Try A Tequila Tasting At Home
Hinojosa recommends an at-home tasting. He says, “Choose two tequilas one from the highlands and one from the lowlands — and be sure keep the bottles at room temperature. I always like to drink my tequila neat in a nice, big wine glass. This allows the essence of the agave flavors to shine through. The old-school way of drinking tequila in shot glass with a lime wedge doesn’t allow you to actually taste the elegant notes of the liquid.” He added, “When you do this, it’s best to first start with the blanco expressions, because this allows the authentic aromas and flavors to appear, and you can really compare and taste the difference between the lowlands versus the highlands. And be sure to sip a glass of water and bite a cracker without salt so your palate is clean.”
He mentioned that there’s an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes work and dedication involved in tequila production. After all, it’s not just the elevation that affects the beverageit’s the terroir, rainfall, temperature, sunlight, fermentation process and each distillery has its own unique, secret recipes.
Hinojosa pointed out, “When you drink tequila, you are connected to the land and to Mexico. I don’t think there is any other spirit in the world that represents a country like tequila represents Mexico. Tequila is a happy spirit associated with history, food, friends, fun, and celebrations. Above all, no matter if it’s produced in the highlands or the lowlands, it’s always a good time.”
The Truth About Where Your Favorite Tequila Is Made
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In the above example, all 3 tequilas mentioned share the same NOM number: 1416. This number was assigned to the producer by the Mexican government and can be used to identify the distillery where it was made*.
So, what does it mean when tequilas have the same NOM? Are tequilas made at a shared distillery better or worse than tequilas made at a distillery dedicated to a single brand? Not necessarily, but Patrón Tequila, which is the only brand made at NOM 1492, thinks it is an important enough distinction to warrant a new Know Your NOM area of their website.
Patrón now invites website visitors to type in the name or NOM numbers of their favorite tequilas to see all of the other tequilas made in the same distillery. This new NOM search functionality is powered by the Tequila Matchmaker app database We get our raw information on NOMs from the official tequila regulatory body, called the Consejo Regulador del Tequila . They maintain a list of tequilas that are in active production.
One thing is for sure, producing only 1 brand of tequila puts Patrón on a small and exclusive list. Only 6% of the active distilleries in Mexico are dedicated to a single brand.
To the best of our knowledge, there are only 8 distilleries that are dedicated to producing a single brand.
How Is Patron Silver Tequila Different
They use a tahona wheel. This is a triadtional method of crushing the agave. They also use the modern roller methods. Its the job of the Patron master distiller to combine the two in order to make the Patron recipe.
This method adds the flavor you love in Patron. Many say the old fashioned way of extrating the juice adds depth to the Tequila. Patron Silver Tequila is the base for Patron products and is unaged. Patron also makes the reposado, and anejo tequila.
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The Two Regions Of Jalisco
Situated in the western part of the country , Jalisco produces 90 percent of all the agave in Mexico. Home to many famous brands, Jalisco is divided into two distinct regions: the highlands and the lowlands . Many tequila aficionados believe that the tequila produced in these regions are known for their own specific and identifiable flavor profiles and this has been an on-going debate in the tequila-loving community.
Once tequila fans learn more about this region and the actual lay of the land, there’s no surprise that Jalisco’s lowlands and highlands produce tequila with diverse flavors.
How Is Patron Tequila Made
Patron tequila is made by fermenting the fruit of the blue agave plant. The plant takes a long time to mature, taking nearly eight to ten years to reach the perfect level of ripeness.
For this reason, Patron is often considered a premium spirit because of how difficult it is to produce large quantities. Once the plant has grown to produce fruit with optimal sugar levels, the fruit is then harvested.
The piña is then chopped up and placed in a brick oven to cook evenly on all sides. This allows the sugars in the fruit to break down more easily, which will make it easier for the production of alcohol levels.
The chopped piña is then crushed and ground up. The pulp is left for three days to ferment, and is then distilled in handmade barrels for a minimum of two months. The oldest tequila offered by Patron is their Añejo 7 Años, which is aged for seven years.
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Patrn Production Is Surprisingly Old
Tequila used to be made with something called the ancient Tahona process, wherein heartless tequila distillers force a donkey to drag a massive volcanic stone over agave hearts prior to cooking and distilling them. Patrón still goes old-school, although they give the donkeys a break and use machinery to drag massive, specially sculpted stones across their agave hearts, yielding a unique vegetal taste that they then mix with a portion of citrusy tequila made with the modern Roller Mill method.
El Tesoro Aejo Tequila
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If you want to discover an authentic Mexican tequila with a bold yet traditional flavor, then order a bottle of El Tesoro. El Tesoro may be owned by Beam Suntory, the Japanese company responsible for Suntory Whisky, but this tequila is still made from traditional methods and local agave. In fact, the grandson of founder Don Felipe Camarena oversees production today. The Añejo variety is aged in American oak bourbon barrels for up to three years, which results in a nice blend of warm agave and oak flavors. If you try this tequila neat, youll notice notes of maple, vanilla and caramel, balanced with pepper and floral tones.
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Bacardi And Cuba Today
Bacardi drinks are not easily found in Cuba today. The main brand of rum in Cuba is , produced by a company that was confiscated and nationalized by the government following the revolution. Bacardi later bought the brand from the original owners, the Arechabala family. The Cuban government, in partnership with the French company , sells its Havana Club products internationally, except in the United States and its territories. Bacardi created the Real Havana Club rum based on the original recipe from the Arechabala family, manufactures it in Puerto Rico, and sells it in the United States. Bacardi continues to fight in the courts, attempting to legalize their own trademark outside the United States.
Bacardi In The United States
In 1964 Bacardi opened its new US offices in Miami, Florida. Exiled Cuban architect Enrique Gutierrez created a building that was hurricane-proof, using a system of steel cables and pulleys which allow the building to move slightly in the event of a strong shock. The steel cables are anchored into the bedrock and extend through marble-covered shafts up to the top floor, where they are led over large pulleys. Outside, on both sides of the eight-story building, more than 28,000 tiles painted and fired by Brazilian artist , depicting abstract blue flowers, were placed on the walls according to the artist’s exact specifications.
In 1973, the Company commissioned the square building in the plaza. Architect Ignacio Carrera-Justiz used cantilevered construction, a style invented by . Wright observed how well trees with taproots withstood hurricane-force winds. The building, raised 47 feet off the ground around a central core, features four massive walls, made of sections of inch-thick hammered glass mural tapestries, designed and manufactured in France. The striking design of the annex, affectionately known as the ‘Jewel Box’ building, came from a painting by German artist Johannes M. Dietz.
In 2006, Bacardi USA leased a 15-story headquarters complex in . Bacardi had employees in seven buildings across at the time.
The current American headquarters is in . The 300 employees occupy 230,000 square feet of leased office space.
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History And Origins Of Patron Silver Tequila
This is a high quality tequila brand. Its made by the Patron Spirits Company in Mexico. Like all other tequilas, its made from the Maguey, of the blue agave. The drink was first made by John Paul Dejoria, and Martin Crowley, in 1989, at Jalisco, Mexico. Its considered one of the top selling tequilas of the world, and the first premium tequila.
This tequila is incredibly successful, and has grown to become one of the most valuable liquor brands in the world. The idea to start this liquor brand started when Martin Crowley brought a hand-blown bottle of tequila as a gift to John Paul. Martin proposed the idea, and they went on to create a remarkable brand. The first manufactured 12000 bottles, and sold each one for $37 per bottle.
Each Patron Silver tequila bottle is hand-labeled, and undergoes a strict implementation inspection, before leaving the distillery. More than 30 people touch and inspect the bottle before the bottles are delivered to their respective destinations.
Patron uses the traditional stone wheel, known as the Tahona, to crush the agave.
There are many different types of Patron.
Is One Oven Better Than The Other
If you ask a few tequileros, you will receive different opinions about what each style of oven brings to the final product. It is a great debate some people will compare the modern autoclave to a microwave and the brick oven to using a traditional oven in your kitchen. Do tequilas from an autoclave have a diminished flavor.
This single step does not consign one to a bad tequila. Instead, it is the culmination of every step in the tequila-making process, from the agave to the barrel, that will affect the final product’s quality.
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Extracting The Sweet Agave Juices
Those sweet juices found inside the baked agave now need to be extracted. Just like every other step in the process, tequila distilleries employ different methods.
The majority of the time, mechanical shredders are used to pulverize and separate the agave fibers, allowing the sweet juice, or mosto, to be collected for fermentation. The shredders are reminiscent of those used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in the production of rum.
A handful of tequila distilleries choose to do it the old-school way, with a tahona, a large wheel often made from volcanic rock that rolls around a stone pit, crushing the agave and extracting the juice as it goes. Using the tahona wheel is a very traditional method and it was originally pulled by horses, mules, or oxen. Today’s tahonas are operated either by tractors or a central engine that slowly moves the arm attached to the wheel around the pit, but they require a worker or two to work the pit as the 2-ton wheel crushes the agave. Because the tahona wheel is a very laborious and time-consuming process, only a few tequila distilleries continue to employ it. Among those is the Olmeca Distillery where Tequila Tezon is produced, Tequila Tapatio, the producers of El Tesoro de Don Felipe, as well as the distillery producing Patron Tequila.
Where Is Patron Tequila Made
Jalisco, Mexico.
Additional Information:
The Patron Spirits Company manufactures the product in Mexico but the corporate headquarters is located in Nevada .
The signature blue agave used for production is grown in the hills of Jalisco, Mexico. The Hacienda del Patrón where it is distilled and bottled is also in Jalisco.
The company’s corporate office address is:
The Patrón Spirits Company
6670 South Valley View
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How Patrn Got Started
DeJoria went into the Tequila business on a bit of a whim. He had asked his friend, Martin Crowley, to bring him back some Tequila from Mexico where Crowley was on a work assignment. Crowley found a hand-blown bottle and ended up pitching John Paul DeJoria on starting their own Tequila company.
From his interview with CNN:
In 1989 my partner died, and I started the Patrón Spirits Co. with my friend Martin Crowley, an architect whod gone to Mexico to do some work. I said bring me back some tequila. He found a hand-blown bottle and said, I could design a label for this. Want to make a smoother tequila and go into business?
DeJoria went on to say that they decided to make the first 12,000 bottles and price them at $37 a bottle.
Kirkland Tequila Comes From The Mexican State Of Jalisco
Regarding Kirkland’s tequila, somebody has to take the blame for this boozy crime, because Costco definitely isn’t making it. If you want to find out where a particular tequila is made, all you have to do is look at the NOM. This is an identifying number on the bottle that can be used to track where the tequila came from.
According to the website Tequila Taste Matchmaker, all three of Kirkland’s tequilas currently trace back to La Madrileña in Tototlan, a city in the Mexican central-western state of Jalisco. La Madrileña is also the distillery that makes Tabasco’s brand of tequila in case you were curious about what kind of clout they have.
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How Is Patron Silver Tequila Blended
This is a blend of two very different triple distilled tequillas. One is made using a traditional tahona, and fermented with agave, while the other is made using a modern roller shredder. The blend is then put into a hand-blown individually numbered bottle.
This is one of the hottest spirits, and can be found in virtually every single bar and liquor store. There are many tequilas that outrank it, but this is a perfect intro Tequila. Its one of those tequilas that anyone can turn to. Its fully flavored, without overwhelming you. Its great smooth, and in addition, its a great cocktail mixer. Its also one of the better tequilas to use for tequila shots.
Patrn Tequila Showcases Innovation And Craftsmanship With The Release Of Patrn Sherry Cask Aged Aejo Tequila
The distinctive new addition to the PATRÓN lineup marks the brand’s first release in two years and is an extraordinary aged tequila
ATOTONILCO EL ALTO, Jalisco, Mexico, Oct. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, PATRÓN, the world’s number one ultra-premium tequila, has announced the release of its latest aged expression, PATRÓN Sherry Cask Aged Añejo. Conceived within the walls of the beautiful Hacienda PATRÓN distillery in Jalisco, Mexicowhere some of the industry’s most innovative and exclusive spirits have come to lifethis limited-edition tequila is a testament to the PATRÓN production team’s legendary devotion to craftsmanship and excellence.
Concepted originally by former Master Distiller, Francisco Alcaraz, PATRÓN Sherry Cask Aged Añejo is remarkably distinctive, and matures for more than two years in Spanish oak barrels once used to produce the finest Oloroso sherry. Each barrel is unique, requiring current Master Distiller, David Rodriguez, to artfully blend the tequila from each cask in order to achieve the perfect expression. Meticulous precision and care are fundamental to this process, and highlight how PATRÓN goes to exceptional efforts to achieve perfection time and again.
As a sherry cask-aged tequila, PATRÓN Sherry Cask Aged Añejo Tequila is a truly luxurious expression crafted for sherry, tequila, and aged spirits fans alike, making it perfect for gifting and entertaining this holiday season.
THE PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY PATRÓN IS RESPONSIBLY.
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It Started With A Bottle Not A Recipe
As a premium tequila, Patrón is made with 100 percent Blue Weber Agave, a recipe developed in an era drowning in mixto tequila . But it wasnt agave but the beauty of the hand-blown glass bottle that inspired the brand. DeJorias future business partner brought the beautiful bottle back from a business trip to Mexico, and while what was inside was apparently a nightmare, the bottle itself was so impressive it inspired the simply perfect catchphrase of the brand.
drop!
What Is The Best Tequila
Our editors have reviewed dozens of tequila brands over the last year, to come up with some of our favorite bottles, based on taste profile, uniqueness and value. And while there are a number of tequila brands that have launched in recent months , this list runs the gamut from tried-and-true brands, to limited-edition releases that youll be smart to pick up if you see them available online.
Whether you want to sip on something smooth or just want to upgrade your margarita, here are 15 tequilas you can buy online and get delivered to your door in time for your next happy hour, dinner or party.
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Patron Tequila Distillery Tour
In Patrons first year they made 12,000 bottles and sold them for a whopping $37 each. Thats the equivalent of $75 in todays money. But they did sell, and today at its distillery on the edge of the little town of El Nacimiento in Jalisco, Patron employs 1600 people as our guide Mariana Sanchez explains.
We have 400 people working in the bottling plant, Mariana says, where everything is done by hand as it has been since we started. We could mechanise it tomorrow and have the whole thing taken care of by about 10-12 people and computers, but we cannot put 400 people out of work. We are part of the local community, and we look after each other. We would also lose our traditions.
Although its a relatively new company, Patron likes to use traditional methods. One of these is to crush the cooked agave using the tahona process, which only a handful of distilleries do. The tahona is a large circular piece of volcanic stone which is turned like a millstone and separates the juice from the fibre before fermentation. Patron has ten tahona pits in five separate parts of their huge distillery, and they are working constantly in what is a labour-intensive process.
In each of the five tahona areas they also have eleven copper pot stills. Six are tall and skinny, for the first distillation, and five are shorter and rounder, for the second distillation.
Before maceration the agave are cut into even pieces, for cooking.