The Making of Tequila Video

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to visit a distillery, here is a well done video of the Patron Distillery in Atotonilco el Alto:

By Gustavo Arellano (Ask a Mexican fame)
Four Reasons Why Patrón Tequila is an Affront to Mexicans--And One Reason Why It's Not

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2010/07/four_reasons_why_patron_tequil.php

Is a good video tho

If I had been able to find a better video that walks one through the entire distillation process I would have probably use it instead. We have never purchased Patron and probably never will as it is mostly marketing hype for the NOB market. I did watch an interview with John Paul DeJoria and was quite impressed with what he had to say.

I personally find Patron to be over priced gut rot......

There's a guy in the hills around here selling tequila of uncertain antecedents which is quite popular among those who like a cheap treat. A local restaurant serves it (name withheld to protect the guilty) and one of their margaritas will knock your shoes and well as your socks off. The headache follows......later.

For a reasonably priced tequila, we took the recommendation of a Mexican kid in Veracruz who was minding the hotel desk. He pointed us to the nearest store and suggested Centenario. No too much $$ and not poisonous. Patron? Eh. Like a Chanel purse. You gotta love the label.

Gringal:

There has been quite a bit written lately about counterfeit or adulterated Tequilas. When you mention the headache aspect, many times this is brought on by the agents used to adulterate. They can often be a warning sign of potential health problems that can result from over consuming.

Some quick research on your mentioned Centenario brand seems to indicate that this is one of the many labels of Casa Cuervo (the distiller of Jose Cuervo). Certainly nothing wrong with the choice if it appeals to your particular tastes. One could consider Patron as being similar in branding to Chanel but once again, there are those who swear by it.

The legit Tequila Industry is heavily regulated and seems to be very committed to the integrity of their product. In fact, there is a new fight brewing along those lines: http://www.economist.com/node/21543212

Here's a good one that's not well known and not too pricey. Friends of ours are involved with this company so we've had the grand tour. It is one of the few organic tequilas in Mexico. Top and tail removed. No headache, the big guy gave it quite the workout to check. Here are some photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/g_w_y_n/sets/72157602002619635/

Brand name locally is El Tesoro de Mi Tierra. They also do private label.

Sorry Gringal, this one won't make it into the Drunken Hines review.

I've had two landlords here in Melaque that both live in Guadalajara .... and both have brought me down large unmarked bottles of Tequila. I tried to get the source but it's always "friends of family". I'm not sure I'd want to just buy off the street without a referral

The "guy in the hills" comes with references from "friends of friends".

And yes indeedy, I do know it's the adulterants that give you the screaming headaches. That's why I don't drink it at said restaurant, but have a nice cold beer or limonada instead. Once was enough.

I'd like to try the one Raqueteer mentioned. Sold at Paz? How much?

Below is a chart of the various labels produced by the distillery suggested by Raqueteer:

[img][/img]

Not to be picky but I did notice that the label stated: 100% Agave. From my limited knowledge, there apparently is a difference between that labeling and those that state: 100% Blue Agave.

It's right to be picky, all I can say is I've visited the distillery and all immediately surrounding agave was indeed blue.

As one can see from the chart of products, this is a group effort of land owners from the San Agustin area, so there might be some which isn't blue, I didn't see it all.

It is sold in La Paz, approximately 225 pesos a bottle. I haven't had to buy any, free samples.

Check out that Alien tequila, the bottle is incredible.

Alien Tequila

An abduction in every bottle. Operation of spacecraft is strictly prohibited after consumption.

[img][/img]

[youtube]

Their Alien Blanco did win a 2011 award for taste!

Thanks Neil. Here's what they claim on their bottle.

Alien Tequila Reposado is 100% Blue Agave, estate produced and bottled in the town San Agustin located in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Alien Reposado rests in American Oak (Kentucky) for up to 12 months and is bottled in an iridescent "out-of-this-world" vessel displaying an extraterrestrial in a spectrum of colors.


There's one for sale on E bay at $145.

gringal wrote:The "guy in the hills" comes with references from "friends of friends".

I wouldn't have mentioned my "friends of the family" brew unless it was good and without hangover. Some of the best I've had. Problem is I still don't have a clue unless I approach my landlords .... and that's in the past. It's out there somewhere

I have a sneaking hunch that Alien is another of those labels created for the NOB market. I certainly didn't spot any in the very large Tequila stores in Tlaquepaque with hundreds of labels.

Going back to the "Blue Agave" thing, if our tour guide was accurate in her agave lesson: in order for a Tequila to be labeled 100% Blue Agave, the only the Weber's Blue Agave may be used. There are something like 300 species of agave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Agave_species There are only five areas of Mexico approved to grow Weber's Blue Agave as designated by the following map:

[img][/img]

We’re not really big Tequila people but do enjoy “Don Ramon”, smooth, no headache and reasonable price. Apparently they take out the ingredient that causes headaches and so far all our friends agree.

To a certain extent, methanol alcohol impurities are the ones that can cause problems. In the photo below, you will note two tanks at the end of the distillation process. The one marked "Colas" on the left captures the naturally produced methanol while the larger tank on the right marked Ordinario captures the good stuff:

[img][/img]