ArteNOM Tequila

Founded by Jacob Lustig in 2010, ArteNOM is an independent bottler of exquisite small batch tequilas sourced from renowned distilleries and master distillers. Each expression—named for the distillery’s NOM number—presents regional tequila selections of distinct altitude, agave cultivation, and distillation techniques developed in collaboration with Jacob to add slight twists or variances to traditional offerings from these producers. 

Jacob, born and raised in San Francisco, spent much of his youth in Oaxaca and worked as a translator and tour guide as a teen. As tequila gained popularity in the 1980s, Jacob added visits with mezcal producers to his tour itineraries, nurturing relationships with remote Oaxacan distilleries. He soon found himself completely immersed in the world of agave spirits and after years spent collaborating on and developing some of the industry’s largest and most successful brands, the idea of ArteNOM took shape.

Jacob recognized that the volatility of the tequila industry meant that even the greatest of distillers and their spirits could be lost to time and circumstance, so he sought out the producers and cultivators he most admired to assemble a sort of tequila “hall of fame.” Unfortunately, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila—Tequila Regulatory Council or CRT—forbids a single brand from sourcing from multiple producers, but after years of unsuccessful lobbying with the CRT, ArteNOM was finally granted an exception to that rule. By emphasizing the art of the NOMs, ArteNOM tells the stories of the producers and the distilleries—stories that are often lost in the branding behind a distillery’s many labels.

ArteNOM’s labels highlight not only the distilleries and tequileros but also technical details such as the geographic coordinates, maturity, and average Brix of the agave to convey a deep understanding and reverence for the agaveros, tequileros, and distilleries that have shaped tequila as we know it today.