Many tequila brands claim to be “artisanal” tequilas, but the term is thrown around so often that consumers don’t know whether or not they can trust it. With Alec and Ana Tesa’s new tequila, Eleven20 Tequila, they earn the label thanks to their commitment to supporting and honoring the culture and community in which their tequila is made, all while delivering a superior quality and wonderful-tasting product.
The Tesas consider themselves tequila enthusiasts, having tried hundreds of different tequila brands and looking for the “perfect” one — but to no avail. This gave them the motivation and passion not only to find the perfect tequila, but to create it.
“We love tequila, and our passion to develop Eleven20 Tequila was established under principles of persistence, patience, and our belief in fate to develop an extraordinary tasting tequila for all to experience,” explains Alec Tesa.
Eleven20 Tequila is made of 100% pure blue agave, giving it a very rich flavor with light and specific notes of sweetness. It’s a perfect blend of tastes — herbaceous and not too sweet — allowing it to be an ideal tequila for both regular tequila drinkers and those beginning their journey into tequila. Eleven20 offers three types of tequila — a blanco, a reposado, and an añejo — and plans to expand soon into mezcal.
Eleven20’s traditional production process
The blue agave that Eleven20 uses in their tequilas originates from the valley of the Tequila Volcano near Jalisco in Mexico. Their agave is naturally fertilized by volcanic minerals and benefits from the semi-dry environment and warm temperatures that create the perfect conditions for a lovely-tasting, versatile agave plant that allows them to create distinct flavors with their tequila.
In their fields, a mere eight miles away from the volcanic crater, Eleven20’s fieldhands work the land in a traditional way without using modern machinery. They clean and make the furrows as it has been done for generations, respecting the traditions and culture of the land. This allows them to ensure that, not only are the agave plants being harvested to a high standard of quality but that the land can continue to be preserved for future harvests and generations to come.
Once the agave reaches maturity and is harvested, it is transported to a family-owned distillery where master distiller Jesús Correa further preserves tradition by honoring his family practices. His father, a stoker who managed the ovens that cooked the agave, taught Jesús what he needed to know to become the Maestro Tequilero, and he still applies these teachings today.
Correa and his distillery eschew modern procedures in their distilling process, such as diffusers and distillation towers, ensuring the premium quality of the distillate. Many of these modern practices and techniques tend to compromise the quality of the tequila, leading to a final product that is much less concentrated and doesn’t taste as good.
“Modern practices use 4 or 5 kilograms of agave per liter of tequila,” explains Ana Tesa, “but Eleven20’s distillery follows the tradition of using 8 or 9 kilograms per liter.”
Furthermore, Eleven20 Tequila uses water only from artesian wells, not from a modern supply network. “Although this may seem like a small step, it makes all the difference in the world in terms of flavor and quality,” Alec Tesa asserts. “By sourcing our water from artesian wells, we can eliminate contamination from common chemicals such as chlorine and enrich the product with volcanic minerals to give it even stronger properties.”
Supporting the local community
Beyond the practices that make the tequila better, Eleven20 also supports practices that help the people involved in the production of tequila. From supporting their family-operated farm and distillery to employing the women of the local community to label and hand-pack the final product, the Tesas and their company have shown a commitment to supporting the community who has helped to bring their vision to life.
Consumers looking to find a tequila with an excellent, traditional taste should check out Eleven20 Tequila. Now available for pre-order to be shipped to most states within the US, consumers can enjoy a bottle of this delicious artisanal, hand-crafted tequila from their own home and support a small business that gives back to the community.
