Its A Brand Thats Won Multiple Awards For Its Delicious Bottles
and it keeps pushing the boundaries when it comes to premium quality. Before Don Julio took to the scene, tequila was generally either considered Blanco, Reposado or Añejo. The arrival of Don Julio 70 Cristalino Tequila took to the stage as the worlds first Añejo Claro tequila, while the brands Real Tequila broke the ceiling of ageing the spirit and helped to create the Extra Añejo category. With its velvety smooth Blanco qualities and honeyed vanilla and toasted oak flavours, its a one-of-a-kind sipper thats among the best of the best.
Part of the reason as to why this premium tequila is so good can be attributed to its growing region. Intellectual property laws ensure that tequila can only be made in one place: Mexico. And Don Julio is produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, one of the countrys most fertile agave-growing regions.
His Namesake Tequila Transformed The Industry
To celebrate Don Julios 45th year as a tequilero, his family threw a special party to honor him. At this legendary affair, González offered guests the tequila he had been aging in his office. It was the best he had, and he wanted to share it with his loved ones. After the party, people whod been there began calling him and asking to buy the tequila theyd tasted. But Don Julio said it wasnt for sale. Eventually, though, he relented, and decided he would make this tequila for sale after all, thereby introducing what would become one of the first true, luxury tequilas. It transformed the industry, creating an entirely new category of tequila.
Mexican Revolution To Present
Opposition to the Díaz regime was not organized in the state with only isolated groups of miners, students and professionals staging strikes and protests. Presidential challenger visited Guadalajara twice, once in 1909 to campaign and the other in 1910 to organize resistance to the Díaz regime. During the , most of the rural areas of the state supported , with uprisings in favor of this army in Los Altos, Mascota, Talpa, Cuquío, Tlajomulco, Tala, Acatlán, Etzatlán, Hostotipaquillo, Mazamitla, Autlán, Magdalena, San Andrés and other places. However, these were isolated incidences and did not coalesce into an organized army to confront the federal government. Carranza vied for power in the state with and during the early part of the war with skirmishes among the various forces, especially between those loyal to Carranza and Villa.
In 1914, Carranza supporter Manuel M. Diéguez was named governor of Jalisco. Diéguez persecuted the clergy, confiscated the property of the rich and imprisoned or executed the supporters of , whose forces he had pushed out of the city. Villa forced Diéguez to flee and released imprisoned clergy, but he too took money from the rich to give to the poor in exchange for their support. However, by April 1915, Carranza’s forces were on the rise again, pushing Villa’s forces out and reinstating Diéguez as governor.
During this time, the modern was founded in 1926, but it was closed in 1933, then reopened in 1939.
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Following The Story Of Don Julio
Master Distiller Don Julio González was the original pioneer of the tequila industry, revolutionizing production and setting the standard for decades to come. We take a look at the story behind the famous name and find out why Don Julio remains the premier luxury tequila around the world.
THE DON JULIO STORY, AS TOLD BY THE MAN HIMSELF
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Don Julio Tequila is named after its formidable founder, Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada, who was born in 1925 in the remote highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. When his father died, leaving behind a wife and seven children, Julio was forced to become the sole breadwinner of his household at just 15 years old. He took a job as a farmhand, but after realizing that a meager nine pesos a week couldnt support a family of eight, he embarked upon his first independent tequila venture. An entrepreneur from the get-go, the teenage Gonzalez would journey across Jalisco on horseback, selling tequila from small wooden barrels. Instead of nine pesos a week, he was soon earning nine pesos a day.
DEFINED BY PASSION
TRANSFORMING TEQUILA
When the time came to bottle his creation, he broke with generations of tradition. Tequila bottles had always been tall, and were usually hidden beneath the table. Don Julio González envisioned a spirit worthy of proud display on the table, and designed a shorter bottle so his guests could still see one another across the table.
DON JULIO TODAY
USING DON JULIO IN YOUR BAR
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A Bespoke Growing Process
Rather than buying land, Don Julio decided to lease it, allowing him to pick and choose exactly which plants to use on a year by year basis. His chosen agave hearts would then be taken to his distillery, La Primavera where they would be carefully cut, steamed, crushed and eventually mixed with water and yeast. Each bottles seal of authenticity details exactly which agave hearts were used while the microclimate and mineral-rich soil ensures a high standard of plants to begin with.
And the super-premium nature of Don Julio tequila boils down to more than just reputation. This is a brand whose name has never gone off the table of trending spirits and for a very good reason. Combining hand-harvested blue agave with a master distiller whose previous engineering experience features everything from explosives to perfume and liquids has resulted in a distinctive drink of the utmost quality.
This quality hasnt gone amiss: Don Julio is the largest valued brand of tequila all over the world and its counted among the eight largest produced liqueurs by volume at an international level. Its sweet aromas, traditional flavours and blue agave mouthful make every one of Don Julios tequilas a genuine treat to sample.
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He Was Forced To Become The Sole Breadwinner For His Household At Age 15
When his father died in 1940, leaving behind a wife and seven children, Julio, as the oldest son, was tasked with providing for the entire brood. He first hired on as a farmhand, but after recognizing that the nine pesos a week he earned from that job would hardly be enough, he set out on his first independent tequila venture
He Pioneered Agricultural Techniques That Set His Brand Apart
The mineral-rich, red clay soil of the Highlands of Jalisco is ideal for growing agave plants. The area is also a microclimate where nighttime temperatures dip, slowing the maturation process. González studied ancient methods from the region and was well versed in the areas conditions and their effect on the agave. He surmised that spacing his plants farther apart would allow them to absorb more nutrients, and grow bigger and sweeter. Theyd also have a longer path to full maturity in these conditions, so he let his plants age between seven and 10 years, longer than the industry norm at the time. These measures were hardly driven by profit-motive: wider spacing meant fewer plants, and longer grow times meant slower tequila production. This is the part where the Don Julio biopic would show stodgy business-school professors shaking their heads in disapproval.
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How Tequila Is Made: Behind The Scenes Of Don Julio Tequila
Don Julio Tequila is a tequila company navigating through change. After celebrating their 70th anniversary in 2011 , the company lost its namesake, Don Julio , in March of 2012. Just a year later, parent company Diageo parted ways with behemoth competitor Jose Cuervo, opening the door for Don Julio to become Diageos major showcase tequila.
At the helm through all this is Master Distiller Enrique de Colsa, one of the most well spoken, fun, and engaging men in tequila. If the company is going through a big change, youd never know it from Enrique, who is an evangelist for great tequila and Mexican spirits. Poised for tremendous growth, this year Don Julio planted over 1.8 million agave plants. Agave plants take seven years to mature, and so the result will be a staggering doubling of the current production levels of Don Julio tequila.
In many ways Don Julio tequila is the embodiment of the way Julio Gonzales Estrada saw tequila. Although Enrique de Colsa runs the distillery, he does so with an amazing amount of reverence and respect to the way that Don Julio made his tequila.
Each agave plant is harvested by hand, an extremely labor intensive and back breaking process. The agave plant is cut from its roots and then the long spearlike leaves are sheered off, leaving behind an oval center thats reminiscent of a pineapple. This core is called a piña and its the raw material used to make tequila.
Don Julio Was The Granddaddy Of Super Premium
Beyond the standards Don Julio introduced to the industry, which emphasized health and character of the Blue Weber agave itself, the brand fundamentally changed the way consumers regarded tequila, laying the foundation for what we now call super premium . Between 2012 and now, more than seven decades after Don Julio began distilling, sales in the super premium tequila category have gone up 706 percent.
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It All Started With Don Julio Gonzalez
The life of Don Julio Gonzalez is filled with as many twists and turns as a night out while drinking tequila. Born in 1925, Gonzalez started in the tequila biz the year he entered double digits when he was hired to work at his uncle’s tequila distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, according to Thrillist. Ambitious to say the least, he grabbed hold of this opportunity and began soaking in all the knowledge about the production of tequila that he possibly could.
Tragedy struck when he was 15 and faced with the daunting challenge of becoming his family’s sole breadwinner when his father died. With a mother and seven siblings to look after, he struggled to make ends meet, earning a pittance of only 9 pesos a week as a farmhand. In order to up his earnings, the teenage Gonzalez then took a grueling job distributing tequila all across Mexico on horseback, according to the Master of Malt. Armed with two 25-liter barrels of the good stuff, he was then making nearly 10 pesos a day, far outstripping his previous earnings.
What Is The Number 1 Tequila In Mexico
- Description of the product 1942 Aejo Tequila is made by hand in honor of the year in which Don Julio González began his tequila-making career.
- Don Julio 1942 Aejo Tequila is a homage to Don Julio Gonzálezs first year in the tequila-making business.
- Connoisseurs all over the world appreciate the rich wood, vanilla, and roast agave tastes that develop into an oaky, vanilla-infused finish that lingers for a long time.
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How To Serve Don Julio 1942
A reviewer from Liquor.com advises first serving Don Julio 1942 neat in a Glencairn or horn glass, but any whiskey glass will do. If you prefer to enjoy it chilled, try serving with ice from a whiskey ice mold instead of with a handful of ice cubes to ensure it doesn’t become too diluted and at $140 per bottle, there’s no need to waste any of it. As noted, this tequila was created for sipping and trying it neat or on the rocks first is an excellent way to get acquainted with its aromas, flavors, and finish, even if you consider yourself to be a cocktail connoisseur.
Once you’ve gotten a taste for it, Don Julio 1942 is also fantastic for experimenting with a variety of cocktails, although not the best choice for parties due to its high price. Like with most añejo tequilas, Don Julio 1942 is an excellent substitute in whiskey-based libations. VinePair says that the Old-Fashioned is one of the best ways to enjoy this tequila in a cocktail and it would also be a nice pairing in a Manhattan, Boulevardier, Hot Toddy, or Godfather.
Just about any umami-influenced libation will do, but Drinkhacker recommends serving up Don Julio 1942 in a celebratory chocolate-chili martini, so the possibilities are endless.
How To Drink Don Julio
The only way to drink Don Julio is to savour it slowly. It might seem like muscle memory to drink tequila in shot form but for the super premium bottles, its worth experiencing the aroma and flavour notes of the bottle. Don Julio is best served neat or, at most, with a few drops of water to bring out its unique properties. Treat it the same way youd treat fine whisky or rum and take the entire process step by step.
Start by pouring the spirit into a tasting glass to let the aromas breathe. Then, nose it gently with small sips to let the individual flavours dance on your tongue.
You dont have to rule out shot glasses completely when it comes to drinking Don Julio. In Mexico, some say the traditional way to drink tequila is in a caballito a taller, slender shot glass thats served with a lime and salt. The main thing is to not rush the process, and to enjoy the spirit sip by sip to appreciate its quality.
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What Kind Of Agave Is Don Julio Made From
100% pure Blue Weber Agave plants are used in the production of our tequila. Each plant is chosen from the mountains of Jalisco, which is considered one of the countrys most prolific agave-growing regions. After seven to ten years of development, Don Julio® Tequila is harvested, resulting in a mellow, fully matured agave taste that has been synonymous with the brand.
How Don Julio Created Two Of The Worlds Finest Tequilas
Most of the world knows tequila best as a party spirit, with Don Julio being the center of attention. Its the essential ingredient in a margarita and makes an excellent one-shot-wonder, to be consumed with a pinch of salt and a wedge of lime. So pervasive was this reputation that when some spirits drinkers were presented with the idea of a luxury tequila, they had trouble imagining a tequila drinker would want to sip instead of shoot.
Of course, Don Julio wasnt the first truly fine tequila in the worldbut it was the worlds first luxury tequila. Here, well explore tequila production, which makes Don Julio so special, and present two genuinely outstanding examples of fine tequila.
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The Brand Sold After The Death Of Don Julio
Unlike many legends in the world of food and drink, Don Julio Gonzalez was fortunate enough to witness his hope and dreams come to fruition while he was still alive. His journey even led him to partner up with now-defunct Seagram Company which landed the once hardworking farmer tens of millions of dollars, per the New York Times. But, in 2012, the tequila innovator died of natural causes at the age of 87. Following his death, British beverage company Diageo acquired the brand, intending to build upon the exceedingly well-regarded foundation that Gonzalez had established.
As part of the deal, Diageo also acquired full rights for use of the La Primavera distillery, the sole agave supplier to the Don Julio brand. The company didn’t hold back and immediately invested US$400 million in the company, according to The Spirits Business. In addition to putting some serious funds towards agave farming and distilling operations, they also have contributed significantly to the brand’s marketing efforts.
Don Julios Bestdon Julio 1942 And Don Julio Real
While each of Don Julios tequilas is something special, experts agree that two stand out above the others in this fine collection:
- Don Julio 1942. Crafted as an homage to Don Julio himself, this añejo is aged 2 ½ years in bourbon oak barrels. Then, its distilled a second time in a stainless-steel pot still, producing a rich, sweet tequila. Tasters note that 1942 has a full, creamy palate with hints of caramel and spice and a long, spicy finish.
- Don Julio Real. The crown jewel of the Don Julio selection. This tequila is worth the purchase based on the crystal and silver leaf decanter alone. However, the real treasure is found inside, with one of the worlds first extra-añejo tequilas, aged 3 to 5 years in American oak barrels. With tasting notes of coffee, vanilla, and wood, this supremely smooth tequila is one of the best in the world to sip neat.
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Where Does Don Julio Tequila Come From
Don Julios tequila begins its journey in the agave fields, as does all tequila. Don Julio produces their agave plants on property they lease in the highland area of Atotonilco, where they are known for their quality. The fact that Don Julio does not own the property is extremely essential since it allows him the freedom to move around and rotate their crop.
What Is The Most Expensive Bottle Of Don Julio
The most expensive bottle of Don Julio is the Don Julio Ultima Reserve tequila that costs $733 for a bottle of 750ml.
Now that you have the simplest answer to the simplest questions, below youll find the prices and sizes of the entire range of Don Julio tequila, their sizes, prices, and later on a buyers guide.
Enjoy.
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Is Don Julio Made From Blue Agave
100% pure Blue Weber Agave plants are used in the production of our tequila. Each plant is chosen from the mountains of Jalisco, which is considered one of the countrys most prolific agave-growing regions. After seven to ten years of development, Don Julio® Tequila is harvested, resulting in a mellow, fully matured agave taste that has been synonymous with the brand.