Food, Drink & Culture Enthusiast
I'm Anthony Padilla — a Mexican American from Southern California with family roots in Jalisco. My love for food and drink is something I was born into and have spent my life deepening through travel and an obsession with quality and tradition.
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"There is nothing more important in a Mexican restaurant than the tortilla — and it should always be freshly made."
— Anthony Padilla
Where It All Begins
My passion for food started in a family kitchen surrounded by extraordinary cooks. Fruit, freshly made dishes, drinks around the table — these are the memories that shaped everything.
I have vivid memories of trying jicama and guavas for the first time. Now I get genuinely excited every year when guava season arrives. That connection to fresh, seasonal, high-quality ingredients never left me.
Many in my family have a green thumb, and so do I. Growing food, knowing where it comes from, and respecting traditional methods are values I carry into everything.
One of my favorite restaurants is a hole-in-the-wall my grandmother has been going to for nearly 40 years. Nothing fancy — just honest food anchored by the best fresh tortillas you'll ever taste.
My dream: an outdoor kitchen, a garden, and some animals. The full circle.
"Food, fruit, and drinks — that's our love language."
The Craft of Agave
About five years ago I started collecting tequila. Like many, I began with mainstream brands — but over time I found my way to the world of additive-free, traditionally produced tequila, and everything changed.
It fits how I already think about food — quality ingredients, traditional methods, nothing artificial. When I learned most commercial tequilas contain additives like caramel coloring and glycerin, I never looked back.
Today I track tequilas by NOM number — the official identifier assigned to each distillery in Mexico — across the regions of Jalisco. I've visited Tequila, Jalisco multiple times and seen firsthand how the best producers work. My favorite thing about tequila isn't collecting — it's the sharing. I'm known in my family as the tequila guy, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Distilleries I Follow by NOM
Arandas, Jalisco
NOM 1474 · 1499 · 1412 · 1465 · 1414 · 1468 · 1139
Tequila Ocho · Mijenta · Mi Casa · Corrido · Carrera · Yeyo · Alma del Jaguar · ArteNOM 1414 · Lalo · Tapatío · El Tesoro
Jesús María, Jalisco
NOM 1579 · 1580
G4 · Volans · Don Vicente · Primo · ArteNOM 1579 · General Gorostieta · Terralta · Tierra de Ensueño
Tequila, Jalisco
NOM 1502 · 1599 · 1108 · 1109 · 1493 · 1146
Partida · Atanasio · El Tequileño · Arette · Fortaleza · ArteNOM 1146 · Cimarrón · Fuentaseca · Don Fulano · Tears of Llorona
Amatitán, Jalisco
NOM 1646 · 1607 · 1614
Cabal · Onda · Cazcanes · Tres Agaves
El Arenal, Jalisco
NOM 1586 · 1123
Chamucos · El Gran Legado de Vida · Wild Common · Cascahuin · ArteNOM 1123 · Lágrimas del Valle · Montagave · Siembra Valles · Loco
San Julián · Atotonilco · Valle de Guadalupe
NOM 1584 · 1120 · 1533
Pasote · Tepozán · Siete Leguas · La Gritona
Food Finds Across the Globe
I've traveled across Mexico, Europe, and the US. The first thing I do in any new city is find somewhere worth eating — always chasing places where craft and tradition come together.
The Brand
OjoAñejo is a genuine desire to share something I love.
The concept is simple: tequila giveaways on Instagram, built around the community of people who love high-quality, additive-free spirits. It's about doing something I'm passionate about and connecting with people who feel the same way.
My first giveaway had one entry. I still did it. Show up, share something great, and let the right people find you.
Follow @ojoanejo on Instagram →
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