Mexico - November 2024 - Ongoing formation weeks were held for the Salesians of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province (MEG) from 4 to 22 November Three weeks of formation were held at Casa Betsaida in Amatitán During each week in an atmosphere of fraternity it was possible to explore how the Salesian mission is being carried out in each of the works They began with a retreat and presentation on accompaniment each participant was able to reflect on personal health care social communication and the code of ethics ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Join our email marketing program for weekly updates on the latest industry trends Texas — Texas native Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila have taken a playful swing at the celebrity tequila industry with the launch of their latest venture “The world doesn’t need another celebrity tequila but tequila sure could use a kick in the pants," the couple said which translates to "pants" in English is described as sustainably produced with 100% organic blue weber agave The tequila is crafted by the hands of fourth-generation agave growers and comes from a certified organic family-owned distillery in Amatitán doing good and not taking life too seriously," the line includes three varieties: Blanco featuring notes of honey and citrus; Reposado aged 9 months with hints of sweet fruit and fresh oak; and Añejo "Pantalones Organic Tequila is the best thing we’ve made with our pants on,” the McConaugheys said For more information, visit PantalonesTequila.com or follow the brand on Instagram at @pantalonestequila Some years ago while visiting the pueblo of Amatitán which is located 33 kilometers northwest of Guadalajara I came upon a large map proudly displayed in the town square It showed the location of several tabernas or distilleries in the vicinity claiming that Amatitán — and not that other town just down the road — is the true birthplace of tequila and I made it my goal to visit as many of these sites as possible if I could manage to find them The most conveniently located of those tabernas was a place called Rancho de la Cofradía del Puente a very impressive but now crumbling structure situated just beside a paved road Here I found a plaque both in English and Spanish explaining that this was once a hacienda that was producing tequila as early as 1800 The writing style and high-quality English told me that this information had been written by the late “located in the middle of the extensive agave fields is made up of a double corridor with three apartments that were connected by an arcade made up of nine arches held up by Tuscan pillars that today lack a roof The housing units have formal elements of the neoclassic style common in rural Jalisco in the 19th century “The unfortunate overall condition of the site is testimony to the lack of vision in the manner of executing land redistribution in the 1940s; the process benefited landless peasants while abandoning numerous buildings of architectural value A restoration project for this ex-hacienda could still restore its functional and historic qualities.” I appreciated the interesting techniques used to make columns (employing curved bricks) and admired the aesthetic adobe blocks which apparently contained agave fibers instead of straw but I must confess I could not get a clear idea of how or where they were making tequila So I drove another 3.5 kilometers east along the same road to another site shown on that map in the Amatitán plaza: La Taberna de los Tepetates all I could see was a sort of jungle stretching off into the distance I was almost ready to give up my quest when I spotted a tall chimney (which I now know is called a chacuaco in these parts) 250 meters from the road Actually reaching that chimney turned out to be far more difficult than spotting it but what did I find attached to its base but another one of those bilingual plaques “This old distillery found near the small village of Los Tepetates is difficult to access and is well hidden from view It is easy to imagine that the location of this rustic facility was selected to secretively produce mezcal wine without having to report it to the revenue agents.” Difficult to access and well hidden: so true! The reference to revenue agents reminded me of Tony Burton’s comment in Western Mexico, a Traveler’s Treasury that the Spanish authorities outlawed liquor production in Mexico because it threatened to compete with Spanish brandy “led to the establishment of illicit distilling in many remote areas I could not get a clear picture of how the spirits were produced at this site but all that changed when I located the oldest taberna in the region nestled at the bottom of El Tecuane Canyon The cobblestone road leading to El Tecuane is identified only by a primitive sign announcing “Balneario.” We drove along this camino about a kilometer and suddenly found ourselves overlooking a huge canyon we had never seen before we were seeing it from a single-lane road with a terrifying sheer drop of hundreds of meters on one side I could just imagine what would happen if we met someone coming the other way and we quickly continued on two more kilometers to the site of old El Tecuane Taberna “was in operation in the early 1700s and cleverly utilized gravity to move the product from one stage to another.” I could clearly observe exactly how they were making tequila in those days flat spot we found the kind of oven which had been used by the Indians to cook agave hearts before the Spaniards arrived This was not a roofed structure heated from below as I had seen in so many other distilleries we peered down into a deep pit lined with volcanic rocks what they did was throw a mixture of agaves and red-hot rocks into the pit and cover it up The cooked mezcal was then ground up using a people-powered millstone which we found right next to the primitive oven The sweet juice then trickled downhill to a lower mesa in which 44 fermentation pots were carved into the living rock This must have been a big operation indeed The resulting alcoholic brew was then carried farther downhill in buckets to several stills cooled by cold water channeled from a nearby spring Most sources say the technique of distillation was brought to the new world by the Spaniards but Don Rosario insisted the Indians had their own stills in which the steam condensed inside cloths hanging above a pot of boiling alcohol “They wrung out these cloths and distilled that alcohol a second time,” he claimed one taste of this potent “vino mezcal,” as it was first known what got the Spaniards into the tequila business This claim is backed up by the owner of Santa Rita tequila historian Miguel Claudio Jiménez Vizcarra who quotes from Domingo Lázaro de Arregui’s 1621 Description of New Galicia: Their root and the base of their spikes are roasted and eaten stronger than aguardiente and of such good taste.” Whether pre-Hispanic people had developed their own stills I can’t say but standing in the middle of 44 huge old fermentation pots carved out of rock I was definitely convinced that those Amatitán pioneers were no amateurs when it came to alcoholic beverages The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area and co-author of Outdoors in Western Mexico. More of his writing can be found on his website ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC El Tecolote Editor’s note: This story has been split into two parts covers the history and process of tequila production The second part details recent challenges and innovations in agave production and will be published in the next issue of El Tecolote a record-high 16.3 million cases of tequila were sold in the United States who know much about the history of the beverage or where precisely it comes from Tequila production dates back to the early 18th Century with José Antonio de Cuervo who together with his sons José María and José Prudencio planted and cultivated blue agaves (also referred to as “Agave tequilana”) in the Tequila region of Mexico the former Spanish colonial region that today is the Mexican state of Jalisco was the birthplace of the beverage “mezcal of tequila,” which was later shortened to tequila The exact date Spanish immigrants began to distill the agave juice is unknown but there are historic references which show that the first distilleries were located near the agave plantations in the valleys of Amatitan This region in Jalisco has more than 200 years of tradition of cultivating blue agave the variety of agave used to produce tequila The Los Altos region is another area of great importance for blue agave cultivation in Jalisco These two regions produce the most blue agave in Mexico The blue agave flourishes under specific conditions found in the Tequila region of Jalisco The Tequila region described in terms of altitude temperature and average annual rainfall is: from 800-1360 meters (2,500-4,400 feet) from 22-26 degrees Celsius (71-79 degrees Fahrenheit) and approximately 1,340 millimeters (53 inches) of rain the altitude is between 1,600 and 2020 meters average temperature is 18-26 degrees Celcius and rainfall is 1,420-1,500 millimeters Tequila makers are held to strict standards in the production tequila The Tequila Official Mexican Standard (NOM) authorizes exclusively the blue variety of Agave tequilana as the single species for tequila manufacturing Tequila’s designation of origin specifies the regions where the blue variety of agave can be cultivated and used to manufacture the tequila drink The counties where agaves are accepted for tequila production are mostly in the state of Jalisco 11 in Tamaulipas and 29 in Michoacan.To be considered tequila the beverage must be made from no less than 51 percent agave sugar Most tequila factories are located in Jalisco as well in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco—mainly Arandas But there are some other tequila factories established in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara and surrounding cities In a commercial plantation an average of 3,200 agaves per hectare are planted and require a comprehensive control of pests Mature plants are harvested when they are six to 10 years old by expert workers called “jimadores,” who use a long-handed blade to cut the stems which are taken to the factory for processing The stem juice of the agave plant contains inulin a carbohydrate chain of variable size composed mainly of the sugar fructose Inulin is obtained by a careful dehydration of the stem juice Then hydrolysis by heating the inulin contained in the stem juice About 90-95 percent of the total sugars of agave is fructose The sugars of the agave stem plant are fermented and distilled twice to produce tequila and one liter of tequila requires about seven kilograms of agave stem After fermentation and distillation concludes the tequila is subjected to chemical analysis in the lab It is verified to meet physical and chemical tequila specifications according to the official standard and then taste tested NOM determines the requirements that must be satisfied for each of the four types of tequila: Tequila blanco Tequila joven or Tequila oro (young tequila or golden tequila) some companies prefer not to add any artificial colorant containers and the aging stores are kept closed so its access is under strict vigilance The growth of the national and international demand of tequila has resulted in a corresponding increase in production production reached its historical peak of 292.1 million liters out of which 149.7 million liters were exported the Tequila Industry National Chamber recognized 138 working factories and 800 registered brands the tequila industry processed a yearly average of 887,850 tons of stem agave and produced an average of 250.250 million liters of tequila according to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila the 152 certified Tequila companies (ranging in size from large to very small) produced a total of 271 million liters of Tequila 213 million of this was exported to a total of 120 countries Latvia and South Africa being among the top importers The Jose Cuervo brand is the main producer and largest seller tequila in the world Remigio Madrigal-Lugo is one of the foremost authorities on the history and processes involved in the production of tequila He is a professor and researcher at Universidad Autónoma Chapingo From the Birthplace of Tequila in Amatitán Laelia Celebrates the Terroir of the Lowlands NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing Laelia Tequila quality Tequila from Amatitán in the lowlands of Jalisco from a 100% owned and operated Mexican team Laelia is rooted in respect for the tradition of Tequila and its heritage taking inspiration from the Mexican orchid it is named after and the pre-Hispanic Derived from fully-mature and sustainably-grown Laelia is crafted to celebrate the origin of the spirit and Amatitán The Laelia portfolio consists of agave-forward tequilas whose notes are nurtured through traditional brick oven slow cooking then distilled in 100% copper pot stills after a Tahona extraction This incredibly complex and intensive traditional technique is done by using an old two-ton volcanic stone with the agave fibers rotated gently extracting the natural juices to bring out the agave's deep and rich flavor characteristics "Coming from a family of fourth generation agave growers we've spent many years preserving and ensuring that the quality of our agave is uncompromised Laelia is a true passion project and the first chance for our family to craft our own tequila one that brings the land that is central to our family to life with every bottle," says Fernando Pérez Ontiveros Laelia is committed to crafting tequila with deep respect for the land guided by sustainable practices and innovative techniques that help preserve agave and the surrounding environment The agave Laelia sources from Jalisco is overseen by the Casa Natima family and certified by Environmentally Responsible Agave ensuring it is not harvested from deforested areas implements its own sustainability efforts across its agave cultivation and the use of organic fertilizers to help maintain healthy soil and support long-term land stewardship with a goal towards a net neutral environmental impact Laelia is distilled using 100% renewable energy for natural bio-fuel to produce steam for the boilers and their state-of-the art filtration system which recycles water into steam as well as over 721 solar panels in place at Casa Natima The energy from bagasse accounts for 80% of the energy used to produce Laelia with 100% of all agave fibers getting reused throughout the production process including as natural compost and sustainable materials like bio-pallets for shipping Laelia is committed to continue to build on their sustainability efforts and is on track to be able to recycle and reuse all of the mineral-rich spring water in their production ultimately eliminating the need for additional water use by 2030 "We aim to lead the path for what a modern tequila rooted in preserving the craft and tradition of the spirit can be by ensuring to highlight agave in its purest form we're devoted to pushing the boundaries of tequila innovation by continuing to refine Laelia sustainably using thoughtful innovations to improve the quality and consistency of each bottle and our impact on the land," adds Pérez Ontiveros Laelia Tequila is best enjoyed neat or in signature cocktails such as the Xochi Spritz featuring Laelia Blanco or used within traditional cocktails such as a Cantarito with Laelia Reposado The Reposado was awarded Gold at The Drinks Business 'Tequila & Mezcal Masters' (2025) a testament to the brand's commitment to exceptional quality and its agave-forward approach Laelia Tequila Blanco (40% ABV) is available for retail at $59.99 and Laelia Tequila Reposado (40% ABV) is available at $69.99 in select retailers in California and New York as well as nationally online via laeliatequila.com Laelia Tequila is a premium quality tequila refined by nature Laelia is rooted in respect for the tradition of Tequila and its heritage taking inspiration from the Mexican orchid which it is named for and the pre-Hispanic Laelia celebrates the terroir of the lowlands of Jalisco with agave-forward expressions developed through the 100% Tahona-milled traditional technique which extracts agave juices gently to preserve the natural flavor and complexity and fully owned and operated by a 100% Mexican-led team Laelia Tequila is founded by Fernando Pérez Ontiveros whose family are fourth generation agave growers offers both Blanco and Reposado expressions—its Blanco earned Silver and its Reposado Gold at the 2025 Spirits Business Tequila & Mezcal Masters for their exceptional quality and agave‑forward character Media Contact: [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: one of the most historic and renowned tequila producers in the world announces the appointment of William Brooks to Global Brand Ambassador Born in England with family ties to Mexico and the U.S. Brooks has called the spirits industry home since graduating from Johnson & Wales University Brooks has worked with acclaimed brands such as Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve in addition to Tequila Herradura and el Jimador He led tequila education in the agave industry for Brown-Forman Texas managing meaningful industry events and developing cocktail programs for accounts around the region before taking on the role of Global Ambassador for el Jimador and Herradura “I am delighted to bring my passion for agave and love of cocktails to one of the most extraordinary tequila brands in the world,” says Brooks “Having called Mexico a second home for many years I can’t wait to continue telling the amazing story of Herradura from Amatitán to everyone.” Brooks will be sharing the incredible stories of the Horseshoe as well Herradura’s authentic and historic role in the tequila industry for over 150 years He is developing meaningful industry based programs and events that allow the brand to connect and collaborate with modern hospitality professionals across the world Simultaneously reintroducing Herradura to established tequila lovers and those who have a new found love for tequila Brooks says his goal is to not only share this legendary brand with more people but to support those in the industry who work everyday to move the spirits and beverage alcohol industry in a creative and positive direction the Tequila brand part-funded by musician Adam Levine has unveiled its first expressions – both aged in red wine barrels The brand has entered the US market with two bottlings: Rosa Blanco and Añejo The Tequilas are produced by the Real family who have been crafting agave spirits in Amatitán Third-generation Tequila maker Luis Trejo Rodriguez serves as master distiller Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and former Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo Both of Calirosa’s debut expressions are made from Blue Weber agave that has been harvested at seven to nine years of age The liquid is then fermented for up to 50 hours and double distilled before being matured in red wine barrels from California Rosa Blanco spends 30 days in red wine barrels adopting a light pink hue and a flavour profile that is described as floral while Añejo is aged in red wine barrels for 18 months giving it a rose gold colour and ‘slightly fruity’ aroma with layers of cooked agave The Calirosa brand has secured a deal in the US with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits – the same firm that distributes Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila – and is rolling out in 14 states with plans to expand across the US and Mexico later this year Southern Glazer’s executive vice-president and general manager said: “Southern Glazer’s is thrilled to partner with Calirosa and to bring this line of unique quality tequilas to market across the country “This is an exciting brand that goes far beyond the bottle – it’s a lifestyle that tells a story all its own really bringing something fresh to the table We are committed to cultivating a long-lasting partnership with Calirosa and to driving long-term results for the brand.” Both expressions are available to purchase through Reserve Bar with Rosa Blanco retailing for US$59 and Añejo priced at US$85 We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Two local spirit pros are connecting Nashville to a well-aged tequila Unlike other tequilas, which enter the U.S. market strictly through a distribution deal with a Mexican manufacturer, Código 1530 is a true partnership between Koffel and Dillingham and a small, family-owned tequileria in the lowlands of Los Bajos and the tiny town of Amatitán. Five generations have taken advantage of the volcanic soils of the region to grow agave plants into the raw material used to create tequila that, before recently, was rarely consumed outside of the immediate area. The freshwater pools and rainwater that naturally filters down the mountains and through the volcanic soil around Amatitán produce the purest drinking and agricultural water in Jalisco. The result helps perfect Código 1530 products, which are currently only available in the U.S. in Texas, California, and Nashville. Unlike the larger mega-distilleries of Jalisco that harvest agave after only five to six years, Código 1530 only uses blue agave, which has been growing for at least seven to 10 years, to create a more nuanced and mature spirit. In their unrested Blanco expression, the tequila is never in contact with oak barrels, so the essence of the agave plant comes through in the green, herbaceous flavor. Your exclusive guide to the greater Nashville area. The latest in restaurants, celebrities, events, style, neighborhoods, home design, and entertainment. With only 36 bottles allocated for Australian fans, the release is a true collectable. More George Strait George Strait’s signature edition releases from Código 1530 Tequila is available to purchase in Australia thanks to groglords.com the Código 1530 brand is renowned worldwide for delivering extremely high quality tequila Strait’s 750ml Añejo Tequilla – Honky Tonk Time Machine: Encore Edition – is available for purchase at $249 AUD The Añejo is a private recipe refined over many generations by an artisan distilling family in Amatitán Aged for 18 months in the finest Napa Cabernet French White Oak barrels The limited edition bottle celebrates the release of Strait’s 2019 album Strait’s 750ml Extra-Añejo comes in a signed wooden box at $449 With only 36 bottles allocated for Australian fans the extremely limited release is a true collectable The signature edition bottles have a story all their own and are perfect for fans of the great man himself and of course As the brand’s first-ever barrel select Origen this special offering is bottled from six unique barrels aged for over six years hand-selected by Strait while on location filming the music video for his hit song Código at their distillery in Amatitán Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time he was credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter Strait has garnered 61 number one songs on all country charts and has more number one hits than any other artist in a single genre Strait has sold more than 68 million records in the United States alone and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum Strait was named CMA ‘Entertainer of the Year’ in 1989 and ACM ‘Entertainer of the Year’ in 1990 and 2014 He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist Groglords.com is also responsible for the distribution of Travis Collins’ Ignition whiskey Following the sell-out success of his Hometown Whiskey produced using all-Australian grown grains and aged for 2 years in American White Oak barrels Strictly limited to just one barrel worth of bottles – the whiskey release coincides with the release of Collins’ latest album signed by Collins and feature a limited edition guitar pick.  You can pre-order Ignition here. I have been describing interesting trails in western Mexico for around 35 years The very first I wrote about was the long, steep sendero leading to Las Piedras Bola, Jalisco’s Great Stone Balls a site so unusual and curious that it actually made the cover of National Geographic back in August of 1969 The hike to the Piedras was memorable because our guide managed to get us lost just long enough for the first feelings of panic to tingle the hairs on the back of my neck I decided then and there it was my sacred duty to make my routes so obvious that my readers would be able to reach their destination entirely on their own For years I drew trail maps (with lots of landmarks) to show the way until at last making it a whole lot easier to record and follow trails Now I’m happy to report another milestone for hiking in Mexico: the (Spanish-only) web page of Senderos de México, an organization dedicated not only to helping people find their way along Mexico’s vast network of rural trails rehabilitating and preserving ancient footpaths some of them in use before the arrival of the conquistadores “The problem,” says Javier Michel Menchaca “is that mechanization is reaching remote communities and many of our nation’s great old trails are simply vanishing.” This realization prompted the founding of Senderos de México five years ago and the rehabilitation and sign-posting of numerous trails they have consulted with similar organizations in the United States and Spain to create a national system that will make it easy for people to understand distance difficulty and direction of a trail as well as the attractions hikers might see along the route The trail-marking system they have chosen is the Grande Randonnée (GR) code used in France This extremely simple system consists of two parallel bars of color to show you’re on the right trail These are painted on trees and rocks with “eco-friendly” paint Right-angle versions of the bars indicate a left or right turn it means you’ve wandered off the right path and you’d better backtrack Senderos is using white and red bars for long trails and white and yellow for short ones I decided to test the efficacy of this system by visiting a site recently signposted by Senderos This is a steep hill called El Cerro de Amatitán located 32 kilometers northwest of Guadalajara Its peak is 1,793 meters (just over a mile) high and the cerro is famed for its beautiful vistas I had my eye on two Senderos trails up to the top of the mountain one from the north and the other from the south We’ll go up the mountain one way and come down the other and if we survive We headed for the town of Amatitán parked where the trail called “El Sendero del Agave” begins and immediately spotted yellow and white stripes painted on a small rock This sendero takes you through fields of blue-green agaves around to the south side of the mountain and then leads you to the top Our path was actually an old road — older than we could imagine Alongside it we soon came to a plaque explaining that we were walking along what used to be called El Camino Real once upon a time the royal road leading from Guadalajara to the port of San Blas After a rather long meandering walk along wide dirt roads through agave fields we reached the base of the Cerro de Amatitán and there the ubiquitous and handy trail markers suddenly ended exactly at that point heavy maleza (brush) stone walls and barbed wire were sealing off our access to the mountain we could not find a convenient connection between the road we had been following and the trail heading up the mountainside “Senderos de México forgot to tell us we’d need a machete,” I cried to my compañeros as I battled through the two-meter-high brush — sprinkled with an abundance of thorn bushes At last I clambered over the formidable combination stone wall and barbed wire fence only to find my friend Rodrigo Orozco munching an apple next to a thick tree — with white and yellow stripes on it back on the trail only in a manner of speaking that lovely trail lasted only 10 minutes and did not appear again until we reached the very peak of the mountain “I now have a new understanding of the word sendero,” I told my fellow hikers “It means ‘way’ in the vaguest possible sense bushwhacking our “way” up Cerro Amatitán was doable but slow because the difference in altitude from the bottom to the top was 519 meters we finally reached the very pinnacle of the mountain which offers a splendid view in every direction In a few minutes we arrived at a huge cross “is made by just about everybody in Amatitán including great-grandmothers and 5-year-olds.” we headed down the northern side of the hill still guided by the white and yellow trail markers — only this time there really was a trail The views on the north side were much more stunning than those we had seen on the way up but we dared not gaze upon them while walking because that trail I was so delighted to be on just happens to be strewn with billions of small hiking on the north side was like dancing on ball bearings Once again the Senderos markers guided us all the way down to the base of the mountain and then “So how do we get into Amatitán?” we asked ourselves when we ended up facing a high wall We began scouting around and soon Rodrigo shouted: “I found a gate in the wall Rodrigo’s gate turned out to be locked and guarded by a whole lot of cows as well as a sea of thick Now thoroughly pooped out (in every sense of the word) we dragged our tired bodies through the “mud,” climbed over the fence slogged through even more goo on the other side and came to yet another stone wall this one even higher than the last and cleverly combined with a barbed-wire fence it just isn’t a real Mexican hike without stone walls and barbed wire weary but triumphant: we had conquered the mountain and survived not one but two senderos I do greatly appreciate the hard work of Senderos de México and its many but it certainly would have been nice to have a good old-fashioned map as a backup I suggest that once you have found a trail you like on the Senderos website, you then search Wikiloc for a detailed map just in case one of those crucial trail signs has mysteriously evaporated The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area and co-author of Outdoors in Western Mexico. More of his writing can be found on his website Female-founded additive-free Ladydragón Craft Tequila has secured a listing with Fine Wine Sellers in the UK Ladydragón Craft Tequila was created by JC Cortez and Heather Ann The small-batch Tequila is produced from 100% pure agave in Amatitán The female-led brand offers a range of Tequilas is bottled at 38% ABV and is now available in the UK from Fine Wine Sellers at £68.99 (US$87) per 700ml bottle The Tequila offers aromas of sweet roasted agave joined on the palate by herbal and earthy agave notes Ladydragón’s signature serve is mixed with soda water with a squeeze of lime and a maraschino cherry or red rose petal garnish Cortez said: “We are very excited to launch Ladydragón Craft Tequila in the UK This is a Tequila created by women for women and we can’t wait to start sharing it with the world.” Ladydragón is named after the Chinese zodiac sign of the dragon corresponding to the year founder Cortez was born The inclusion of ‘Lady’ in the name pays homage to co-founder Ann’s English heritage and represents the home of Ladydragón Craft Tequila in London The label design features roses inspired by the vibrant flowers the dragon silhouette on the bottle is surrounded by colourful flowers and butterflies reflecting the Ladydragón philosophy of being ‘unapologetically feminine and empowered.’ the Ladydragón bottles are filled by women reinforcing the brand’s commitment to empowering women throughout all process stages and governance (ESG) initiatives and places these values at the company’s core This month we shone a light on the Black-owned brands making waves in the industry which has also been created to be a ‘Tequila for women’ Tequila brand Código 1530 has released one of the rarest and most expensive Tequilas on the market The exclusive 13-year-aged añejo tequila is Código 1530’s first offering to be aged in a Cognac cask Fully ripe agave and rock-filtered water were used in the making of this Tequila Tasting notes include sweet vanilla with cocoa powder and cinnamon Only 350 bottles of the spirit have been produced it is one of the rarest Tequilas on the market Co-founder Federico Vaughan said of the launch: “Our 13-year Añejo is in its own category We are taking our already beautifully aged Extra Añejo and finishing it in French Cognac casks for another 6 months which gives it a truly unique and distinguished taste.” Código’s latest creation comes boxed in locally sourced It may be one of the most expensive Tequilas on the market, but click here to see which cities you can get the most expensive pint in the world By Imelda GarcíaStaff Writer actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey has created his own brand with wife Camila Pantalones Organic Tequila is a line of “super-premium organic tequila,” made with blue weber agave that promises to be smooth and flavorful “The world doesn’t need another celebrity tequila, but tequila sure could use a kick in the pants. Pantalones Organic Tequila is the best thing we’ve made with our pants on,” said Matthew and Camila McConaughey in a press release It’s a joke about the meaning of Pantalones Eat Drink D-FWThe latest food and drink reviews GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy This tequila will have three different products: Blanco aged nine months with hints of sweet fruit and fresh oak; and Añejo The agave used to make Pantalones Tequila is grown and cared for by 4th generation agaveros (agave growers) and produced in a certified organic family distillery in Amatitán All tequila consumed worldwide comes from Mexico which has the denomination of origin to produce the beverage from blue agave only Hollywood celebrities have launched their own tequila brands Kendall Jenner has 818 Tequila; George Clooney launched his Casamigos Tequila; Eva Longoria has Casa del Sol Tequila; Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston have Dos Hombres Tequila; and in North Texas one of the most notable is Mark Wahlberg’s Flecha Azul. The actor has even has poured his tequila in restaurants in Dallas and Fort Worth. CORRECTION, 10:15 a.m., Nov. 1, 2023: An earlier version of this story had a misspelling of the name Camila McConaughey. She previously worked as a reporter for Al Día the Spanish-language publication of The DMN she developed most of her career in national outlets in México Californian wine and spirits firm Trinchero Family Estates has moved into Tequila with the acquisition of Tres Agaves for an undisclosed sum Trinchero Family Estates (TFE) has managed the sales distribution and marketing for Tres Agaves Tequila through a joint venture TFE said the acquisition is an important one for the firm as the Tequila category grows exponentially in retail TFE’s chief executive officer and president said: “Based on the tremendous growth in the Tequila category we are excited about continuing our work on the brand and we appreciate the support of founder Barry Augus and his team throughout the duration of our partnership “We’re proud of what we’ve built – Tres Agaves has grown 10 times since we first started selling the brand eight years ago and we know with the reputation and quality of this brand we can expect more success.” the Tres Agaves range includes a line of Tequilas and cocktail mixers Organic Bloody Mary cocktail mixers and Organic Agave Nectar In March last year, Tres Agaves opened its first distillery in Amatitán which enabled a production capacity of more than 600,000 litres annually Tres Agaves Tequila will continue to be made in Amatitán while the mixer production will also remain consistent The brand is part of TFE’s spirits and speciality beverages division, which also includes Sugar Island Rum, Hanson of Sonoma Organic Vodka, Amador Whiskey Company and Trincheri Vermouth TFE is the world’s second largest family-owned winery and the fourth largest winery in the US The company’s portfolio includes more than 50 wine and spirits brands distributed in nearly 50 countries We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. 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This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. 2021Photo: Travis Hartley Schneider Save this storySaveSave this storySave“YOU HAD ME AT PINK TEQUILA,” a glowing neon sign read behind the entryway bar in Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine’s home in Los Angeles last Monday the couple welcomed guests with a roaring fire and a deluge of tequila cocktails these bottles could be mistaken for any run-of-the-mill Rosé The brand is the latest project from the husband-wife duo in addition to their day jobs as a world-renowned crooner and runway fixture have developed this single-origin tequila with the help of the Real family producers of tequila since 1942 in Amatitán They join the ranks of celebrity tequila purveyors like Kendall Jenner who famously sold their Casamigos empire for a staggering $1 billion in 2017 so to have all of our closest friends and supporters here with us this evening is so special,” Prinsloo sporting a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier trompe l’oeil gown “We haven’t been able to do it for so long due to the Pandemic and to open our house tonight for the first time since we redid it is amazing.”  the home’s architecture and decor did their best to steal the show the Clements Design ranch boasts near-priceless furniture and Levine’s row of polished Grammy awards It also includes a 12-seat dining room adorned with artwork by Richard Prince but a larger space was needed for the evening’s crowd which included Rachel Zoe with husband Roger Berman the yoga studio was the only suitable space and for the occasion and a row of handsome Calirosa bottles full of the darker I don’t even recognize the room,” quipped Allison Statter Guests dined on a menu of Levine and Prinsloo’s favorite dishes including a little gem salad and wild-caught sea bass with braised fennel and closed out the evening with a tasting of the rare aged Extra Anejo “It’s Calirosa’s third offering and personally my favorite because I haven’t tasted a better tequila,” Levine toasted with cheers from the crowd “But to be able to celebrate and share it with you all in our home is awesome Mexico - October 2022 - From October 12 to 16 Delegates for Missionary Animation (DIAM) of America met in Amatitán to reflect on missionary animation on the continent The meeting experienced some important points including the analysis of the strategic plans of the DIAMs of the different countries and other relevant documents of the sector as well as the development of an operational strategic plan to work in a network in order to help the accompaniment of DIAMs It should be noted that DIAMs have been meeting virtually for two years: this has helped provide support and recognition for the importance of networking there was also an analysis of the current state and strategic plans of each province spoke with a lecture based on the minutes of the General Council concerning the importance of the missionary charism in the Salesian Congregation The talk inspired the participants to take new steps Mexico - December 2023 - The Retreat for Rectors and Provincial Councils of the two Salesian Provinces of Mexico (Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG) and Mexico-Mexico (MEM)) was held from 1 to 7 December in the Bethsaida house in Amatitán The following Salesians also took part in this retreat: Bishop Salvador Cleofás Murguía Villalobos Bishop of the Prelature of Mixes-Oaxaca; Fr Guillermo Lugo and Fr Francisco Zárate; Fr Osvaldo Gorzegno Delegate for the Salesian Family; and Fr José de Jesús Medrano formator at the Postnovitiate in the Central American Province (CAM) in Guatemala The retreat waspreached and directed by Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva and had as its central theme: being "educators and pastors of the young in today's world" This space of personal encounter with God sought to "contribute to confirming the yearning and deep thirst we have for Him in the vocation to which we have been called.. expressing it succinctly in the motto of our Congregation: Da mihi animas The retreat ended with a Eucharistic celebration Fr Chávez urged participants to continue cultivating a personal and authentic encounter with God and to work on a renewed personal life project a tree was planted as a sign of the commitment to care for our common home Mexico - March 2024 - From 3rd to 10th March 2024 the 30th anniversary celebrations of “CRESCO-America” a specific formation community for Salesian coadjutors of the Salesian Provinces in America organised by the current CRESCO community and the Province of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG) was also attended by 35 Salesian coadjutors who were formed at the centre in previous years preached the Annual Retreat in the Amatitan house He dwelt on the theme of the Salesian consecration of the Sons of Don Bosco and on the deepening of the gift of the canonisation of Artemide Zatti to the Salesian Congregation a picnic was organized which helped to share their various formation experiences among the batches in the 30 years of CRESCO communituy a commemorative event was held at the theologate in Tlaquepaque during which a commemorative plaque was blessed and a reflection was shared on the form of the Salesian coadjutor in the Salesian consecrated vocation also expressed his gratitude for the 28 years of presence of CRESCO in the Province of Central America (CAM) dedicated to the "Divine Saviour" aanimated those days urging the participants to offer the beauty of Don Bosco's idea of the Salesian coadjutor exploring further its development and contribution to the contemporary mission It was also a time of prayer for vocations to the Brotherhood Salesians from numerous Provinces of America participated in the experience Mexico – January 2024 - The local Social Communication (SC) Delegates and their teams met for the Social Communication Days in the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG from 9 to 11 January reflect and foster ongoing formation in the field of SC and the Salesian mission The programme focused on collaborative work the development of critical thinking and the analysis of the communicator's work in different Salesian environments The most important aspect of this meeting was the work done to specify and unify the SC criteria for the proper conduct of communication processes within the works and the MEG Province The event was led by Salesian Brother José Iván Vega Social Communication Delegate for MEG Province assisted by Montserrat Cortés and Alejandro Corona inviting participants to put people at the centre of communication to give priority to meaningful listening and dialogue and to "give voice to those who do not have it to be witnesses of the faith and to be educators in SC." In addition a diagnosis of social networks was carried out and common criteria were developed for preparing the Province Manual joint work was carried out to create a communication strategy Mexico – April 2024 - The Salesian Province of Guadalajara held its 2024 Provincial Chapter from 1-5 Apri in the Casa Betsaida in Amatitán Jalisco The Provincial Chapter was attended by 51 Chapter members with voting rights members of the Salesian Family and Salesians invited in order to accompany the discernment and presented his report on the state of MEG Province in light of the indications of the recent Extraordinary Visitation Fr José Luis Plascencia led the retreat on the first day and the Chapter Moderator presented the material and dynamics for each of the sessions The Chapter work focused on the 3 core areas of GC29 (ANS - Amatitán) - From Monday 3 to Friday 7 June there was the Third Formation Workshop for Planning and Development Offices and Salesian Vocational Training Centers (CFP) a continental event that aims to guide the strengthening of the capacities of these bodies in the service of the Salesian mission The meeting was promoted with the objective of sharing experiences understanding common challenges and fostering networking The previous workshops took place in September 2018 in Cochabamba The meeting was attended by the leaders of various PDOs and CFPs from various countries of the Salesian regions of Interamerica and America South Cone this workshop focused on the "Logical Framework" for international call for tenders and on chain of impacts within the formation project PDO representatives directed their efforts to learn how to develop monitor and evaluate projects; while the people in charge of the Centers (PCP) were engaged in learning skills training via understanding the Salesian ecosystem the different models of accompaniment and their practical application The first day of work began with the Eucharist presided by the Superior of the Province of Mexico who in his homily stressed the importance of “working as a network to better serve the recipients of the Salesian mission." referring to the work that has already been developed The Design and Development Offices are research analysis and planning centers at the service of Salesian works and The Vocational Training Centers are institutions in which formal technical qualification studies and work qualification programs are promoted mainly aimed at young people The event brought together 80 people from 17 Latin American countries and 23 Provinces (18 of the Salesians and 5 of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) five Salesian NGOs participated in various projects in Latin America: "Don Bosco Mondo" from Germany "Salesian Missions" from the United States "Jugend Ein Welt" from Austria and "VIS - International Voluntary Service for Development" from Italy The workshop has fundamentally served to deepen the "Logical Framework" as a fundamental tool for participating in major international projects as well as the chain of impacts and the monitoring and evaluation procedures conducted the annual Retreat for the Salesian Brothers to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Regional Formation Center of the Salesian Brothers of America (CRESCO-America).  Mexico - July 2022 - The Rectors of the various Salesian communities and members of the Provincial Council of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province (MEG) met from July 10 to 15 in the house for Spiritual Exercises to participate in their annual formation week The work focused on seeking greater integration between Rectors and Councilors Most of the week was devoted to four tasks: the handover-receipt of documentation and reports between the outgoing and newly appointed Rectors accompanied in this process by the Provincial Filiberto González; the discussion that each Rector had with the Provincial and each Council member which offered the Rectors indications to be considered as part of the governing protocol for the pastoral year about to begin; an in-depth discussion on the new Provincial Organic Project (POI) with a view to its inclusion in the new community and educational-pastoral programs; the presentation by the Rectors of useful contributions for the next Provincial Chapter after listening to and dialoguing with those in charge of vocation promotion in the Province offering the Rectors a series of indications on how best to carry out their service to the Salesians and young people Mexico - February 2017 - The Rectors and Provincial Council members of the Salesians in Mexico held their retreat from 12 to 18 February The retreat was preached by Fr Juan José Bartolomé on the theme "The Compassionate Jesus." It was attended by 56 Salesians of the two Provinces of Mexico City (MEM) and Guadalajara (MEG) The concluding Mass was presided over by Fr Timothy Ploch who is making the Extraordinary Visitation to the MEG Province Mexico - September 2022 - From 2 to 4 September the Provincial Animators of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province (MEG) met with the aim of reflecting on the journey of the Church of the Salesian Congregation and of the Province to offer better accompaniment to young people tracing a path to be taken starting from the central options of the Provincial Staff project which has been renewed and proposed for the 2022-2027 six-year period The meeting was planned and organized by the Youth Ministry Office of the MEG Province: 42 animators who accompany the SYM and its associations were summoned - 32 attended in person and 10 online the synodal work between consecrated and lay people engaged in the Salesian Mission was remarkable The thematic axes were the document of the Pastoral Care of Mexico “La Ruta” (The Path) which proposes a formative path aimed at making adolescents know and experience the places where Jesus lived; the preferential choices of the POI so that each association can live the “Salesian sacrament of presence” reflect and improve their own evangelization strategies; the code of conduct of the Salesian educator; and the triennial planning of the pastoral activities of each association Sam Slaughter is the Spirits Editor for The Manual He can be found online at thesamslaughter.com and @slaughterwrites He loves playing with puppies and enjoying a good glass of bourbon Mexico - October 2017 - From October 22 to 24 the meeting of the Provincial Delegates of the Salesian Family of the Interamerica Region took place The event was co-ordinated by Fr Eusebio Muñoz Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family delegate for the past pupils of Don Bosco; Fr Pierluigi Cameroni world spiritual animator of ADMA and Postulator for the Causes of Saints of the SF; Fr Joan Lluís Playá Central VDB and CDB Assistant; and 26 representatives of all the Provinces of the Interamerica Region the participants reflected on the reasons for being and feeling part of the Salesian Family founded by Don Bosco; and on the weaknesses opportunities and challenges of working in this field Mexico - October 2017 - The meeting of the Provincial Delegates for Youth Ministry of the Interamerica Region takes place from October 17 to 21 the meeting focuses on the Reference Framework of the Salesian Youth Ministry a tool that guides the pastoral action of the entire Salesian Congregation Mexico - April 2019 - The Provincial Chapter of the Salesians of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG) was held April 22 - 27 on the theme: "What Salesians for today's youth?" which was composed of 63 people and several lay guests After gathering information on the theme of the GC28 with the contributions of each Salesian and community the participants in the Provincial Chapter formulated the proposals that will be transmitted to the GC28 regarding the three main nuclei derived from the central theme: "Priority of the mission with the young" "The profile of the Salesian today" and "Mission shared between Salesians and laity"