I had the privilege of traveling to Jalisco, Mexico and specifically the town of Tequila, where the namesake spirit is made. The project was for Lunazul Tequila, which allowed me unique access to the region and process. Tequila is serious business in Jalisco. Some of the Jimadors, who harvest the agave, are fourth generation experts of their art. They use a massive blade called a Coa to slice away the razor sharp agave leaves to get to the sugar filled piñas at the heart of the agave plant.
The agave fields I visited lie in the foothills of many dormant volcanoes, taking advantage of the rich soil which is littered with jet black chunks of obsidian. It’s a striking and beautiful landscape.
The people there take a lot of pride in their Tequila, and this industry in some way or another employs everyone who lives in the region. Much like Champagne, there a strict quality controls on the products, ensuring only certain spirits can be dubbed true Tequila.
