crafting an award-winning tequila
It all begins in the lush, sun-drenched fields of Jalisco, Mexico, where the land is as rich as the heritage of the people who cultivate it.
first, the agaves
It takes seven years for agaves to age to perfection. It's worth the wait.
Once they’re ready, we select the best agaves from two distinct regions of Jalisco: the Highlands and the Lowlands. The Highlands, sitting 6,500 feet above sea level, boast red, iron-rich soil that produces larger, sweeter agaves. In contrast, the volcanic soil of the Lowlands highlights the herbal, mineral and peppery notes of the agave.
By blending both, we create the smooth, complex flavor profile that has come to define Azulejos Tequila.
THEN, WE COOK
Upon harvesting, the journey of transformation begins at our distillery.
After meticulously checking each agave for ripeness to ensure only the best are selected, we slowly caramelize the agave hearts in traditional brick ovens to bring out the rich, aromatic sugars sitting within. To add another layer of complexity, we also use autoclaves, which highlight the herbal, agave-forward notes in our tequila.
bring out the richness within
Once cooked to perfection, the agaves are soft and ready to be pressed. Using a series of metal rollers that mirror the traditional tahona stones, but with a modern efficiency, we free the sweet juices and move to the next step, natural fermentation.
By introducing yeast to the agave juice, the sugar is converted into alcohol to create a low-alcohol agave wine. This is where our patience has to kick in. At Azulejos, we extend the fermentation process, doubling the industry standard time to ensure a complete and thorough transformation.
This extended fermentation brings a depth and richness to the flavor that is truly distinctive.
DISTILL, THEN DISTILL AGAIN
Distillation follows, with our agave wine being carefully distilled in copper pot stills, refining the distillate to ensure the highest quality and purity.
We meticulously select only the heart of the distillate, discarding the heads and tails to maintain the integrity of the spirit. Then, we distill it again, further clarifying to remove any impurities.
Next, we add deep well water from volcanic soil. This water, with its unique softness and minerality, enhances the overall quality of our tequila, adding a final touch of finesse. This results in a clean, bright Blanco that is the purest expression of tequila with only three ingredients - agave, water, and yeast.
AGE TO PERFECTION
Our journey doesn't end here.
For our award-winning Reposado, we age the Blanco in a mix of Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee whiskey barrels for six months. This aging process smoothens the tequila, adding complexity with layered notes of vanilla and oak while allowing the agave flavors to shine through.
For our Añejo, we extend the aging period to 18 months and our Extra Añejo to three years, bringing out deeper flavors of oak, vanilla, and caramel. However, we are careful not to over-age so the agave notes still come through, creating a balanced and refined tequila worthy of its many awards.
pour into our handcrafted bottles
With a tequila this luxurious, it deserves a bottle that matches the beauty within.
That's why our bottles are handcrafted by Mexican artisans, from the pouring of the ceramic to the hand painting of each unique design.
But, this is about more than a beautiful package. Mexico is our family home. Keeping the bottle creation within Mexico brings on-the-job training, stable incomes, and artisan skill-building that has a long-term ripple effect throughout our community.
