Simply the zest: Tequila Pacific & Lime Blanco

Created by managing director Nikša Pirović and 10th-generation Tequila maker Bruno Barba, Pacific & Lime blends tradition and innovation.

What comes to mind when you think about Mexico? For Nikša Pirović, there are two key factors, which inspired the Pacific & Lime brand. “We came up with the name Pacific & Lime as it reflects many things we associate with Mexico, which is the core focus of our business,” explains managing director Pirović. “Our mezcals and Tequilas are from Oaxaca and Jalisco, which border the Pacific Ocean, while limes are a key ingredient in Mexican drinks and cuisine.”

For the past five years, Pirović and his team have been focused on increasing the availability of Noble Coyote Mezcals. Their first point of call was to start distributing the brand in Europe. Since then, Noble Coyote has been gaining traction with leading importers and distributors. “Over the course of this time, we have developed a structure that gives us ownership stakes in the plantations that supply our agaves, providing us with far greater control over our supply chain, and ensuring we have access to the highest-quality ingredients,” he adds.

The company may have made its mark in mezcal, but it is now ready to showcase its namesake Tequila to the world: Pacific & Lime Blanco. It all stemmed from a fortunate meeting with 10th-generation Tequila maker Bruno Barba, co-owner of the business: “With him on board, it made perfect sense to launch our own Tequila drink,” says Pirović.

Pacific & Lime Blanco is a 100% Agave Azul Tequila, with a clean and crisp flavour. Slow-steamed and double-distilled in small batches to achieve a perfectly balanced spirit, the tasting notes include mellow white fruit with zesty citrus and sweet pineapple. These characteristics were non-negotiable for Pirović, to create a Tequila that could satisfy the demands of discerning drinkers and on-trade professionals.

“We want our customers to be transported when they drink our Tequila Blanco – to feel the joy and celebration of Mexico’s sunlit beaches, and for the drink to be a catalyst for bringing people together,” he notes. “We’ve aimed to craft a drink that can be enjoyed both sipped or in a cocktail, but in either case, with a distinct flavour, so the customer knows they are drinking Pacific & Lime.”

Meeting industry needs

Pirović and his team did not rest on their laurels; they sought input from some of the best in the business before finalising the Tequila. “The biggest input we had was that existing Tequilas tend either to taste better just for sipping, or are more suited to mixing in a cocktail, but few work well in both,” Pirović notes.

Visitors to Bar Convent Berlin in October were among the first to sample Pacific & Lime’s inaugural Tequila, where it garnered positive responses, with several individuals noting it was among the finest Tequilas they’d tasted at the event. And as a new year approaches, Pacific & Lime is ready to take its agave-based brands to the next level.

“Our focus for 2023 and into next year will be expansion across Europe,” says Pirović. “We have already seen good traction from early orders, and we are gaining interest outside our core market of Germany. In the latter part of 2024, we will be looking to expand globally. I want to add here that our goal is not simply to sell as many bottles as possible; it’s about finding people that share our passion for Mexican spirits and appreciate the quality, ingredients and unique flavours we strive to achieve. This way we can grow in a sustainable way with a dedicated customer base.”

Contact: sales@pacific-lime.com