tequila

Don Valente Distillery Tour

The Ruta del Tequila in Jalisco, MX is an established UNESCO Cultural Site. With gorgeous blue agave as far as the eye can see, the tequila trail is a must-see for aficionados of the spirit. A hot air ballon trip covers the agave trails, the areas of el Arenal, Amatitán, Tequila, Magdalena y Teuchitlán. To really experience the Paisaje Agavero, or agave trail though, I recommend renting a car and grabbing a map to really experience the distilleries up close.

Just as important as the larger world-class distilleries in Jalisco are to the story of tequila, are the smaller, family-owned ones. I visited one such distillery, Don Valente, which is run completely by nine family members that each hold a different position in the company from designer to lawyer to sales.

The 15-year-old distillery does everything in-house, from cooking agave to hand-printing labels on aluminum, a process called repujado. When piñas, or hearts of the agave plant, are taken to Don Valente, they are placed face down in the brick oven in the shape of a pyramid to cook for 48 hours. In this formation, steam is more evenly distributed throughout the piñas. The family kindly passed around cooked piña to taste, part of which was tough like sugarcane and part of which was soft and insanely sweet like a sugar-saturated melon.

Click through the photo gallery to discover the Don Valente tequila process from piña roasting to pressing to distillation.

Gallery: Tequila Don Valente Distillery

My visit to Jalisco was sponsored by Tequila Cazadores, but the opinions expressed in the article are 100% my own.

Tags: agave, agave trail, jalisco, paisaje agavero, tequila

Is Your Tequila Authentic? Behind the scenes of the CRT

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

In 2009 136.4 million liters of tequila, made from 924.7 thousands tons of agave, were exported from Mexico, and those numbers are increasing every year. The U.S. is the largest importer of tequila, followed by Germany and Spain. How do you know what you're drinking is the real thing?

Just like Champagne or Cognac, Tequila is protected by state of appellation. Jalisco is one of only five Mexican states that are allowed by law to produce tequila, and takes the majority of the industry, as it serves as home to 95% of the world's agave plantations. The entire industry is regulated by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila, which tests samples from the more than 1200 labels from 150 distilleries produced in Mexico to ensure that quality standards are met across the country. And, because agave can grow virtually anywhere, international offices track down falsely labeled tequila bottles in places as far as India or New Zealand. CRT teams pressure local governments to take the offending spirits off of the market. International groups also work to make sure that authentic tequilas that are exported remain of consistent quality.

Overall, there are two types of tequila, both made from the White Tequiliana Weber Blue agave plant. For premium tequila, spirits are made from 100% agave. The rest, which is still considered tequila, just a lesser quality, is made 51% from the sugar of agave. Among these two, there's young tequila (gold/silver), reposado (rested) which is aged two months or more, and añejo which is aged in oak for more than a year. The rare extra añejo tequilas are aged for more than three years. Mexico's Minister of Health regulates any sweeteners, flavors, or colors that may be added to a blend.

So before you think sampling tequila 24/7 might be one of the world's greatest jobs, let's take a peak behind the scenes of the 15-year-old Consejo Regulador del Tequila, a watchdog group housed in a gorgeous modern building in Guadalajara, with walls filled with fine examples of agave art. The Mexican government's Ministry of Economy sets the standards for tequila across the industry, and the CRT ensures that these standards are met for its 150 members.

Gallery: Behind the Scenes of the CRT

Tags: consejo regulador del tequila, jalisco, tequila

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Touring the Tequila Cazadores Distillery: Does Listening To Mozart Make For Better Tequila?

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

To understand the story of Mexico, one must look at Tequila, a beverage that earned its roots from the Aztec goddess of agave Mayahuel, all the way to the early 1900s when Mexican revolutionaries took the drink as a sign of rebellion and strength. After thousands of years of growth and development, today, tequila represents the modernization of Mexico.I journeyed to Arandas in the highlands of Jalisco with a group of journalists to see the process of one of Mexico's finer brands, Cazadores.

Indeed, Tequila Cazadores' three labels together constitute the #1 selling premium tequila brand in the world. We began in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, already, 5,000 ft above sea level, and drove two and a half hours further up into the mountains. The farther out of the city we drove, the greater abundance of blue agave fields we saw, entering into the Agave Trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the farther up we drove, the redder the soil became, each mile out achieving a greater and deeper shade, revealing the high concentration of iron and minerals in the soil, resulting in a sweeter and less fibrous agave plant. Tequilas from the highlands tend to contain more fruit notes such as citrus, pear and orange, while tequilas from the lowlands tend to have more herbal flavors such as mint and grass.

A unique tequila undoubtedly is made through a unique process. At Cazadores, after the agave cores are cooked under 24 hot waterfalls, they are sent to the mill where they are cut, shredded and squeezed. The agave juice is fermented for four days with yeast in steel vats, without any chemicals or preservatives. And in the tradition of Cazadores creator Jose Maria Bañuelos, the fermenting juice must listen to classical music. A firm believer in the Mozart effect, aimed to create harmonious vibrations in the fermenting juice. Indeed, yeast is very sensitive to sound. Talk or shout into a vat and the yeast moves. With Mozart playing around the clock, the music had a soothing effect on the yeast to create the most desirable must, or agave juice.

Gallery: Cazadores in Arandas

Tags: jalisco, mexico, mozart effect, tequila, tequila cazadores

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Tequila Tasting in Springtime

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

There's something about springtime -- maybe it's all the allergens in the air -- that puts me in the mood for tequila.

It has nothing to do with any memories of a raucous margarita-filled spring break, for as regular Luxist readers well know, this blue-agave spirit is a lot more refined than that. When you drink a premium tequila, you don't need salt or a lime, just a contemplative mindset while you sip.

One great place to do a compare-and-contrast of over 100 tequilas is Salud, the lobby bar at the JW Marriott Star Pass in low-allergen Tucson, pictured above. "Lobby bar" sounds a bit dreary, this bar actually leads onto a wide deck, with fire pits and a view of the Sonoran desert. Get a snifter from $9 to $26, and perhaps kick it off with a tequila toast every night at 5:30, which is complimentary to hotel guests.

(My trip to Tucson was sponsored by Visit Tucson, and my opinions, as always, are 100% my own.)

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Tags: jw marriott, jw marriott star pass, salud, tequila, Tucson, Tucson Arizona

Tasting the Luxury Corzo Tequila Trio

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When it comes to luxury tequila, nothing I've tasted comes close to the Corzo tequila line. One of two tequila lines owned by Bacardi, I had the opportunity of sampling the three Corzo blends at the Cazadores distillery plant in Arandas. If tequila represents the revolutionary spirit of Mexico, Corzo evolves this history into the modern age.

Fabien Baron, the French designer whose work includes some of the most iconic perfume bottles of our time, was hired to design a bottle for this new brand. Inspired by the greatest of modern Mexican architects, Luis Barragán, Baron created a singular bottle fashioned in a strong, tall rectangular with an angular spout, that perfectly reflects the contemporary style of Mexican buildings. The perfume bottle shape hints at the fragrant and full-bodied tequila contained inside.

This triple distilled blend from the highlands is a sipping tequila across the three varieties, but can also serve to perfect any of your favorite tequila cocktails. For an optimum tequila tasting, it's necessary to use tequila glasses, a thin, high-waisted glass. We find that the best are made by Riedel, to experience premium flavors and intensified aromas. If you prefer, do as the locals do and find a handblown tall glass perfect for a small pour. It's important to exhale after any tequila tasting to fully enjoy the flavors of the spirit.

Tags: anejo, corzo tequila, reposado, tequila, tequila tasting

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5 Top Tequila Cocktails for Summer

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Despite the common misnomer, margaritas aren't really consumed much in Mexico, except for by tourists and by locals at beach resorts. Although it remains one of my favorite cocktails, on a recent visit to the Cazadores Distillery bar in Arandes, I was fortunate enough to receive a few bar lessons from the master herself, Cazadores Brand Ambassador Tania Osequera, who revealed some delicious alternatives to the standard lime drink. Gear up for summer and practice these five easy recipes in preparation for the hot months ahead. And for all you margarita enthusiasts, find one authentic recipe below.

Mayahuel
When in Arandas, it's a must to drink the local specialty, the Mayahuel, named after the goddess of agave herself. Arandes is known for its fresh-squeezed pink grapefruit juice, naturally sweet beyond anything you'd find in the States. The Mayahuel cocktail is enjoyed by jimadores after the harvest of the piñas, or agave plant cores. Oddly enough, New York's own club for tequila devotees, Mayahuel, fails to include the namesake cocktail on their menu.

To make a similar version:
Pour 4 oz. Pink grapefruit juice (fresh squeezed is ideal)
1.5 oz. Silver Cazadores over ice.
Sweeten to taste with organic agave nectar and stir.

Infused Tequila
For a large dinner party, nothing beats a pitcher of distilled spirits. For an alternative on the tired vodka blends, try this infused tequila recipe. It's just the thing for a hot summer night.
Pour a 750ml bottle of Cazadores silver into a glass pitcher, and fill with strips of cucumber and seedless watermelon. Store in the refrigerator overnight. Before serving, mix in a shaker with ice and a few drops of agave nectar. Serve over ice and garnish with mint.

Tags: cocktail recipes, cocktails, entertainment-pedia, luxist-awards, main-pedia, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, Tequila, tequila recipes

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Tasting the Tequila Cazadores Trio

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Tequila, the favored spirit of spring breakers far and wide, is often given a bad rap for being an amateur's liquor. A longtime fan of agave, I was thrilled to be a part of a trip to the tequila trail of Mexico in Jalisco, to learn more about this mysterious spirit. Although you'll find tequila aficionados experimenting with ultra-aged blends, for the masses there are three well-known types of tequila: silver, reposado and añejo. Extra añejo (for the ultra-aged) is gaining popularity among those who like their spirits saturated in oak,tequila purists would argue that too much aging overwhelms the delicate agave taste. And while I'm the first to say keep it in the barrel for most spirits, tequila is one of those rare liquids that has such an intense flavor and body all to its own (all credit due to the agave plant) that I'm the first to admit that anything aged over a year might negatively detract from the flavor of the tequila.

And beyond the tequila trinity, what about all this gold tequila we see everyone? As a devote to all things gold, these blends were most likely the bottles I was most drawn toward purchasing before being properly educated. But after learning the basics, say it ain't so, gold tequila is in most cases a lesser quality than silver tequila. Gold tequilas are more often than not silver tequilas with coloring or sugar additives. Fortunately for us, there wasn't a gold tequila in sight at the Cazadores distillery, except for the naturally aged reposados and añejos that naturally gain a slight coloring from oak barrel aging.

The story of Cazadores starts with Jose Maria Bañuelos, who created the recipe in 1922 and kept it in the family for three generations like all famly secrets deserve. It wasn't until his grandson Don Felix perfected the recipe and opened up a factory in 1973 that the special recipe was released to the public. He named the blend Cazadores, "hunters," in honor of his grandfather to signify a man hunting down his dream, and marked it with the symbol of a deer, the favorite animal of his grandfather, which he often watched at night mingling with the gorgeous blue agave plants in the field.

Gallery: Cazadores Distillery Bar

Tags: agave, anejo, cazadores, jalisco, tequila, tequila review, tequila tasting

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Tequila Patron becomes Title Sponsor of American Le Mans Series

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos

Premium brands have been moving to secure the naming rights in racing series around the world. Rolex sponsors the Daytona sportscar championship. IZOD recently took center stage in the IndyCar Series. But while liquor brands have been sponsoring individual cars and teams for decades – think Martini, Crown Royal or even the various breweries active in NASCAR – premium tequila distiller Patron has taken it a step further.

The tequila brand has been sponsoring cars in the American Le Mans Series (the U.S. affiliate of the famous French endurance race) for years, including the championship-winning Acura prototypes of Highcroft Racing. Now the company has secured the naming rights for the entire series, which will henceforth be known as the American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patron. The company's president will even be driving a Ferrari F430 GT2 in this year's championship, bearing the ironically lime-green color scheme of the Patron brand.

The involvement of liquor companies in car racing has drawn considerable controversy, as advocates point out that drinking and driving don't mix. Some spirit purveyors, however, have used their sponsorship as part of drunk-driving awareness programs.

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Tags: american le mans series, AmericanLeMansSeries, auto racing, AutoRacing, car racing, CarRacing, le mans, le mans series, LeMans, LeMansSeries, motorsport, motorsports, patron, racing, tequila, tequila patron, TequilaPatron

Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, consumables are always a good bet. And when it comes to consuming tequila Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila is a great choice for more than one reason. Handmade in small batches using a special distillation technique that gives it a clean, extra soft flavor, each bottle is then hand finished by the Maestro Tequilero for the perfect balance of platinum tequila and hints of añejo. The result is so smooth it would be wasted as a mixer, with aromas of citrus and florals and flavor that includes notes of vanilla, undertones of spice, and a hint of pear. In addition, the tequila comes in an individually handcrafted pure lead-free crystal decanter that can be reused when the tequila is gone. $274.99

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Tags: alcohol, casa dragones, CasaDragones, drinks, liquor, tequila

Antiguo Tequila from Casa Herradura Arrives in the U.S.

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Originally developed in 1924 and served exclusively to family and friends of the manor at Mexico's Hacienda del Refugio, Antiguo tequila has never been sold in the U.S. - until now.

The super-premium brand was launched commercially in Mexico in 1995 to commemorate Casa Herradura's 125th anniversary (est. 1870) of producing the world's finest tequila, using the original formula that was kept a secret for almost a century.

Antiguo is crafted using only 100% pure agave to be a lighter bodied, exceptionally smooth and mellow spirit. Distilled at 80 proof, it has a suggested 750ml retail price of $24.99 to $29.99 here depending on the expression: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, in handsome vintage-inspired bottles with Herradura's signature horseshoe motif.

Tags: Casa Herradura, CasaHerradura, Mexico, tequila

Tequila el Jimador Añejo's New Look

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Starting in October, the Añejo expression of Tequila el Jimador, the #1 selling tequila in Mexico, will be available here in a new package that aligns its look with its Blanco and Reposado offerings. The new Añejo package will initially be available in California and Texas, and will roll out to the remainder of the U.S. by year's end. The new look features the same classic tall, angular bottle as the other expressions (above) and identical iconography of the Jimador on the label to pay tribute to the proud men that harvest the agave plants used to make the 12-month aged 100% agave tequila. Tequila el Jimador is produced by Casa Herradura, which was named "2007 Best Distiller of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Since 2000, Tequila el Jimador has received numerous accolades from industry insiders, including the Adams Beverage Media Growth Brand Award in the Fast Track Category for 2005 and 2006.

Tags: agave, Mexico, tequila, Tequila el Jimador, TequilaElJimador

A Second Round Of 1800 Tequila Essential Artists Bottles

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Art

Proximo Spirits, Inc. and 1800 Tequila have announced the release of the second collection of limited edition Essential Artists bottles designed by 11 up and coming artists from all over the US, and one "celebrity artist" (Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One). The 11 designs were gathered from over 15,000 online submissions and were selected by 1800 Tequila. The 12th special-edition bottle is by Studio Number One a group of rising star designers headed by artist Shepard Fairey who gained global notoriety this year for his Obama "Hope" design. Artist StevOramA's design was the $10,000 Grand Prize Winner and his design has been given a starring role in the series. Other artists include Ian McGillivray, Nickelyn Reames, danyol, Leyland "Lee" DeVito, Danielle Salinas, Chad Shore, Mark Sweeney, Branden Tintiangco, Chuck Trunks, and Michelle Villasenor. To find the bottles, which retail for $24.99 each, consumers can enter their zip codes into the "Liquor Locator" on 1800Tequila.com to find the series in their area. The contest will re-launch at the end of this year, inviting artists to submit their own bottle designs for a chance at inclusion in the next series.

Gallery: 1800 Artist Series Tequila Bottles

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Tags: 1800 tequila, 1800Tequila, art, artists, shepard fairey, ShepardFairey, spirits, tequila

Michael Imperoli's New Commercials For 1800 Tequila

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

I don't find myself linking to a lot of tequila commercials but the new spots that former Sopranos star Michael Imperioli has shot for 1800 Silver Tequila are pretty slick. My favorite is the one where he flips over the bottle showing how the top can be used to pour a perfect shot of the super premium tequila. The ads take firm aim at Patrón, one spot shows Imperioli knocking a bottle of Patrón off a table. The ads will air on cable channels including ESPN and Comedy Central. Imperioli also strikes a commanding pose on the 1800 Tequila website.

Tags: advertising, michael imperioli, MichaelImperioli, tequila

Sauza Tres Generaciones Ends the Summer with a Bang!

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Nothing says summer like an evening of margaritas (or to some, a night of tequila shots -- no "training wheels"). Tres Generaciones is ending the summer with a big, delicious bang with new bottles for their 100 percent blue agave tequilas, and some great cocktail recipes to boot.

A little background: super-premium Tres Generaciones is named for the three generations of the Sauza family who've been perfecting the art of creating tequila. The Plata tequila ($45.99) is a brilliant, clear, and triple distilled, and has a good kick of white pepper and a grassy finish -- an excellent shooting tequia.

The Reposado ($47.99), aged in American oak for at least four months, is also triple distilled and is my personal choice of the three for a margarita. The aging gives the pale gold tequila a smoothness and warm body, and the white pepper still pops through at the end.

Tres Generaciones Anejo ($49.99) is aged for at least 12 months, and is specially crafted for sipping all on its own. A great tequila for whiskey drinkers, the body of the anejo is smooth and complex with caramel and toasted oak notes. The clean agave flavor shines through.

The new bottles are crafted in the original, easily-recognizable shape, but feature medallions of the three founding Dons of Sauza and metal beaten collars, as well as weighty wood-and-cork stoppers. These have been rolling out since January, and you should be seeing them by October no matter where you live. Prices may vary of course -- and now onto the cocktails:

The Sweet Breeze -- a refreshing way to end the summer
1.5 oz Tres Generaciones Plata or Reposado
.5 oz Agave nectar
2 oz Fresh lemon sour and the juice from half a lime
1 Diced strawberry
1 Peeled Ruby red grapefruit segment
2 Basil leaves

Mddle the strawberry, grapefruit and basil. Add tequila, lemon sour and lime juice, and agave nectar. Shake and pour over ice -- garnish with an additional grapefruit wedge wrapped in a basil leaf.

Too complicated? Then go for ...

The Holy Mole -- a great way to ring in the fall
1.5 oz Tres Generaciones Anejo
.5 oz DeKuyper Hot Damn Cinnamon Schnapps
To Taste Hot chocolate

In a pre-heated coffee mug, add the tequila and schnapps. Fill with your favorite double-rich hot chocolate. Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a cherry.

Tags: cocktails, tequila, tres generaciones, TresGeneraciones

Ltd. Edition Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario Tequila

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

This fall Jose Cuervo will release a limited edition 250 Aniversario Tequila retailing for $2,250. The special bottling commemorates the historic birth of tequila production and the establishment of 10 generations of Cuervo family tradition: on November 2, 1758 King Carlos of Spain granted Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo the first plot of land on which to cultivate agave. In anticipation of the 250th anniversary, expert Jose Cuervo jimadores planted blue agave on the same land granted in 1758 and used these estate-grown plants exclusively in the production of Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario. This precision was utilized to ensure every decanter maintains a direct link to this historic event and pays tribute to the centuries of labor and family passion that led to the creation of an industry.

Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario is a 100 percent blue agave Extra Añejo Tequila blended from the most select tequilas in the family's reserve and aged in a unique double-cask method. The best of these Extra Añejos, aged in toasted new American Oak barrels for a minimum of three years, were selected by the master distiller and blended together to achieve a superior tequila. The distinctive blend was then finished for 10 months in Sherry casks originating from Spain. The decanter was inspired by the original glass bottle first used by Jose Cuervo to ship Tequila to towns throughout Mexico. Each comes packaged in elegant oak gift box and will have its sequential number etched into the glass, certifying the product's rarity and authenticity.

Tags: agave, Jose Cuervo, JoseCuervo, Mexico, Tequila

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