Mark Wahlberg’s tequila is called Flecha Azul Tequila. The tequila brand was founded in 2020 by golf professional Abraham Ancer and entrepreneur Aron Marquez. Mark Wahlberg became a part-owner of Flecha Azul Tequila in August 2022.
Flecha Azul means “blue arrow” in English (flecha means arrow, azul means blue). The name was developed for its simplicity to pronounce and its symbolism. An arrow only flies forward after being pulled back, which is supposed to reference the founders’ humble beginnings. Azul is in reference to the blue agave, the variety which is used to make tequila.
The most affordable Flecha Azul tequila costs $45 (blanco) while the most expensive is $320 (extra añejo).
Table of Contents
Mark Wahlburg’s Role at Flecha Azul
Mark Wahlburg is part owner and brand ambassador at Flecha Azul Tequila. He sees his role as only the marketing side. He is careful to leave the responsibility for making the product to the experts, unlike other celebrities with their tequilas. Wahlburg takes an active role in promotion, signing bottles and visiting stores such as Total Wines & Spirits, Specs and Kroger. The brand is distributed by Southern Glazier’s in the US and is newly launched in Canada and Mexico.
What Kinds of Tequila Does Flecha Azul Make?
Tequilas produced by Flecha Azul are all 100% blue agave and made using traditional brick ovens and not diffusers. The brand claims to be additive free but does use additives in some expressions. It is not certified additive free and some tasters doubt their claim.
Flecha Azul Blanco
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Price: $45
- Agave: 100% Blue Agave
- Aging: Rested in stainless steel for two months
- Notes: Sweet for a blanco tequila, with floral aromas and some citrus.
Flecha Azul Reposado
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Price: $55
- Agave: 100% Blue Agave
- Aging: 6 months in American oak
- Notes: At six months aging this is above most reposados who age for just two months. Flavors include caramel, citrus and baked agave.
Flecha Azul Añejo
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Price: $65
- Agave: 100% Blue Agave
- Aging: 18 months in American oak
- Notes: Smooth tasting with notes of black pepper, oak and vanilla.
Flecha Azul Cristalino Añejo
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Price: $115
- Agave: 100% Blue Agave
- Aging: 18 months in American oak barrels
- Distillation: tequila used for Flecha Azul’s Cristalino is distilled three times, compared to other variants which are distilled twice.
- Cristalino: this process takes the aged tequila and uses charcoal filtering to remove the coloring and some flavors, in theory to obtain a lighter tasting tequila.
- Notes: Smooth tasting with some agave and not too much character. Cristalino is a strange category. Because the filtration process removes many flavors along with the colors, many brands use additives to add back flavors. When additives aren’t used, you can end up with a “smooth” but uninteresting tequila. Flecha Azul add chocolate to their Cristalino.
Flecha Azul Extra Añejo
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Price: $320
- Agave: 100% Blue Agave
- Aging: 36 months (3 years) in American oak barrels
- Notes: Oak, subtle agave and butterscotch. Smooth finish. Vanilla additives.
Flecha Azul Calories
Each expression of Flecha Azul Tequila contains 98 calories in a 1.5 oz shot.
Does Flecha Azul Tequila Have Additives?
Yes, certain expressions of Flecha Azul Tequila have additives. Although the brand claims to be additive free it also states that its Extra Añejo tequila has vanilla added. Flecha Azul also add chocolate to its Cristalino.
Flecha Azul tequilas are not certified additive free and some tasters note that they detect additives in their blanco. Under Mexican rules, brands can claim to be 100% agave tequila but still have up to 1% additives that they don’t have to disclose.
Flecha Azul Tequila Bottles
The bottles for Flecha Azul are made of colorless glass and are slightly squat. Mark Wahlberg is planning to release new bottles for the higher priced Cristalino and Extra Añejo versions to target clubs. These will stand out more behind bars and attract more attention for bottle service.
Distillery for Flecha Azul Tequila
Flecha Azul Tequila is produced at the Tequila Orendain Distillery, also known as La Mexicana, in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, NOM 1110.
Who Makes Flecha Azul Tequila?
Flecha Azul tequila is made by Tequila Orendain at La Mexicana Distillery in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. Orendain was founded in 1926 by Eduardo Orendain Gonzales, son of Don Eduardo Orendain. The son was a founder and first president of what is today The National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT, Camara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera) in 1959. The company is still family owned.
Other Brands Produced at the Distillery
A total of 22 brands are produced at the Orendain Distillery, seven of which are related to Orendain. These include Gran Orendain, Orendain Ollitas and Orendain. The Orendain family owns all the brands they produce except for Flecha Azul.
Other brands produced there include Casa Komos, Batanga (also the name of the tequila and coke cocktail), Imperio Del Don and Rayador Cutwater Tequila.
Flecha Azul Tequila Sales
Flecha Azul sold 32,788 cases in 2022 with the brand expecting to at least double sales in 2023. The brand has a target of 1 million cases sold annually which would put them in line with Sauza and Espolòn tequilas.
Who Owns Flecha Azul Tequila?
Flecha Azul Tequila is owned by Abraham Ancer, Aron Marquez (co-founders), and Mark Wahlberg. The brand also has a partnership with WES Brands. WES Brands’ other product is BSB Brown Sugar Bourbon, owned by actor Jamie Foxx.
Flecha Azul Tequila Celebrity Owners
Mark Walburg
Mark Walburg was born in 1971 in Dorchester, Boston, and is known for his acting and music career. His major acting roles include staring in The Departed in 2006 for which he received a best supporting actor nomination, The Perfect Storm in 2000 and The Fighter in 2010 for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actor. He stared in two Transformers films, Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.
From a troubled start (he dealt drugs and served jail time for assault) he later formed rap group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and became a Calvin Klein underwear model. His older brother Donnie Wahlberg of early boy band New Kids on the Block helped his career. Mark himself was an early member of New Kids on the Block but left the group before it reached greater commercial success.
Along with acting Walburg has several executive producer credits, such as for Boardwalk Empire and Entourage, the latter of which was partly based on his life coming to Hollywood.
Mark Wahlburg’s Business Interests include:
- Wahlburgers burger chain (along with brothers Donnie and Paul) and a reality TV series behind it, HBO’s Wahl Street
- Part owner of Barbados Tridents cricket team
- Aquahydrate water investor (along with Sean “P-Diddy” Combs and Ronald Burke)
- F45 fitness franchise investor
- Performance Inspired sports nutrition company (co-founder)
- Investor in several car dealerships like Mark Wahlberg Cheverolet in Columbus, Ohio
- Flecha Azul Tequila, investor, and brand ambassador since August 2022
Abraham Ancer (co-founder)
Abraham Ancer is a Mexican American professional golfer and co-founder of Flecha Azul Tequila. He was born February 27, 1991 in McAllen, Texas and raised in Reynosa, Mexico. He is currently playing with the LIV Tour and was previously with the PGA Tour. He won the 2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational for his first PGA win, and the 2018 Emirates Australian Open.
Abraham met co-founder Aron during a pro-am golf event at the 2018 Fort Worth Invitational.
Aron Marquez (co-founder)
Aron Marquez is an entrepreneur behind Wildcat Oil Tools and Black Quail Apparel. He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to Odessa, Texas when he was 11. In his younger years he picked onions and mowed lawns.
Further Questions About Flecha Azul
What Flecha Azul tequila is the best?
Flecha Azul’s aged tequilas tend to rate better than its blanco. The top of the range is the extra añejo, which is also the highest rated in the lineup.
What type of tequila is Flecha Azul?
Flecha Azul tequila is made from 100% agave. The tequila is made using traditional production methods. Flecha Azul makes blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilas plus an añejo cristalino.
Does Flecha Azul tequila go off?
An unopened bottle of Flecha Azul tequila will never go off, provided it is stored away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Once opened Flecha Azul should be drunk within a couple of years.
Is Flecha Azul tequila gluten free?
Yes, Flecha Azul tequila is gluten free. Like all tequilas (including mixtos) Flecha Azul contains no gluten.
Is Flecha Azul real tequila?
Yes, Flecha Azul is real tequila made from 100% agave. Flecha Azul is made using traditional methods. It’s extra añejo and cristalino tequila do contain additives.
Is Flecha Azul tequila Kosher?
Yes, Flecha Azul is acceptable as Kosher, as a 100% agave tequila.
What is Flecha Azul tequila ABV?
Flecha Azul tequila is 40% ABV (80 proof). Almost all tequila sold in the US is 40% ABV.