tequila that is more than tequila

Sometimes the best ideas on how to improve on something that already exists come from someone who doesn’t have related
experience. That is how Lee started SilverCoin Tequila in 2005. As a cantina owner in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his customers felt all
tequila finished the same; with a burn. They were right, there wasn’t a premium silver tequila available that was smooth and could
be enjoyed neat. His goal was to make a tequila that showcased the sweet, fruity flavors and aromas of the Agave plant and was
distilled using the desired middle section, or hearts, to yield a premium hand-crafted tequila with a unique viscosity. He searched
for the most respected Tequilera in Mexico, the most knowledgable Jimador and the most note-worthy organically grown Huerta
de Agave in the highlands region (the red volcanic soil in this area is particularly well suited to the growing of blue agave). We are
very proud to offer this fine Tequila that comes from the most mature, single source, organically grown, 100% Blue Weber Agave
plants that are hand harvested, steamed cooked, fermented longer and twice distilled in Arandas, Jalisco, in the heart of Mexico.
‘TEQUILA THAT IS MORE THAN TEQUILA’
DOUBLE GOLD WINNER - ‘Best Blanco Tequila’ | San Francisco World Spirits Competition
OUR PROCESS
The process of making any Tequila begins with the harvesting of the Agave. Each Agave
for our super premium SilverCoin Tequila is selected individually for maximum maturity
and sweetness. The Jimador (the Agave harvester) gradually cuts away the sharp Pencas, the
spiny fronds of the Agave, to get to the Piña (‘pineapple’), the sweet center of the plant. The
trimmed Piña is then transported to our distillery in Arandas, Jalisco. There, the Piña is split
in half and cooked for 50 to 72 hours in pressurized steam ovens, which further breaks down
the inulin (agave sugars) that the yeast will consume during the fermentation process, taking
away bitterness and enhancing the fruit flavors and higher sweetness. After steam cooking,
the Agave is light brown and tastes much like a sweet potato with brown sugar. The cooked
Agave is then ground to pulp, house-produced distilled water is added, and the extended fermentation process begins for 144 to 160 hours for superior flavor and scent. During the first
distillation process, the first portion of the distillate (the head) to come off the condenser is
drained off. This contains unwanted and toxic methyl alcohol and aldehydes. The end portion
(tail) contains heavier elements, so it is discarded. The desired portion is the middle section,
el corazon (the heart), called the Ordinario. This same process is repeated in the second
distillation, and the heart is raw tequila. After two distillations to proof in pot stills, as with
all tequilas, water is added to back to the distillate to obtain the bottling strength. With this,
our SilverCoin recipe uses the minimum amount of distilled water in the industry. Our unique
and precise process provides a smooth richness, our trademark viscosity and roundness of flavor not found in other silver tequilas.
At the end of the process, SilverCoin is ready for bottling in our hand-made bottles from Guadalajara. Our Anejo and Reposado
tequilas will be released in 2015.
What makes SilverCoin unique? Organically grown, 100% single-source Blue Weber Agave | Longer cook time in steam ovens
Extended fermentation | House-produced distilled water | Only ‘hearts’ used from both distillations | Twice distilled to proof
with minimum water added to strength | Superior flavor & aroma with a unique viscosity | Hand-made bottles
THE NAME
Our premium silver tequila is produced by a highly-respected distiller in Mexico,
with the trademark name SilverCoin. A ‘silver’ style margarita, also known as
a ‘coin’ margarita, is made with silver tequila and Cointreau. It’s referred to by
both names depending on the area, and is known differently in different parts of
the country. There are different styles with varying recipe proportions depending
on if you like it tart, sweet or boozy. Our SilverCoin margarita recipe (based on
the classic style) is prepared individually in a shaker with silver tequila, freshly
squeezed lime juice and Cointreau, served in a salt-rimmed glass.
www.santafetequilas.com