Spirits: Savory Spirits
December 1, 2007
La Quemada Distillery’s 4 Copas tequila is distributed in hand-blown bottles created by local artisans in Jalisco, Mexico. But it’s the contents of the packaging that makes 4 Copas—the world’s first and only certified organic tequila—truly unique. "It has taken a Herculean effort to grow agave plants a full 10 years without the aid of growth hormones, herbicides, and pesticides," says Enrico Caruso, national sales director for 4 Copas USA, "but we feel the exercise has been well worth it."
Even the yeast used in 4 Copas is cultured from 100 percent, organic blue agave—the native Mexican plant from which the spirit is distilled—rather than the standard brewer’s yeast used in most tequila production. La Quemada is also a biologically and ecologically friendly tequila distillery. "We use our fermentation waste to create a super-rich nutrient for our agave fields," Caruso says. 4 Copas also recycles the plant’s leaves for packaging, and captures methane gas from compost to power its steam ovens. So while the effort that goes into the crisp Blanco, soft Reposado, and earthy, oaky Añejo may not be evident to the taste buds, it is satisfying to know that the buzz you feel is completely natural.
4 Copas, www.4copas.com
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