HOW DO WE MAKE DULCE VIDA? It s simple. Sort of. We re perfectionists! We do things differently here at Dulce Vida. We make tequila the way that tequila has always tasted best: pure and powerful, free of any additives. We do not contract with a distillery for the purchase of liquid. We are completely vertically integrated, ranging from working with the community of agave farmers, distillation management, and aging in our own barrels. Our attention to detail and complete involvement result in a truly spectacular product.
STEP ONE THE PIÑA Our Tequilana Blue Weber Agave plants are approximately 6 tall and take about 8 years to mature. When the agave is at the pinnacle of sweetness and ready for harvest, Jimadors use a sharp, long-handled tool called a coa to cut the leaves from the agave plant. After this, you re left with the heart of the agave called a piña which can weigh up to 200 pounds. We specifically test the agave plants prior to harvest for maturity and degrees brix, a measure of sugar content. Additionally, our Jimadors trim the piñas very tight, eliminating off-flavors associated with the agave plant spines. The attention to detail in the selection and harvest of plants is important, setting a foundation for an exceptionally finished product.
STEP TWO PIÑA ROASTING Our agave piñas are slow-roasted in stainless steel autoclaves for approximately 20 hours. This ensures consistent cooking while allowing bitter extracts to be separated and discarded, creating a sweet aroma and rich flavor. The cooking process converts the carbohydrates of the piñas into fermentable sugars for our all important fermentation.
STEP THREE FERMENTATION After the cooking process is complete, our piñas are milled and washed. The by-product of this milling is must, a sweet liquid or honey water. Ready for fermentation, our craftsmen add our yeast strain for our open-air fermentation performed at ambient temperatures. This step is not rushed we take our time, adding no heat to speed the process. The result is a complete, robust fermentation yielding a high quality alcohol ready for distillation.
STEP FOUR DISTILLATION Distillation is part art and part science Our Master Distiller, Carlos Jurado, has years of experience in creating unmistakably balanced tequila with aromatic and taste profiles that are truly superb. The art of separation of the heart of the distillation from the heads & tails is a critically important step in the creation of our award winning tequila with a purity validated through scientific measurement
STEP FIVE AGING Dulce Vida s tequilas are made in small batches. The Reposado and Añejo are singlebarrel aged in American Bourbon Whiskey barrels, achieving rich amber colors and unique full-bodied flavors with hints of barrel wood alongside the delicate agave flavors. Our Reposado is aged for 11 months and our Añejo for 24 months.
STEP SIX BOTTLING Each bottle is washed and then filled. Next, our bottles are visually inspected for any impurities. Our corks are applied by hand as are our labels. Finally, our craftsmen number each bottle with its batch number.
Orange Blood Dulce Vida Organic Tequila Cocktail Recipe Ingredients: 1 oz. Dulce Vida Tequila 1/4 oz. Agave Nectar 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice 4 oz. Grapefruit or Blood Orange Soda Instructions: Mix ingredients in a medium cocktail glass filled with ice. Serve with a slice of orange. Cucumber Paloma Dulce Vida Organic Tequila Cocktail Recipe Ingredients: 2 oz. Dulce Vida Blanco 1/2 oz. Agave Nectar 3/4 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice 2 Dashes Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters 5 Slices Fresh Cucumber Grapefruit Soda Pinch of Sea Salt Instructions: Muddle cucumbers in a mixing glass. Add tequila, lime, agave, bitters, and salt. Stir and add ice; Shake vigorously. Strain into a tall (Collins) cocktail glass filled with ice. Top off with the grapefruit soda. Garnish with a slice of cucumber. Mexican Martini- Dulce Vida Organic Tequila Cocktail Recipe Ingredients: 2 oz. Dulce Vida Blanco 1 oz. Cointreau 1 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice Heavy splash of orange juice Splash of 7-Up 1/2 oz. Olive Juice Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a slice of jalapeno. Ginger Sunrise- Dulce Vida Organic Tequila Cocktail Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz. Dulce Vida Reposado 1 oz. Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur 2 oz. Grapefruit Juice 1/4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice 1/4 oz. Agave Grenadine Ginger Ale Instructions: Combine all ingredients, except ginger ale & grenadine, in a tall cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of ginger ale and grenadine. Garnish with grapefruit zest and lime.