DISTILLERIES AND THEIR LOCATIONS
Amatitan
Located a few kilometers down the road from
the town of Tequila, Amatitan is the home of the following brands:
Cabo Wabo Tequila Rocker Sammy Hagar is the famous face behind this brand. The Tequila
is produced at Rancho Miravalle.
Don Eduardo The Orendain
family, Don Eduardo Orendain preside over this famous brand. The
product is triple-distilled and aged in used Tennessee whisky barrels.
Tequila Herradura is the world’s largest producer of 100% agave Tequilas. Founded
in 1870, the distillery is located at the Hacienda San Jose del
Refugio. Herradura is responsible for many innovations and The Tequila
Society Board Member Miguel Cedeno was master distiller here for
many years.
El Jimador, Herradura’s
second brand, is the top selling Tequila in Mexico.
Partida Tequila is
a new brand with a great history. It was created when the Partida
family connected with San Francisco financier Gary Shansby. Don
Enrique Partida remains at the helm of this family business. The
Partidas have been growing agave in the valley of Amatitan for many
generations.
Atotonilco
Atotonilco is often considered to be
the most charming of all of the Tequila towns. At the heart of the
town is a cozy, quaint zoccolo that comes alive every evening around
dusk. You will have a great time getting lost in the twisting, narrow,
and very steep streets. The following Tequilas are produced in Atotonilco:
Tequila Don Julio was founded by Don Julio Gonzalez in 1942. He was only 17 years
old at the time and has since become a true legend in the business.
His sons, Eduardo and Francisco, “introduced” Tequila
Don Julio to the world in 1992 when they created a Tequila named
for their father in honor of his 60th birthday.
Patrón Tequila created by the late Martin Crowley and John Paul Mitchell, and they
deserve much of the credit for making 100% agave Tequila the fastest
growing category of distilled spirits.
Siete Leguas was
founded in 1957 by Don Ignacio Gonzales Vargas and is now run by
Fernando Gonzalez. They have two distilleries and have the capability
to produce Tequila using both the traditional method (tahona) and
the much more common roller mill. Family owned and operated, Siete
Leguas uses only estate grown agaves for their Tequilas.
Aha Toro produces
a line of premium tequilas including DIVA a pink tequila aged in
Merlot barrels and Tequila Creme a coffee flavoured cream drink
with tequila as a base. Also an award winning Anejo in a bright
red hand blown bottle is making waves in the market.
Arandas
Though not a large town, Arandas has more distilleries than anywhere
but the town of Tequila. Arandas is beautiful, rustic and known
for having some of the best food to be found in Jalisco. The following
Tequilas are made in Arandas:
Tequila Cazadores is one of the larger 100% agave brands. Cazadores, meaning “hunters,”
started out producing exclusively reposado, but today they produce
a full line. It is rumored that Cazadores has the happiest working
yeast in the business as they play classical music all day long
in their fermentation areas! Cazadores ages only in new American
oak barrels.
Tequila Centinela was founded in 1904 and is today the largest producer of 100% agave
Tequila in the Los Altos region. The Centinela brand is family-owned
and operated by Don Pepe Hernandez. Don Pepe has some of the oldest
aging cellars in the Tequila industry.
Corzo is a relatively
new luxury brand of Tequila created by the people at Cazadores.
The bottle was designed by world-renowned product designer Fabian
Baron, who was influenced the famous Mexican architect Baragan.
This is the only triple distilled Tequila that sees aging after
the second distillation.
Corazon de Agave Tequilas are made at Destiladora San Nicolas. The “heart of agave”
Tequilas are aged in brand new charred American oak barrels and
are packaged in distinctive long-necked bottles. Corazon is a Highland
producer, but the añejo has a characteristic Lowland flavor
due to the char on the barrels.
El Charro is one
of very few Tequila distilleries that age their reposado in one
kind of wood and their añejo in another kind of wood.
El Tesoro Tequila is produced at a distillery that was founded in 1937. Master Distiller
Carlos Camarena says they are so steeped in traditional methods
that he can operate the entire distillery without electricity! They
are the only producers in the world who distill every drop of their
production to proof.
Tequila Espolon is
distilled in Arandas at the San Nicolas facility. Espolon means
the blade or knife that is put on the spur of a fighting cock. Distiller
Ingeniero Cirilo makes great Highland style Tequilas, using new
American oak barrels for ageing. Espolon’s principal owner,
Don Raul Plascencia, retired from the furniture business to make
Tequila.
Ocho Tequila is a
new brand that was released in March, 2008 in Europe and August,
2008 in the U.S. Tomas Estes the Tequila Ambassador to Europe is
the main stockholder. Ocho bottles distinct vintages, indicating
the field of origin for the agaves used in each bottle.
Tequila Tezon is
being made in a beautiful distillery originally built for Patron.
Interestingly, they use a new tahona to crush their agaves. Their
facility is right around the corner from Cazadores.
Arenal
When travelers set out west from Guadalajara, Arenal is the first
Tequila town they reach, located on the road to Amatitan and Tequila.
It is where visitors will begin seeing agave fields. Its distillers
include:
Penca Azul is produced
at La Parreñita distillery and only one batch is produced
per year, which is why the year of production is always listed on
the bottle. Penca refers to the leaf of the agave plant -- hence
the hand-blown glass agave in the bottle. Penca Azul ages in barrels
that give it very little color and wood flavor, producing Tequilas
that emphasize the fruity flavor of the agave.
Gonzalez
Gonzalez, located in the state of Tamaulipas near the Gulf of Mexico,
is one of the few areas outside Jalisco that have been approved
for Tequila production.
Chinaco Tequila is
produced at the legendary La Gonzaleña distillery. Founded
by Don Guillermo Gonzalez, the Gonzalez family has always been contributing
to Mexico’s history with their involvement in national politics.
Chinaco currently sources its agave in the Highlands of Jalisco
and ages in used Scotch barrels.
Guadalajara
The capital of Jalisco, Guadalajara is a city of about 6 million
residents. It is home to one of the largest markets in Latin America,
as well as beautiful examples of old Mexican architecture. While
it isn’t as quaint as the smaller Tequila towns, Guadalajara
contains excellent distilleries, including:
Gran Centenario is
the pride of Cuervo owner Juan Domingo Beckman. This brand is a
leader in using only brand new French oak to age Tequilas. Gran
Centenario uses a proprietary production method called Seleccion
Suave, blending various ages of Tequilas to come up with the Gran
Centenario profile.
Reserva del Señor is
from Tequilas del Señor, one of the oldest distilleries in
Guadalajara. The facility’s heritage dates back to 1943 and
is owned and operated by fourth generation of the Garcia family
to produce Tequila. Tequilas del Señor is the fifth largest
agave grower in Mexico.
Don Alvaro is a delicate
and smooth tequila produced by this Agave syrup business exporting
agave products globally. Don Alvaro Blanco and Anjeo are 100% agave
premium products and are certified as ORGANIC. Available in the
UK via Tequilas of Mexico Ltd.
Penjamo
A small farming community located in the state of Guanajuato, Penjamo
is best known as the birthplace of Mexican revolutionary Miguel
Hidalgo. Penjamo produces the following tequilas:
Tequila Corralejo is located at Ex Hacienda Corralejo in Penjamo, Guanajuato. This
is the site of the first ever Tequila distillery and was also the
birthplace of Mexican revolutionary and priest Miguel Hidalgo. Steeped
in history and beauty, Corralejo is definitely worth a visit even
though it is the only large distillery in Guanajuato. Quita Penas
is a second, contracted brand from this distillery.
San Juanito de Escobedo
Destiladora Agave Azul is the only tequila producer in this town 80 km from Guadalajara and just on the edge of the Tequila Valley. Started in 1930 during post revolutionary ear this tequilero produces Chula Vista a fine 100% agave tequila excellent for cocktails and the premium more mellow Don Anselmo Tequilas.
Tepatitlan
This blue-collar town in Los Altos is way off of the beaten path,
and therefore rarely visited. In addition to Tequila, ‘Tepa’
produces more eggs than any other town in Mexico. The following
distilleries are located in Tepatitlan:
Tequila Leyenda del Milagro is produced by Industrializadora San Isidro. The triple-distilled
“Legend of the Miracle” has two lines, regular and the
Barrel Select. Barrel Select uses older agaves and longer times
in the barrel.
Tequila San Matias is one of two Tequila distilleries owned by a woman. Señora
Carmen has been at the helm of her distillery since 1996 and she
continues the tradition of her late husband who championed bottling
all Tequila at origin. Their 100% agave brand is Pueblo Viejo is
exciting find.
Tequila
Tequila is the home of Cuervo and Sauza, plus many other smaller
producers. It attracts more tourists for distillery visits than
all of the other towns combined. A dormant volcano is located directly
behind the town. The town of Tequila provides us with:
1800 Tequila was
originally released in the United Kingdom in 1997 and is owned and
operated by Jose Cuervo. 1800 Coleccíon, their top-of-the-line
product, is the world’s rarest and most expensive Tequila.
In terms of aging, the reposado spends most time in new American
oak with some French while the Reserve Añejo is aged mostly
in French oak with some American oak.
Alma Mia 'My Soul'
produced using only 100% Agave and the traditional production methods.
Using French Oak barrels they produce three extra fine quality tequilas.
Not exported to the US and available in the UK and Europe making
this a UK special jewel. Visit The Tequila Society .co.uk for details.
Arette Tequila is
family owned and operated by our friends Eduardo and Jaime Orendain.
Eduardo is the former Mayor of the town of Tequila and Jaime is
the Master Distiller. The brand is named after the first Mexican
horse to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games London, 1948.
Casa Noble Tequila is produced at the charming gravitational distillery La Cofradia,
owned by Don Carlos Hernandez and his son Carlos. Located in the
city of Tequila, “Noble House” is another great example
of Lowland style Tequila. Packaged in stunning decanters, all Casa
Noble Tequilas are triple distilled.
Don Fulano is one
of two brands we carry from Tequileña. Though the distillery
is in the Lowland town of Tequila most of proprietor Enrique Fonseca’s
plants are in the Highlands. In fact, he is the second largest agave
producer and he is an innovator in aging Tequila in different woods.
Jose Cuervo is the
world’s largest producer of Tequila. Amazingly, the Cuervo
company is still Mexican family-owned and operated, and is the oldest
continuously operating business in all of Latin America. Although
most of the world knows Cuervo for their mixto products, they also
make 100% agave Tequilas.
La Fortaleza is the
heart and soul of Guillermo Sauza, grandson of the Sauza patriarch
and a stubborn champion of old-school methods. Guillermo’s
charming distillery and aging caves are located on the outskirts
of town. The distillery was once being used as a museum, but Guillermo
refurbished it and today it produces excellent Tequila. La Fortaleza
recently changed its name from Los Abuelos due to a trademark issue.
Pura Sangre the distillery
is in the Lowland town of Tequila most of Enrique Fonseca’s
plants are in the Highlands. Mr. Fonseca is the second largest agave
producer and he is a leader in aging Tequila in different woods.
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