Cristalino is rested in Eastern European oak barrels for several months. It is then finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks from Napa Valley––a nod to Hart’s home state––to add a slightly sweet berry finish. Finally, it’s slow-filtered for drinkability, the final step in becoming a Cristalino. The lighter expression is great served on the rocks, garnished with crystallized ginger for a touch of elegance.
The second expression is a silky-smooth Añejo. After the finest blue agaves are hand-selected from Beckmann’s family fields, the piña hearts are slow-roasted in traditional stone ovens. The tequila is then aged for over 12 months in American and French oak barrels. As a final step, it is blended with a smooth Añejo matured in cognac barrels for a unique taste. The end result is a beautiful, complex, deep-amber tequila with a sweet cognac finish. Sip it on the rocks, or mix up an Añejo Old Fashioned: two ounces of Añejo, a bar spoon of agave syrup, two dashes of orange bitters, and an orange peel for garnish.
Making a Difference
For Hart and Beckmann, creating a superior aged tequila wasn’t enough—they also wanted to ensure their brand was lifting up the communities that raised them. For every bottle of Gran Coramino sold, $1 is donated to support the limitless potential of aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups in the U.S. and Jalisco, Mexico.
When two masters of their craft come together over a shared passion, you get tequila at its finest—because hard work tastes different.
