
They Built This Tequila From Mexican History… (Emblema Interview)
From Tasting Tequila with Brad by Bradley Niccum
April 15, 2026 · 56 min
About this episode
An interview with the founders of Emblema Tequila discussing their unique approach to tequila production rooted in Mexican history and culture.
Emblema Tequila review and interview with founders Jean Birlain and Alex Cardenas. This additive-free tequila focuses on Mexican history, culture, and traditional production methods. In this episode of Tasting Tequila with Brad, I sit down with the founders of Emblema Tequila to break down the story behind one of the most unique new tequila brands on the market. Jean Birlain and Alex Cardenas share how Emblema was built around Mexican history, art, and culture, starting in Mexico before expanding to the U.S.—something you don’t see often in today’s tequila industry. We dive into: • Why they launched in Mexico FIRST • Their work with NOM 1480 in Amatitán • Single estate agave and traditional production • Stone oven cooking, fermentation, and distillation • Unique barrel aging techniques (including custom flavor infusion) • The connection to the Museo Nacional de las Artes Gráficas • The story behind the Emblema name and label design Plus, I give my tasting notes on their Blanco and Añejo and break down what makes this tequila stand out. If you’re into additive-free tequila, traditional methods, and real brand stories, this is one you don’t want to miss. Have you tried Emblema yet…
People in this episode
Host: Bradley Niccum
Guests: Jean Birlain, Alex Cardenas
Topics covered
- tequila production
- Mexican history
- additive-free tequila
- traditional methods
- brand stories
- interview
Keywords
- Emblema Tequila
- additive-free tequila
- traditional production methods
- tequila review
- Blanco
- Añejo
- Mexican culture
- tequila industry
- agave
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Emblema Tequila, NOM 1480, Museo Nacional de las Artes Gráficas
Places: Amatitán, Mexico, U.S.
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