Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila 700ML
$ 60
99 each
When two top notch bartenders’ partner up with a Maestro Tequilero, you know whatever they collaborate on will end up magical. And magical is the perfect way to describe the Olmeca Altos Plata and Olmeca Altos Reposado that have finally landed in Australia.
Upon their initial meeting in 2008 in the beautiful Los Altos, Dre Masso, Henry Bessant, and Jesús Hernández were blissfully unaware of what was to come. Over the next few years, the three would work tirelessly on blending tradition and sustainable practices in order to formulate a tequila recipe that would pair seamlessly with Lime to create the perfect Margarita.
PROCESS
To begin the process, their Agave plants are grown at 2,100 meters above sea level on the rich volcanic soil of Los Altos, situated in Jalisco Mexico for 7-8 years. Once they have reached maturity, their flavour profile hits the sweet spot and are ready for harvest. Generations of Jimadors have been able to hone in on the perfect time frame for growth, ensuring the perfect mix of flavour every time.
From there, the agave is cooked for three days in a brick oven, helping to preserve the richness and smoothness of flavour while maintaining a juicy tenderness for milling.
Something that sets Altos Tequila apart from its competitors is its use of a 400-year-old method of milling called the Tahona stone. By combining the use of a roller mill and the stone, a blend of unique punchiness and natural smoothness can be created. By embracing the use of pre-industrialised methods of production, and using the method of stone crushing, Altos shows that their priority is to focus on high quality standards, not just mass production.
WHAT IS A TAHONA STONE?
Dating all the way back to the time of the Aztecs, Tahona was their indigenous language’s word for wheel. The Altos Tahona was crafted by hand out of tezontle – a red rock found in volcano slopes, specifically for use in the distillery. Originally the stone weighed over 2 tonnes but has deteriorated 10% since it was installed in 1997. The Altos Tahona was also specifically created to be used without any animals pulling it, and was the first mechanical one of its kind, being drawn by an electric motor and assisting wheels.
Once the agave has been crushed its fibres and liquid are fermented with the proprietary yeast
Finally, using copper head distilling ensures a cleaner distilled tequila is created, before being barrelled up for 6-8 months at a minimum, often within ex bourbon barrels.
SUSTAINABILITY
One of the most important factors in the everyday life of Olmeca Altos is the element of Sustainability.
“For us, a business must always have a human component: we need to be sustainable as a brand, in our process and in our lives. Sustainability is not only about reducing our waste or repurposing our trash: it is a lifestyle that requires small and big, but always meaningful shifts in our day to day lives.”
Throughout all they do, they have got an obvious focus on making high quality tequila but are also clear that they want to take care of the planet, and of its people.
For the planet, Altos is dedicated to using traditional sustainable practices, while reducing the footprint of production with 99% of their solid waste being recycled, and investment to research recycling by-products that can’t currently be recycled.
And for the people, Altos is dedicated to paying its employees fairly, with their rates being 3.5x the minimum wage of Mexico. They value these fair wages as well as good job conditions throughout the entire value chain.
Make your marg this weekend!