What is "Appellation of origin"?

In accordance with article 156 of the LPI (intellectual property law), denomination of origin is the name of a geographical region of the country which serves to designate a product originating in the same and whose quality or characteristic are due exclusively to the geography, environment, natural and human factors. (Climate, soil, plant species and human activities).

The States that are part of the appellation of origin Tequila are: 

•    Guanajuato
•    Jalisco
•    Michoacan, 
•    Nayarit,
•    Tamaulipas.



What is the difference between 100% agave tequila and mixto tequila?

100% Agave:
It is the product which at the fermentation is not enriched with other different sugars than those obtained from the agave tequilana Weber blue variety. It must be called under any of the following legends: "100% agave," "100% pure agave", "100% agave", "100% pure agave".

Tequila:
It is the product that is mixed prior to fermentation with other sugars in a proportion not exceeding  49% of  total reducing sugar. Only can be increased  the 51% of total reducing sugars extracted from the agave tequilana Weber blue variety.


 

What is the difference between industrial, traditional and artisanal processes?

Artisanal Process:
The manufacture of products is on small scale. Characterized by the use of traditional equipment to make tequila, as it is the case of the Tahona, masonry ovens and wooden vats for fermentation; small copper stills for the distillation, where the hand of man is the hallmark in the process. The human touch and care is the essence of an artisanal process.

​Industrial Process:
The manufacture of products is on a massive scale. It is characterized by using more complex machines and reduce the workforce.

​Ultra Industrial Process:
It is the optimization of industrial processes.


Watch the process table

 

Differences between Tequila produced in the Valley of Tequila and Los Altos de Jalisco.     

The tequilas from the Valley are recognized to have herbal flavors and aromas; while the tequilas from the Highlands are known for their fruity aromas and flavors.




Differences of scents and flavors that provides an American oak barrels and one French oak.

The American oak barrels provide flavors and aromas of vanilla and maple.

The French oak barrel provides aromas and flavors of chocolate, coffee, whiskey, walnut.




 

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What does that each brand can be different if they come from the same distillery?

What makes different a particular brand from another are the differences that are established in each stage of the process:


Cooking:
Masonry ovens or autoclaves.

Milling:
Tahona, railway milling or diffuser.

Fermentation:
Fast or Slow.

Distillation:
Copper or stainless steel stills.

Ageing:
French oak or American oak and time in barrels.


 

What differences each brand produced in La Alteña distillery?

      Watch the differences process table
 

What effect does provide to use diffuser in the production of tequila?     

The diffuser is being used as a substitute for the milling and the tahona, since it is more efficient in the separation of sugars and fibers from the “piña”, reducing costs for companies. However, using it reduces greatly the flavor of agave, resulting in a more neutral, flavorless spirit.


 

What effect causes to cook the agave in autoclave in the production of tequila?

Cooking in autoclave last between 4 and 8 hours; is much faster that masonry ovens but some flavors and aromas escape. A slower cooking time is gently unfolding the sugars and thus more flavors and aromas are obtained.



What is the alcohol content allowed by the CRT?

35-55% Alc. Vol.



How long should stay tequila in barrels to be considered reposado?

Minimum 2 months.



How long should tequila be aged in barrels to be considered añejo?

Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years in containers of not more than 600 liters capacity.


 

How long should tequila be aged in barrels to be considered  extra Añejo?

Minimum 3 years in containers of no more than 600 liters capacity.



What should the consumer when purchasing a bottle of tequila look for is?

Below are 11 elements to be taken into account when you buy a bottle of tequila:



1. Class: Blanco, Joven, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Anejo
2. Official NOM letters and number of authorized producer (4 digits)
3. Net content expressed in liters or milliliters
4. Name and address of the producer and/or bottler
5. Warning legend
6. The word TEQUILA
7. Trademark
 

 

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Distillery la Alteña

78 years of tradition
Founded by Don Felipe Camarena Hernández on July 7, 1973 and in 1940 started the sale of Tequila 100% blue agave "Tapatío".
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