Personalizing Clase Azul’s 2026 Limited Edition Decanters for the world cup
Looking to gift your clients something out of the ordinary?
Our Austin studio recently partnered with Clase Azul México to personalize their ultra-rare Spirit of Champions Limited Edition 2026 Tequila decanters with meticulous hand-engraved calligraphy for their VIP clients.
TL;DR: The Quick Details
Surface expertise: Hand-done calligraphy engraving on luxury ceramic
Turnaround time: Standard 2-week turnaround with dedicated white-glove rush processing available
Location: Proudly serving luxury brands, corporate agencies, and enterprises across Austin, Texas (and beyond), and in this case, our friends at Clase Azul México 🥃
Case Study: Bringing the Clase Azul Spirit of Champions 2026 to Life
ICYMI, Clase Azul prides itself on an unwavering commitment to human touch and traditional Mexican artisanship—a philosophy that is instantly recognizable in their iconic, handmade decanters. To celebrate a massive global moment like the World Cup (Go México 🇲🇽!), Clase Azul sought an experience that matched this level of devotion: custom engraved personalization from Handsome Ink to match the beauty of their decanters.
With individually painted country flags on the bottom of each bottle — to say we were excited to have these decanters in our studio is an understatement. Having roots in Mexico, this commission was extra special—we do love tequila after all (neat, please), and being trusted to engrave our custom calligraphy onto these collectors' items was an absolute highlight for our studio.
creating a magic moment for your clients
Creating a magic moment and gifting experience can make or break a deal (literally). Some studies show that over 64% of companies increased corporate gifting budgets to actively reduce client churn. That means that a strategically timed luxury curated gift can yield priceless value in client retention.
Plus, a unique custom keepsake like this is likely to earn a permanent spot on an executive's office shelf or home bar, keeping your brand top-of-mind long after the bottle's final drops. In Mexican tradition, these last remaining drops of a fine spirit are beautifully called the gotas de la felicidad—the drops of happiness—traditionally poured to bring good fortune to the person who receives them.
approaching VIP engraving: Step by step
Step 1: Matching the surface to the technique
Not one bottle is created the same, and in Clase Azul’s case, every decanter is unique. From the very beginning, we knew that we would be unable to approach this project like a typical glass engraved bottle—our years of professional experience helped with this.
The solution? An engraved name with a gold ink fill. Typically, we use a wax fill when it comes to glass engraving, but we knew this would not be the right solution for these ceramic decanters. Instead, we selected a premium acrylic gold ink, carefully filling in the engraved grooves to ensure no smudges or smears would get in the way of the craftsmanship.
Step 2: Drafting the calligraphy
We knew these bottles were special, so we took our time in pre-production. For us, that means lining the bottles so that the placement is exactly the same on all of them, and that the personalization is center-aligned. After drafting, we sketch out the names in pencil to guide the engraving for the best possible result.
Step 3: Engraving
Once all of the bottles had been drafted, we used our hand-held engraving tools to hand engrave each of the names. Every substrate has its traits, and in this case, we opted to calibrate our tools to engrave ceramic.
Step 4: The gold fill
Once each name was engraved, the bottles displayed a “blind” engraving. That means that there was no fill to the engraving and it showed the unglazed layer underneath. To match the beautiful gold on the rest of the bottle, we used an acrylic gold ink and filled in each of the engraved grooves carefully with a pointed pen.
This deliberate and intentional process allowed us to maintain consistency across all decanters and ensure each of them received their proper love and attention.
Navigating the logistics
And if you have some questions about some of the process, we’re here to unveil the behind-the-scenes logistics. Our timelines vary between projects, and they start at a 2 week turnaround.
Oh and if you know you needed your custom engraving yesterday, we can do that too. Our studio process is seamless so that we’re able to accommodate rush projects no problem. As employees of agencies in the past and big brands, we understand that oftentimes rush is the only option, and we can help.
Looking for an engraved VIP gift? Contact us today for a custom engraving consultation, which is fancy speak for, send us an email—we’d love to hear about what you have in mind for your luxury engraving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does custom bottle engraving take for corporate orders in Austin, Texas?
Standard turnarounds for custom engraving start at 2 weeks depending on volume and availability. Rush turnaround can be accommodated if time permits.
Can you engrave custom company logos onto a spirit bottle?
Our services are all hand-done and our expertise comes in the calligraphy we provide. If you need an engraved logo with your calligraphy personalization, we work with a laser engraving partner to ensure that your logo is brand approved and correct.
Do you engrave on surfaces other than standard glass?
Yes. Our studio is fully equipped to engrave on standard liquor bottle glass, steel and fine ceramic or earthenware decanters like Clase Azul.