Siete Leguas "Siete Decadas" Limited Edition Blanco Tequila
$129.50
From their start in 1952, Fabrica El Centenario Siete Leguas has been a family owned and operated producer, now crafting tequila across their two distilleries. The original was 'El Centenario' founded in 1952, with 'La Vencedora', their "modern" facility being added in 1984 about 150 yards down the road. Both distilleries manage all of their own tequila production - cooking, macerating, fermenting and distilling in house. You'll find them about two hours east of Guadalajara in the town of Atotonilco in Jalisco, Mexico. The heart of their operation is, of course, the Blue Weber agave they grow in their fields nearby. The agaves grow larger here when compared to other parts of Mexico, creating a softer and fruitier tequila.
For this one time bottling celebrating 7 decades of production, a rare and special type of petite blue weber agave known as "Criollo" have been selected by hand. These agave occur only as a result of a particularly challenging natural environment which places additional stress on the plant. At Casa Siete Leguas they are found high up on the steepest hillsides of the family land, exposed to the most extreme elements, with only a small window to soak up any rain before it runs off into the fields below. Jimadores must climb to precarious positions to harvest this succulent and precious agave. Why go through all of this extra work for a small plant that will produce only a small amount of tequila? For the same reason you would reach for the smallest darkest berry in the basket come spring time. The mammoth strawberries you see may be impressive in their own way - but bite into one and you'll find they're mostly full of water, stretching and diluting the flavor for a quantity over quality situation. Those little baby stressed out "Criollo" agave on the other hand, produce some of the most layered, aromatic and complex Tequila around. Truly a release to savor, and share with a select few.
