Shankar Distillers in Troy Releases New Premium Tequila Brand

Shankar Distillers in Troy is adding to its craft spirits portfolio with a new premium tequila brand, 900 Grados, available in Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo varieties.

The 900 Grados Tequilla, which is available at area retailers and restaurants across Michigan, Georgia, Florida and Texas, has three expressions:

The Shankar Distillers tasting room and distillery is located at 1030 Chicago Rd., southwest of E. Maple and John R roads. The building includes a two-story distillation column housed in a glass tower that peers out the roof, and an eagle mural painted on the side of the building.

"We produced an exceptional tequila in partnership with a tequilera in Jalisco, Mexico, exclusively for Shankar Distillers," says Varchasvi Shankar, founder of Shankar Distillers. "Tequila is the fastest growing spirit on the planet right now. It will be a nice complement to our Michigan-made craft bourbon, gin, and vodka lines."

Shankar Distillers is known for its award-winning Varchas Whiskey, which includes two bourbons honored as Gold Medal Winners at the recent 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Varchas Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Varchas Reserve 102 Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. The Reserve 102 Bourbon also recently received honors as Bartender Spirit Awards "Best Single Barrel Bourbon of the Year."

The Shankar Distillers tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday and tours are available Friday and Saturday. Tasting room hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3 pm to 10 pm, Friday 3 pm to midnight, Saturday 11 am to midnight and Sunday 11 am to 6 pm.

To celebrate the new line, Shankar Distillers is hosting a launch party for the 900 Grados tequila on Sat., Nov. 16 from 4-11 p.m. in the Tasting Room. The party will feature tequila tastings, cocktails, mariachi, Mexican food, and more.