La Alborado Distillery - Tequila Gran Jubileo

La Alborado Distillery - Tequila Gran Jubileo

My favorite distillery in Tequila ended up being one I got to visit after hours on a private tour. La Alborado Distillery was a family run, organic and sustainable factory. It was great to meet someone pouring their heart and soul into every ounce of Tequila and the entire process. One good example, was how they would play classical music to the fermenting agave to affect the outcome of the tequila. I definitely tasted the difference. Their main brand of tequila Grand Jubileo is not readily available, but can be found in the US in a few places. The most famous would be Eva Longoria's restaurant in Hollywood called "Beso". She just opened one up in Las Vegas as well, so hopefully they start serving this amazing spirit.

One little secret he let us in on, is that one of the large tequila brands (won't put the name to protect my blog) uses his tequila in their top-shelf bottles. And we aren't just talking top shelf, but the best that the big brand produces and sells for thousands of dollars is the exact same as Gran Jubileo 7 year añejo he sells for ~$100 USD. The reason this happens is because the large distilleries don't have any artisanal agave plants and the process is mass production so their is no infrastructure to create a high end tequila. So they contract out to small distilleries like La Alborado. This is great to know, since now I can taste thousand dollar tequila for much cheaper. Here are my reviews of the tequila:

1. Blanco - A very smooth blanco that has a very organic and noticeable agave flavor yet is comlemented by a citrus nose and finish. The agave plants have specific fruit trees planted around them to enhance the flavor that each agave plant produces. For $150 pesos, this was quite a bargain for the quality that goes into it.
2. Reposado - Once again, a very smooth tequila. I prefer a blanco, but for those who don't drink a lot of blanco this is just as great because it gives it a light oak flavor while retaining the pure agave and citrus notes.
3. Añejo - 5 years in the oak barrel makes it an extra añejo and it is wonderful. I have always loved how a tequila can transform into more of a cognac and it was just that plus more. The agave flavor almost dissappears which is unfortunate, but the caramel finish is amazing. The oak used does give it flavor similar to a whisky, but the amazing agave used and process of producing it add numerous flavors like vanilla, caramel, a bit of chocolate, and earth that really balance things out. Very smooth, for the price, this is a great bottle of añejo.