Stained-Glass Designs Toast Tequila’s Mexican HeritageStained-Glass Designs Toast Tequila’s Mexican Heritage

Six artworks are turned into colorfully printed mosaics that celebrate tequila’s intimate connection to Mexico.

Rick Lingle, Freelancer

January 23, 2025

3 Min Read
1800 Tequila Essential Artist Series
1800 Tequila and Proximo Spirits

For centuries, the interplay of light and color through stained glass has captured our attention — whether in a cathedral or a home.

The same mesmerizing visual effect has been applied literally to tapered bottles of the latest edition of 1800 Tequila’s Essential Artist Series, introduced this month.

Appealing to tequila and art connoisseurs alike, it’s the latest release in the brand’s continuing support of established and emerging Mexican artists.

The new 2025 collection includes six exclusive designs showcasing original artwork by artist Raúl de Nieves. The series is an extension of his “A window to the see, a spirit star chiming in the wind of wonder” installation in the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington that ran for a year until September 2024.

De Nieves cleverly created a stained-glass effect by taping numerous pieces of colored plastic film to the skylights spanning the gallery.

Artwork transported from skylight to bottle.

De Nieves’ artwork recreated on each label is a printed mosaic comprised of tiny colored squares.

Each tells a story of cultural pride and artistic passion grounded in the rich traditions of Mexico. For example, the skull image (below, left) is La Catrina, a figure that represents the cycle of life and death and is a central symbol of the Mexican Day of the Dead. To the right of La Catrina is the Quetzalcoatl, the “plumed serpent” god of the Aztecs.

Related:Beer Can Label Mimics Stained-Glass Window

1800-Tequila-Essential-Artist-Series-Day-of-the-dead-and-Serpent-web.jpg

A thoughtful detail that adds to the presentation is a small neck label emblazoned with the Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart), a symbol steeped in Mexican culture, representing a spirit of life, love, and memory.

The connection between design and product is an intimate one. Tequila, often hailed as Mexico’s national drink, holds a profound cultural significance deeply rooted in the country’s history and traditions. From its humble origins to its global acclaim today, tequila’s journey is intertwined with Mexico’s cultural identity, rituals, and craftsmanship.

“Being Mexican has always been at the forefront of my identity, so I am incredibly honored for 1800 Tequila, a brand that makes it a priority to spotlight Mexican voices, to have selected me as this year’s Essential Artist,” explains de Nieves. “Similar to 1800 Tequila, my culture is my craft. I am beyond excited to unveil this collaboration to the world and bring Mexican culture to a global stage through this partnership.”

1800 Tequila selected de Nieves as its hero co-creator for his passionate Mexican identity and the shared championing of Mexican culture through their respective crafts.

Art collectibles, one bottle at a time.

1800 Tequila and de Nieves exclusively previewed the 12th edition of the Essential Artist Series at the contemporary art triennial in New Orleans, Prospect.6 on Día de los Muertos — a Mexican holiday to remember the life of those who have passed on from the physical world.

“As the tequila category grows, 1800 Tequila maintains its leadership as the world’s most awarded tequila and a historic Mexican brand that prioritizes taste across both tequila and culture,” says Lander Otegui, senior VP of marketing at 1800 Tequila maker Proximo Spirits. “This decades-long art project has produced accessible art collectibles for our fans, collaborating with some of the world’s most culturally relevant artists. We are proud to have an Essential Artist such as Raúl de Nieves join us this year to explore and introduce our multi-faceted and colorful Mexican culture to a US audience.”

Through these collaborations, 1800 Tequila provides artists with an alternative canvas to create sought-after collectibles that can be savored one bottle at a time.

Explore more stained-glass packaging designs at Packaging Digest.

About the Author

Rick Lingle

Freelancer

Rick Lingle, now a freelancer, was Senior Technical Editor for PlasticsToday, and previously for Packaging Digest, until his retirement in December 2024. Lingle has been a packaging media journalist since 1985, specializing in food, beverage, and plastic markets. He earned a chemistry degree from Clarke College and worked in food industry R&D for Standard Brands/Nabisco and the R.T. French Co. He can be reached at [email protected].

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