Loca Loka Tequila's Golden Hour
At first blush, the idea of a tequila from the highlands of Mexico melded with the culture and creativity of India would seem an unlikely combination. But the vision of Loca Loka Tequila's founders—Indian film star Rana Daggubati, musician and composer Anirudh Ravichander, and entrepreneur Harsha Vadlamudi—and the craftsmanship of the artisans who shepherded the tequila from agave to bottle, have been rewarded with a gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.
Jalisco, By Way of New Delhi
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The medal comes a year after the launch of Loca Loka, whose name is the Spanish word for 'crazy' and the Sanskrit word for 'world.' Jalisco, a state in Mexico where tequila is made, is more than 9,000 miles from New Delhi, India's capital. But there is common ground between the two cultures. Daggubati explains, 'Loca Loka was born from a shared passion for storytelling and cultural fusion. As co-founders, [we] brought together diverse experiences—from hospitality to music—to build a tequila brand that celebrates joy, flavor, and global connection.'
With tequila having become a global phenomenon over the last couple of decades, the time has come for those who love it worldwide to use the category as a reflection of their own cultures. Loca Loka co-founder Ravichander is one of India's most renowned musicians, famed for his singing, writing, instrumental prowess and production both in films and on record. 'Music and spirits are a natural match,' Ravichander says, 'and I'd already seen tequila gaining traction in my circles. This felt like the perfect first step into entrepreneurship—an opportunity to merge my passion for music with a vibrant lifestyle brand. We're bringing the brand to life through live events and concerts, and I'm even composing original music inspired by Loca Loka.'
Additive-Free, Made the Traditional Way
Although Loca Loka was imagined in India, it's made according to Mexican tradition, without additives and with only the finest 100-percent blue Weber agave from the highlands of Jalisco. The agaves used to make the tequila have aged for at least six years, giving them a higher sugar content, which results in a better finished product.
Loca Loka is available in two expressions: a blanco and a reposado. The blanco is unaged, showcasing the quality of the agave and the skill of the tequileros; the sweet flavor of cooked agave combines with a subtle earthiness and a smooth, prolonged finish. The reposado is aged for less than a year in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The French oak imparts a rounded sweetness while the American oak contributes vanilla and peppery spice, both of which harmonize with the sweet, lightly vegetal and mineral notes of the cooked agave, without overwhelming it. Both the blanco and the reposado are ideal for sipping as well as mixing. and the tequila's quality is evident even when tasted blind—as was the case in San Francisco, when the judges at the SFWSC awarded it the gold.
Bringing Loca Loka to the World
Loca Loka initially rolled out in the U.S. in 2024. In 2025, the brand looks to establish an international footprint, expanding to India as well as the U.K., Dubai, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Travel retail will also be a focus. 'With travel retail as a priority channel,' co-founder Vadlamudi explains, 'our journey will begin at [India's] Hyderabad International Airport, chosen for its growing consumer base and global connectivity. Through curated displays, tastings, and immersive brand storytelling, we aim to introduce Loca Loka as a premium discovery brand—celebrating cultural intersections and inviting international travelers to toast to a new era of celebration.'
To have such a global reach is almost unheard of for such a young brand, but Loca Loka's trio of founders has positioned it as a tequila with worldwide appeal, from the stylish look of the bottles to the presence of Daggubati and Anirudh as its spokesmen. In the end, though, it's the quality of the spirit in the bottle that determines a brand's success—and as its triumph in San Francisco attests, Loca Loka's future is looking bright.
To learn more about Loca Loka and the people behind it, visit the brand online at localokalife.com.
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