For today's post, I was watching the show This is México that is shown on the Tastemade network. The program is hosted by Mexican born chef Gerardo Lopez and focuses on traditional Mexican food, drink and culture. In the episode Tequila Tasting in Jalisco, Lopez is taking a tour of La Casa de Herradura hacienda with Herradura Global Ambassador Ruben Aceves.
Something that was said during the tour caught my attention. It was said that Herradura was the first distillery to produce a tequila reposado for sale in 1974. Before I go into Herradura's claim of it being the first distillery to produce a tequila reposado, I wanted to take a look at what a tequila reposado is compared to other tequilas.
While the terms blanco (white or clear) and añejo (aged or vintage) are fairly well known to drinkers, the meaning of the word reposado might not be known to many. The word reposado translates to rested. According to the governing body of tequila in Mexico known as el Consejo Regulador de Tequila (TRC):
Tequila aging is understood as the product slow processing that allowing acquiring additional sensory characteristics, gotten by physicochemical processes that naturally occur during their stay in French oak or white oak barrels. Rested Tequila must be aged in French oak or white oak barrels for at least two months.On to Casa Herradura.
Casa Herradura is one of the oldest tequila producers in the world having been established in 1870. The Casa Herradura is located at the Hacienda San Jose del Refugio which is in the village of Amatitlán, Jalisco, México. Hacienda San Jose del Refugio is the last tequila producing hacienda in the world.
What is a hacienda? A hacienda is a large estate or plantation with a dwelling house. In terms of Casa Herradura, their small scale tequila production on the hacienda makes for a specialized product compared to other mass produced tequilas in large distilleries.
What sets Herradura apart from the other tequila distillers is that their original tequila reposado is aged for eleven months in charred American Oak barrels of fifty-five gallons rather than for just a minimum of two months.
a rich amber color with notes of cooked agave, vanilla and butter. This additional time spent resting in charred American White Oak barrels creates a smooth, sweet finish with a slight taste of spice.Herradura also produces a Double Barrel Reposado which is made with a two-step process. The first step is the same as their original tequila reposado. Then the tequila is transferred to new charred American Oak barrels for another 30 days. This extra step:
creates a rich, dark amber colored liquid and a smooth yet complex flavor profile not found in any other Reposado, with hints of cooked agave, vanilla, allspice, clove and oak.
With the tequila reposado being a rested version of the tequila blanco that many people shudder when remembering their early 20's, this tequila is a sipper and an excellent tequila to use in your margarita. Speaking of the margarita, click the link for the signature Herradura margarita known as the Horseshoe Margarita.
Another claim to fame of Casa Herradura is to having the first female master tequila distiller, Teresa Lara López who worked at Casa Herradura for thirty years.
Next in an upcoming post, I'm going to look at the fourth episode in the This is México
program which had Gerardo Lopez having tequila's cousin Mezcal in Oaxaca. Keep an eye out for it.
Until Then May You Have Some Happy, Safe and Responsible Drinking,
SiscoVanilla
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