The rich history of the Sauza Tequila family and Tres Generaciones Tequila

August 25, 10:27 AMDallas Cocktails ExaminerJim Walker

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Dallas Cocktails Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The other evening I had the great fortune to be invited to a one on one tequila tasting with Armando Zapata.  He is the Brand Ambassador for Tres Gereraciones Tequila.

He had invited an intimate group of local food & drink writers to Victor Tango's.  We sat and sipped tequila and tequila cocktails, especially made for the occasion, as Armando unwound the story of the Sauza family and their history from the early beginnings in 1873 up to today.  Their great love for creating wonderful spirits became very obvious as we tasted all 3. I'll get to the tequilas a little later.  First though I want share some of their history.

The 1st generation of the Sauza family, Don Cenobio Sauza, bought the distillery in 1873 in the town of Tequila, Mexico after scrimping and saving for 15 years.  He did this at the ripe old age of 30.  He named it the La Perseverancia Distillery.  After creating his unique brand, Sauza became the first tequila legally imported into the United States.

The 2nd generation was Don Eladio who guided the company through its most turbulent times when he took over the company in 1909.  Armando added though, that he did not just inherit his position. He instead he insisted on learning every aspect of making tequila.  He worked his way through the company from the Agave fields to the final bottling before accepting the rains as the head of the family business. He was also responsible for driving a world market for tequila.

The 3rd generation was Don Francisco Javier.  Using the wisdom of his fore fathers Don continued the family tradition of creating fine spirits.  While promoting tequila internationally he discovered that distillers in other countries were creating there own "tequila," Don Francisco helped pass the Origin of Denomination - a law requiring a spirit's origin to be printed on its bottle, ensuring that tequila can only be produced in Mexico.  Don is also responsible for Tres Gereraciones Tequila.  He created just 100 bottles of each for the 100th anniversary of the Sauza Tequila.  Using the family knowledge and his own flair he wanted to honor the three generations and he did this with Tres Gereraciones Plata, Reposado, and Anejo Tequilas.  These triple distilled tequilas are all premium spirits made to the highest standards.  In future post, I will speak on each of the three separately

So this is the story of the Sauza family and their tequilas but, it does not stop there. Today to make the process even better, once the fibers of the Agave are processed and done in the extraction process they are sent back to the fields and used as mulch, any water used in production is recycled and also used in the fields. It's very satisfying to know that the company takes great care and pride in the entire process and also gives back. Of coarse this is done in their private Agave fields. This so they can control every aspect and create the best tequilas.

Now own to the TEQUILA!  We had two cocktails that were especially created by the Tres Generaciones mixologist. The first was the Smooth Generacion - (pictured on the right)

1 1/2 oz. Tres Generaciones Anejo, 1 whole peeled (cut into small cubed slices)Texas peach, 1 oz. agave nectar, 4-5 large mint sprigs, 2 oz. fresh lemon sour. Muddle mint, peaches, agave nectar, add fresh lemon sour, and Tres Generaciones Anejo. Shake, pour and strain over ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and dust with fresh ground nutmeg.

Next Came Pena Spice - (pictured on the left above)

1 1/2 oz. Tres Generaciones Reposado or Plata,  1/2 oz. Agave Nectar, 2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice, the juice from 1/2 a Lime, 8-10 Blueberries, 4-6 pieces Cubed Pineapple, 3 Mint Sprigs, 1/2 Jalapeno.  Muddle the blueberries, pineapple, mint, and jalapeno. Add Tres Generaciones Repasado or Plata, agave nectar, lemon and lime juice. Shake and pour over ice and garnish with a mint sprig. 

I also want to give a BIG shout out the talented mixiologist at Victor Tango's for making these wonderful cocktails. Be sure to check out the review on Victor Tango's.

Well that's about all for now, so enjoy these recipes and  please come Celebrate Tequila Month at Examiner.com - Cheers!