Siete Leguas Distillery NOM 1120
In 1999 I tasted a blanco tequila made by 7 Leguas - it was amazing! Fresh, crisp, sweet, and earthy! Not only did it change my perception of tequila, but also how I drank and tasted alcohol.
7 Leguas was founded in 1952 by Ignacio Gonzalez Vargas in the town of Atotonilco, Jalisco. Currently Ignacio's son, Juan Fernando runs the company and takes great pride in continuing the tradition and passion his family has for making tequila. Tequilas made by Siete Leguas are overseen by Master Distiller Arturo Valle-Salcedo, and crafted in 2 different distilleries that they own - Fabrica El Centenario and Fabrica La Vencedora. El Centenario is their original distillery, where they still use brick ovens, a tahona that is pulled around by 2 mules, fermentation that is done with all of the agave fibers, and small copper stills are used for distillation. Built in 1984, La Vencedora is their "modern" distillery where most of their tequilas are produced. Large brick ovens, molinos, industrial sized fermentation tanks (bagasso is not added), and large copper pot stills are used to make the tequilas here. Blancos from the two facilities are then blended together - not by an even percentage, rather they go old school and do it by taste. They are then sent to the barrel rooms for their reposado and añejo tequilas, or to the bottling facility for their blancos. Speaking of barrels, Siete Leguas uses used American whiskey barrels that have not been re-toasted.
Not only does 7 Leguas make a tasty traditional tequila that is crafted with artisan and tradaitional industrial methods, but they are really great and hospitable people. I have had the chance to tour their distillery and to visit with Juan Fernando and his crew 4 times, and it is always a day to remember!
7 Leguas was founded in 1952 by Ignacio Gonzalez Vargas in the town of Atotonilco, Jalisco. Currently Ignacio's son, Juan Fernando runs the company and takes great pride in continuing the tradition and passion his family has for making tequila. Tequilas made by Siete Leguas are overseen by Master Distiller Arturo Valle-Salcedo, and crafted in 2 different distilleries that they own - Fabrica El Centenario and Fabrica La Vencedora. El Centenario is their original distillery, where they still use brick ovens, a tahona that is pulled around by 2 mules, fermentation that is done with all of the agave fibers, and small copper stills are used for distillation. Built in 1984, La Vencedora is their "modern" distillery where most of their tequilas are produced. Large brick ovens, molinos, industrial sized fermentation tanks (bagasso is not added), and large copper pot stills are used to make the tequilas here. Blancos from the two facilities are then blended together - not by an even percentage, rather they go old school and do it by taste. They are then sent to the barrel rooms for their reposado and añejo tequilas, or to the bottling facility for their blancos. Speaking of barrels, Siete Leguas uses used American whiskey barrels that have not been re-toasted.
Not only does 7 Leguas make a tasty traditional tequila that is crafted with artisan and tradaitional industrial methods, but they are really great and hospitable people. I have had the chance to tour their distillery and to visit with Juan Fernando and his crew 4 times, and it is always a day to remember!
