Tequila Casa Herradura – Destileria y Hacienda

We toured the distillery in August and received incredible insight into the uniqueness behind Herradura tequila. The «fabrica» is beautiful and expansive, but maintains its history and authentic production methods despite having scaled up to meet unprecedented demand.
We hacked on an agave plant and learned about the natural fermentation process which occurs unaided by anything more than the local ecology. I highly recommend the distillery as well as the tequila. No other tequila achieves the same quality product at the scale that Herradura operates. There’s a reason it is such a popular brand. Salud!

Our tour of the Herradura tequila distillery was a definite highlight during our recent trip to Tequila, Mexico. We learned much about the process of making tequila, with special hands-​on experiences like cutting harvested agave like a true jimador, a tasting tour through the open-​air fermenters, and some quality time with Cuco the donkey, conveniently saddled with a barrel of tequila for sampling. Ruben, our gracious host, was very knowledgeable about tequila and the Herradura brand and his passion for the artistry of tequila was evident and contagious. I left with a new appreciation of the care and thought that goes into tequila production, even at a large scale operation like Herradura.

I plan my travel around food, friends, family and drink. Don’t worry mom, not necessarily in that order. My most recent trip to Jalisco was a beach trip with friends, with the promise of tequila tastings. During the planning of this sun and fun getaway, I acknowledged that I am not really a «tequila guy.» I have experienced more winery, distillery and brewery tours than I have thoroughly enjoyed years of legal-​aged alcohol consumption. So, I was open to something new. To be absolutely clear, this was not merely a tour. My memorable afternoon with Ruben was an intimate educational seminar of earth to bottle, mixed with a tequila how-​to, sprinkled deftly with a social and political documentary, all topped off with gorgeous views and a dash of community involvement and gracious hospitality. OK, maybe that sounds like a metaphor for a margarita recipe. Trust me, every iteration of Herradura tequila will amaze you. One bottle, one glass, one sip– save the mixers for those other guys. I entered the hacienda simply hoping to learn a little about the agave plant and taste some samples. I left with a true appreciation for their particular and singular process of planting, waiting (six to seven years for a single batch), cultivating, harvesting (crossfit trainers have nothing on the skilled jimadors), fermenting and aging their spirit. Although I am no longer physically there, I am in spirit.. . or at least I am WITH spirit. I maxed out my import allocation with my two favorite varieties (one of which is one of three they only offer for sale in Mexico). Don’t worry Herradura, I will go local to purchase the blanco, reposado and anejo. I just couldn’t fit them all in my checked luggage.
So for now, hasta luego Herradura. Thank you for the memories. I look forward to my return trip, on which I will definitely pack additional «tequila transportation» luggage. Oh, and any chance you can expedite the import process for your «New Mix?»

If you’re the type of person who plans travel around food and drink, I strongly suggest a visit to Guadalajara and its surrounding areas for a tequila adventure! Tequila fan or not — and you WILL be a fan after this tour, tasting and education. …And Casa Herradura in the town of Amatitán should top your destination list.
As most tourists fly to and stay in the city of Guadalajara, they prefer to take the Tequila Express (a train!) into the valley of Amatitán for the Herradura experience. My group of 13 friends, however, were already staying in the town of Tequila 15 minutes away, so Herradura kindly shuttled us from our hotel to the Herradura Hacienda. For a 9:30am pickup, it was our own version of a «Tequila Sunrise.»
What we thought would be a three hour tour turned into six simply because our fascination lead to endless questions. And I’m definitely not complaining. We were lucky enough to get the special treatment, as my Herradura contact in Houston kindly set up this once-​in-​a-​lifetime experience with Master Taster and Tequila Global Ambassador Ruben Aceves.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ruben, who gave us a brief introduction into Casa Herradura’s lengthy 150 year old history, which all takes place inside the continuously operating 400-​year-​old Hacienda San José del Refugio. What makes them uniquely special is what I just mentioned: It’s the only *continuously* operating tequila hacienda.
What makes an hacienda a TRUE hacienda, you ask? Much like a small town of its own…
: The hacienda has barrier walls all around it.
: The hacienda is completely sustainable — with its own livestock, flora, etc.
: The hacienda has a dedicated living space for the hacienda owner and his family.
: The hacienda houses workers.
: The hacienda must have a church. This particular hacienda has a beautiful and historically significant Catholic church, dating back to a time when churches were hidden or destroyed during the Cristero War.
Our special tour took us through the family’s actual hacienda home, refurbished in 1820 by a priest. I felt as though I stepped back in time — that or I was on the set of (insert your favorite Mexican telenovela here). The center courtyard, the fountain, the grand rooms — it was a unique experience I can’t truly describe.
The tour also lead us past Mexico’s second largest private library set before a 200-​year-​old Amita tree; it’s rumored that if you hug the tree, you absorb some of it’s energy and good luck. I def did that. Onto the actual distilleries, we went. Where all the magic happens. From watching an actual jimador shave agave plants into piñas, the steaming of the blue agave plants, tasting the fresh agave juice — THE BEST agave juice we tasted in comparison to other distilleries — and then checking out the massive tanks where the agave begins to ferment.
The 22 thousand acres of land maintaining 22 million blue Weber agaves and fruit trees of all varieties is its own ecosystem. And the yeast in the fermenting tanks carried through the air keep bugs away. We didn’t see a single fly or mosquito, as the light smell of yeast in the air keeps them away. It’s like science and magic.
One thing that you’ll love not only about the brand, but the tour, is that out of all of the tequilas made, Casa Herradura is the only one operating in its original location. And during your tour, you’ll actually get to see the original 1870 factory that functioned until 1910. It’s stunning, I must add.
From checking out the barrel tasting room to visiting Cuco, the 15-​year-​old burro that lives on the land, there was much to see and do. Know that WHEN you do your general tour, prepare to bring some lunch to enjoy along the way. And know that there are a few onsite stores where you can buy their tequilas — both Herradura and El Jimador brands — for a far better rate than you pay at the airport. So pack your bags light so you can put three bottles in your checked luggage.
Big thanks to the Brown-​Forman and Herradura staff, as well as Ruben Aceves. He made lifers out of our group, and we look forward to attending some of the Herradura tequila dinners hosted at Houston restaurants!
Tequila Express website:
Note for shoppers:
: The Gran Imperio Tequila, available in the States is about $ 350. At the duty free shop at the airport was about $ 250. We got it for about $ 100 USD at their Herradura gift shop!
: You gotta try their El Jimador New Mix canned drinks. About $ 1 USD at their gift shop. I can’t wait for this beverage to hit the US market.