New Mexico State University Athletics’s partnership with Admiral Beverage Corp. has led to the unveiling this week of its “Official Tequila of NM State Athletics.”
The pairing marks a first-of-its-kind for any university in the state, NMSU said in a news release Thursday. Through Admiral's athletics sponsorship, Cantera Negra will have the exclusive “official tequila” designation during the 2021-22 season and receive exposure through several digital campaigns and on NMStateSports.com.
Cantera Negra is an all-natural, hand-crafted tequila available in 24 states across the country.
NM State Sports Properties, which has multimedia rights for the Aggies, is the locally based Learfield IMG College team that had a hand in securing the agreement on behalf of the university.
Cantera Negra Tequila Chief Operating Officer David Szydlik said the company launched its spirits in New Mexico this year.
“We believe this is a great opportunity to give back to the local community of Las Cruces, as well as the entire Aggie family,” Szydlik said. “My wife and I have relocated here, and we're looking forward to attending many of the Aggie sporting events and working in the local community."
NM State Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said the official tequila joins other spirits special to Aggies, like Pistol Pete’s 1888 Ale, the Aggies’ officially licensed beer that won the bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2018.
Founded over 40 years ago, Cantera Negra has only been available for sale in the United States since 2017. Cantera Negra is made in small-batch quantities from blue agaves, which are grown in the valley regions of Jalisco, Mexico.
