() is a brand of tequila distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Mexico. Established in 1996, it is located in the historic , where it also offers guided tours and hosts social events. The majority of its production is shipped internationally, with 70 percent of sales reported in the United States in 2019.
produces tequila in the "" (White), "" (Rested), "" (Aged), and "" (Extra Aged) varieties. Each is sold in a distinctly colored bottle produced by the company itself. The company also produces a tequila cream as well as other alcohols.
History is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Mexico. It is produced at the former , the birthplace of Mexican independence leader Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who later became known as the Father of Mexico. The hacienda had first begun distillery activities in the 1770s, with commercial distribution following in 1775.
The was acquired by Leonardo Rodríguez Moreno in 1996. At the time, it was dilapidated, and thus Rodríguez began extensive renovations. The distillery was inaugurated by Vicente Fox, then the governor of Guanajuato; after Fox was elected President of Mexico in 2000, shipped a cask to Mexico City for complimentary distribution to passers-by.
In 2003, opened a new distillery. It was granted recognition by the government of Mexico in 2004, becoming the first tequila produced outside of Jalisco. It has remained one of the few tequilas distilled in Guanajuato, with other examples including one produced by . Seven areas in the state have a denomination of origin for agave cultivation and tequila production, though most production remains concentrated in Jalisco.
produced of tequila per year and employed almost a hundred people by 2004. It had begun exporting its products internationally, with markets including the United States, Japan, and Spain. By 2010, had developed a reputation in international markets as an alternative to major name brands, and was producing per day.
In 2018, ranked twelfth in tequila sales in the United States, reporting sales of $8.1 million and an annual growth of 22.5%. It reported sales in seventy countries, which had expanded to a hundred by 2024. The majority of its products are sold internationally; in 2019, 70 percent of production was exported to the United States while only 15 percent was sold in Mexico. In 2021, El Sol de México identified as the most prominent tequila producer in Guanajuato.
The hacienda and distillery are open to the public. In 2003, it was surrounded by agave, and included a restaurant and souvenir shop. In 2013, it had a museum covering the history of alcohol production, including the first bottle as well as examples of local beers.
Products
is made from blue agave, which is cooked in stone clay ovens over the course of 27 hours before being allowed to rest; autoclaves may also be used, with the juices from agave cooked using different methods later mixed. Twelve hours after cooking, the juice is extracted for fermentation. Distillation uses the Charentais method, with a mix of column stills and alembic copper pots. Bottles are manufactured by the company itself, using recycled glass. The Los Arango Tequila line is also produced using agave from the . Writing for The Village Voice, Tara Finley described as an approachable tequila with a "full-bodied and extremely satisfying" flavor.
As with other tequilas, is available in different formats based on the time allowed for aging. "" (White) is sold after distilling, while "" (Rested), "" (Aged), and "" (Extra Aged) are allowed to age. These expressions use different colored bottles, with the "" in clear bottles to allow easier observation, the "" in blue bottles, and the "" in red bottles. The brand has also produced limited edition runs, including an extra-aged tequila called 1821. The company also produces a tequila cream, as well as its own rum, whiskey, and vodka, and sells chocolates, coffee, and goat cheese. The expression has been the brand's best seller.
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