Proper Presents: TASTES with Clase Azul

On June 4, we had the pleasure of hosting Clase Azul’s Master Distiller, Viridiana Tinoco, for a special tequila-and-tasting experience at La Piscina. The gathering marked both a celebration of Tinoco’s first tour of the United States…and kicked off the TASTES theme in our new Proper Presents series, a lineup of meaningfully immersive events curated for our guests and local communities. TASTES gatherings will spotlight inspiring voices in the worlds of food and beverage, spanning from emerging chefs to renowned sommeliers and everything in between.

Our night with Clase Azul started as guests were greeted on La Piscina’s patio with Manager Markisha Barber’s twist on a welcome cocktail—spicy margarita gelatin spheres with a smoked sea salt foam, followed by a palate cleansing sorbet.

From here, Tinoco offered a tasting of Clase Azul’s well-loved Reposado in its iconic blue and white hand-painted ceramic decanter. Its notes of agave, hazelnut, vanilla, and clove were enhanced by Chef Will’s first canapé of the evening, a Pulpo Aguachile topped with an arroz chicharrón and presented in an oyster shell. 

For the next course, Tinoco introduced her first blend, the Clase Azul Gold. Initially developed as a one-time batch, the overwhelming positive reaction has given it a permanent home in the brand’s portfolio—combining Plata tequila with a French Oak barrel-aged reposado and an añejo aged three years in American whiskey casks and finished in sherry barrels. As a culinary pairing to complement the Clase Azul Gold, Chef Will shared a Flour Infladito canapé with charred corn guajillo espuma and chorizo verde, bringing out the flavors of fig, toasted oak, ginger, and cacao in the spirit. 

Tinoco then walked the guests through tasting the Clase Azul Añejo, showcasing the beautiful hand-painted decanter—paired with a Picanha Tostada to bring out notes of orange marmalade, toasted oak, nutmeg, and clove. To wrap up a magical night, guests tasted one of Clase Azul’s newest mezcals, Guerrero—enjoyed with a Corn Husk Meringue topped with lemon curd and tequila gel.

Thanks to all who joined us for this deliciously immersive tasting experience—and be sure to follow along as we share the lineup for future installments of the Proper Presents series, with upcoming events focused around wellness, culinary innovation, design, and more.