Tradition, Family, and the Future of Tequila with Tequila El Mexicano

·26 min·2 clips

Leon Banuelos Jr., third-generation tequila maker, reveals why his family returned to tequila after selling their brand to Bacardi.

The episode begins with host Zach Jabal introducing guest Leon Banuelos Jr., a third-generation tequila maker from Arandas, Jalisco. Banuelos shares that his grandfather and father founded Tequila Cazadores in the 1970s, later sold to Bacardi. After a non-compete period, the family decided to return to tequila production, leading to the creation of Tequila El Mexicano. They built a new distillery in the Highlands of Jalisco, situated amidst agave fields at about 7,000 feet elevation. Banuelos explains that the cooler climate stresses the agave, increasing sugar content and improving flavor. The distillery was designed with both production efficiency and tourist experience in mind, featuring open patios for visitor access. Tequila El Mexicano currently offers three expressions: an 80-proof blanco, a 90-proof blanco, and a reposado. The 90-proof blanco is described as a 'distiller's cut' to enhance aromas and cocktail performance. The reposado uses a blend of American and French oak barrels, aged between 60 days and a year, aiming for a balanced marriage of wood and tequila flavors. Banuelos details the production process, including selecting fully mature agave, slow cooking in autoclaves for 18-24 hours, and an eight-day fermentation using a specific French yeast. He emphasizes that fermentation contributes 85% of the tequila's final profile. Custom-designed pot stills and weekly barrel tastings by experienced staff ensure consistency. Banuelos shares personal serving preferences: reposado on the rocks, blanco neat or in a Paloma, and mentions enjoying a tequila espresso martini twist. He also discusses the packaging, which features three arches representing three generations and the number 1588. The episode concludes with information on purchasing the tequila in the U.S. via their website or local retailers, and Banuelos hints at future product innovations.

As heard by us

A family tequila legacy shaped by patient agave cultivation and calibrated oak.

Tequila El Mexicano comes through as a story of continuity, place, and tequila identity. Leon Banuelos Jr., a third-generation producer in the highlands of Jalisco, frames the family legacy through Arandas and a new distillery built from scratch.

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Why you'd press play

You want tequila with a family tree, a six-to-eight-year agave wait, and Reposado that lets oak and spirit share the room.

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