Laelia Añejo

Laelia tequila draws inspiration from the flower songs of the Nahua, one of Mexico’s indigenous peoples.

The name “Laelia” carries distinct cultural meanings. Botanically, it refers to the Mexican orchid, while more broadly it can be associated with happiness or joy.

Together, these elements lend a subtle femininity to an otherwise traditional tequila.

The brand is owned and operated by the Ontiveros family, headed by Fernando Pérez Ontiveros. Fernando is principal owner of Laelia and the Casa Natima distillery (NOM 1607), located in Amatitán, Jalisco. This is in the Tequila Valley (Los Valles) near the base of the volcano that created the rich local soil for growing agave.

There were some initial questions around the brand when it released its añejo expression in May of 2025, just months after launch, since an añejo must be aged for a minimum of 12 months. While Laelia is the first house brand of its distillery, the parent company has existed since 2019 producing tequilas for other brands, so production likely started before “Laelia” was officially introduced.

On the nose you get a barrel-forward tequila, with a good amount of oak, barrel spices, vanilla, dried fruits (like cherries), and rich dark chocolate.

The palate is similar to the nose with barrel spices, dark cocoa, and pronounced oak, but you also get more complexity with sweet caramel, more stone fruits, and a nice cooked agave for an añejo.

Inspired by the Nahua's flower songs and named for the Mexican orchid, Laelia Añejo is an enjoyable tequila that honors cultural heritage while delivering barrel-driven depth.