BeverageUnderground's video: Azu ia Tequila Mixing it Up and Building a Brand from Baja to the Backbar

NAPLES, FL (July 17, 2002) Jim Riley of Azuñia Tequila works hard and plays hard, and this champion of Baja Racing is also a champion when it comes to high quality spirits. Jim Riley traveled from Southern California to Florida recently and his first stop was Naples to visit Bond Restaurant and Lounge. Riley was on a whistle-stop tour of Florida visiting old friends and making plenty of new ones with his 100% Certified Organic Super-Premium Azuñia Tequila. Beverage Underground.com and Larry 'Smokey' Genta got the chance to talk with Jim Riley about the heritage of Azuñia and his love of Baja Racing while making up three classic cocktails using Azuñia Platinum Tequila, Azuñia Reposado Tequila and Azuñia Anejo Tequila. Riley launched the Azuñia brand in 2009, but the source is as pure and true as the spirit itself, as the heritage of the Zuñiga Family in Mexico represents the largest supply of USDA Certified Organic Tequila. Prior to the creation of Intersect Beverage which supplies 46 states with both Azuñia Tequila, and Tequila Regional, Jim Riley was the Vice President of Public Relations and Events at Ketel One Vodka but after the Nolet Family and Ketel One sold out to UK based Diageo, he followed another passion of his Baja Racing. Riley has been a leader and champion in the sport for the past 8 years and recently added to his accomplishments by winning the 2012 Mexican 1000 mile Baja Race in a vintage 1971 Chevy Nova. Azuñia Tequila is the Official Tequila of the 2012 National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) and Intersect Racing along with General Tire sponsor the Championship Race Team of Riley and race partner Rick Johnson. Event participants and teams enjoyed Azuñia Ultimate Margaritas and hospitality at several stops throughout the rally, including the "Welcome Fiesta and Driver's Meeting," a sunset "Victory Party" and several overnight stops down the Baja peninsula. This was the second year of a two-year agreement between NORRA and Intersect Beverage, the parent company of the Azuñia brand. In his visit to Naples, Jim Riley stopped by Bond Restaurant and Lounge, where Larry Genta demonstrated the versatility of the three Azuñia Tequila varieties by making a Bloody Maria, a Paloma Cocktail and the classic Brave Bull Cocktail. After a dinner at Agave Restaurant, also in Naples he, along with Kase Price, the Florida Regional Sales Manager for Intersect Beverage visited several accounts throughout the state including La Hacienda de San Angel, the authentic Mexican Restaurant located at Disney's Epcot Center where Azuñia Tequila is featured prominently as their signature 'Organic Margarita.