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43-531: The first known owner of the tequila-producing property was Feliciano Romo in the early 19th century. The official history of Herradura begin with Félix López, who began as the distillery administrator under then owners Josefa Salazar and her sons. In 1870, López took over the distillery and agave fields and registered it as a tequila producer under the name of Hacienda San José del Refugio. Félix López married Carmen Rosales, and they had two children, Aurelio and María de Jesús. The couple modernized tequila production at

86-473: A binding agent. Extracts from agave leaves are under preliminary research for their potential use as food additives . The sap of A. americana and other species is used in Mexico and Mesoamerica to produce pulque , an alcoholic beverage. The flower shoot is cut out and the sap collected and subsequently fermented. By distillation, a spirit called mezcal is prepared; one of the best-known forms of mezcal

129-406: A curved flower spike from which it derives one of its numerous common names – the foxtail agave. It is also commonly grown as a garden plant. Unlike many agaves, A. attenuata has no teeth or terminal spines, making it an ideal plant for areas adjacent to footpaths. Like all agaves, it is a succulent and requires little water or maintenance once established. Agave azul (blue agave) is used in

172-586: A different plant family and probably experienced convergent evolution . Further, cactus ( Cactaceae ) and stonecrop ( Crassulaceae ) lineages are eudicots , while aloes ( Asphodelaceae ) and agaves ( Asparagaceae ) are monocots . The agave root system, consisting of a network of shallow rhizomes, allows the agave to efficiently capture moisture from rain, condensation, and dew. In addition to growing from seeds, most agaves produce 'pups' – young plants from runners. Agave vilmoriniana (the octopus agave) produces hundreds of pups on its bloom stalk. Agave leaves store

215-439: A museum. During this time, Herradura Añejo Tequila was introduced with Reposado introduced in 1974. In 1994, the el Jimador brand was introduced and became the #1 seller in Mexico. New Mix, a ready-made tequila cocktail, was introduced in 1997 and also became the best-selling beverage of its kind. In the 1990s, there was conflict over sales of shares in the company by some members of the family as well as agave growing land. Part of

258-413: A small number of Agave species are polycarpic . Along with plants from the closely related genera Yucca , Hesperoyucca , and Hesperaloe , various Agave species are popular ornamental plants in hot, dry climates, as they require very little supplemental water to survive. Most Agave species grow very slowly. Some Agave species are known by the common name "century plant". Maguey

301-621: Is tequila . A. tequilana or A. tequilana var. azul is used in the production of tequila. A. angustifolia is widely used in the production of mezcal and pulque , though at least 10 other Agave species are also known to be used for this. Agave can be used as the raw material for industrial production of fructans as a prebiotic dietary fiber . Agave contains fructooligosaccharides, which are naturally occurring oligosaccharides that support safely subjecting peanut-allergic people to allergen immunotherapy. Resulting from its natural habitat in stressful environments, agave

344-758: Is 100% agave tequila. It is currently the best-selling tequila in Mexico, with a twelve percent market share. New Mix is a canned tequila and grapefruit soda drink with five percent alcohol. It is also the best-selling product of its type in Mexico. Herradura, in 2013 under the sub-label "Colección de la Casa," released in limited areas (Mexico, United States, El Salvador, and Australia), two new Reposado Tequilas partially aged in non-traditional barrels. One Aged in oak than in Port barrels and another partially aged in Cognac barrels as well as traditional oak. Since its acquisition by Brown-Forman, Herradura has had many promotional efforts in

387-558: Is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas . The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves . Many plants in this genus may be considered perennial , because they require several to many years to mature and flower. However, most Agave species are more accurately described as monocarpic rosettes or multiannuals, since each individual rosette flowers only once and then dies;

430-459: Is a Spanish word that refers to all of the large-leafed plants in the Asparagaceae family, including agaves and yuccas. Maguey flowers are eaten in many indigenous culinary traditions of Mesoamerica. The succulent leaves of most Agave species have sharp marginal teeth, an extremely sharp terminal spine , and are very fibrous inside. The stout stem is usually extremely short, which may make

473-896: Is part of the tourism sector of the area's economy as well, with the Tequila Express train arriving at it and Amatitán from Guadalajara . Herradura produces tequila and tequila-based beverages under the Herradura, Hacienda de Cristero, Grand Imperio, El Jimador, and New Mix names. Herradura brand tequilas are 100% blue agave. As an authentic tequila, bottles bear certification from the Mexican government. Herradura brands include Herradura Blanco (46% alcohol), Herradura Blanco Suave (40%), Herradura Reposado (40%), Herradura Antiguo (38%), Herradura Añejo (40%) and Selección Suprema (40%). The best-selling varieties are Reposado, Añejo, and Selección Suprema. Herradura introduced their first Reposado tequila in 1974 and

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516-531: Is significantly different from other types of agave because it is higher in fructose and much sweeter compared to the rest. It is also the primary source for agave syrup , a nectary sweetener made for consumption. Agave species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera ( butterfly and moth ) species, including Batrachedra striolata , which has been recorded on A. shawii . Some species contain components in their juice which can cause dermatitis for some people. The ethnobotany of

559-472: Is under preliminary research for its potential use in germplasm conservation and in biotechnology to better anticipate the economic effects of global climate change . It may also have use as a bioethanol or bioenergy feedstock . Tequila Express The Tequila Express is a Mexican regional passenger train service that operates from Guadalajara, Jalisco , to the Sauza Tequila distillery in

602-652: The APG II system , Agave was placed in the segregated family Agavaceae. When this system was superseded by the APG III system in 2009, the Agavaceae were subsumed into the expanded family Asparagaceae, and Agave was treated as one of 18 genera in the subfamily Agavoideae, a position retained in the APG IV system of 2016. Agaves and close relatives have long presented significant taxonomic difficulty. These difficulties could be due to

645-580: The offsets from the base of the stem. A. americana (a blue variety) occurs in abundance in the Karoo , and arid highland regions of South Africa . Introduced by the British settlers in 1820, the plant was originally cultivated and used as emergency feed for livestock. Today, it is used mainly for the production of syrup and sugar. A. attenuata is a native of central Mexico and is uncommon in its natural habitat. Unlike most species of agave, A. attenuata has

688-602: The Ancient Greek αγαυή agauê from ἀγαυός agauós meaning "illustrious, noble" having to do with very tall flower spikes found on its many species. The genus Agave was erected by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, initially with four species. The first listed was Agave americana , now the type species . In the Cronquist system and others, Agave was placed in the family Liliaceae , but phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences later showed it did not belong there. In

731-543: The Extra Añejo Selección Suprema in 1995. Reposado is aged for eleven months in wood barrels. Selección Suprema is aged for 49 months in oak barrels. In 2012, the company redesigned the package of the Selección Suprema to reflect the traditional nature in which the extra-aged tequila is made. Another important brand is el Jimador, launched in 1994 and named after those who harvest agave plants. el Jimador

774-460: The Herradura brand in Mexico City with a horseshoe as its logo. María de Jesús was able to return to Herradura and distinguished herself with charitable works to the town of Amatitán, including the building of wells in an area with little water. The hacienda and the Herradura brand remained in the family for over a century. In the 1960s, the old factory was shut down in favor of a new one but kept as

817-627: The United States and Mexico. Herradura was promoted as the "Official Tequila for the Kentucky Derby " in 2008. In 2010, it created a program called "Buy-the-Barrel" in the United States aimed at tequila connoisseurs to purchase an entire barrel of Reposado, which yields about 240 bottles. In 2011, the company began the "Arte en Barricas" (Art in Barrels) competition, inviting artists to use tequila barrels to create artwork. For its 142nd anniversary in 2012,

860-477: The agave to bottling the final product. Herradura brand tequilas are still made with agave hearts roasted in clay ovens and fermented with wild yeast. In the late 2000s, the company invested about US$ 15 million in water treatment plants, the Amatitán distillery, new laboratories, and other facilities. The plant has an ISO 9001-2000 ranking from AENOR México and produces eighteen million liters annually. The hacienda

903-444: The agave was described by William H. Prescott in 1843: But the miracle of nature was the great Mexican aloe, or maguey, whose clustering pyramids of flowers, towering above their dark coronals of leaves, were seen sprinkled over many a broad acre of the table-land. As we have already noticed its bruised leaves afforded a paste from which paper was manufactured, its juice was fermented into an intoxicating beverage, pulque , of which

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946-461: The center of the rosette, the impression of the marginal spines is conspicuous on the still erect younger leaves. The plant is reported being hardy to −9.5 to −6.5 °C or Zone 8b 15-20f. Being succulents, they tend to rot if kept too wet. In areas such as America's Pacific Northwest , they might be hardy for cold winter temperatures, but need protection from winter rain. They mature very slowly and die after flowering but are easily propagated by

989-717: The company invited 142 artists, forty-four of them well-known, such as José Luis Cuevas and Sebastián . The artists participated in Arte en Barricas for three prizes of 20,000 pesos and one prize of 10,000 pesos. The resulting works were displayed in various museum in the country then auctioned off with the proceeds going to four charities: Bécalos, the Museo de Arte Popular , Sólo por Ayudar and Hogar Cabañas. Agave See text. See also full listing . Agave ( / ə ˈ ɡ ɑː v i / ; also UK : / ə ˈ ɡ eɪ v i / ; Anglo-Hispanic, also US : / ə ˈ ɡ ɑː v eɪ / )

1032-477: The facilities are still based in Amatitán. Jalisco is run by Grupo Industrial Herradura under manager Randy McCann. The hacienda is the setting of several legends and ghost stories. These include sightings of old conquistadors , and stories related to the various tunnels that were dug on the hacienda property during the Cristero War. Over its history, the company has run all aspects of tequila production from growing

1075-665: The false sisal hemp. A. americana is the source of pita fiber, and is used as a fiber plant in Mexico , the West Indies , and southern Europe. The agave, especially A. murpheyi , was a major food source for the prehistoric indigenous people of the Southwestern United States . The Hohokam of southern Arizona cultivated large areas of agave. In southern California and the Baja California Peninsula ,

1118-476: The hacienda's tequila was well known, with Aurelio giving it the name of Herradura. The name, which means horseshoe in Spanish, is a said to have come from the finding of a horseshoe on the hacienda property. Stories vary, but the one told by the company's website says that it was found in the early 1900s by Aurelio while inspecting the agave fields. It gleamed like gold, and the horseshoe was kept for luck, then naming

1161-422: The hacienda, building a facility that remained in use until 1963. López died in 1878, and Rosales took over the business along with her brother Ambrosio Rosales and his wife, Elisa Gomez Cuervo. Later, the business was inherited by Aurelio López. The construction of railroads in the late 19th century allowed for easier shipping to other parts of Mexico and increased tequila's popularity in the country. By this time,

1204-625: The legal problems stemmed from selling shares to non-Mexican entities. In 2004, Herradura bought back foreign-owned shares, making the company 100% Mexican owned again. At this time, the company controlled thirty percent of the Mexican tequila markets behind Jose Cuervo ’s forty percent share. However, in 2007 all assets of the company were sold for $ USD 776 million to the US-based company Brown-Forman, which produces other alcoholic beverages such as Jack Daniel's , Southern Comfort , Finlandia Vodka and Korbel California Champagne . That same year Herradura

1247-477: The most familiar species is A. americana , a native of tropical America. Common names include century plant, maguey (in Mexico), or American aloe (though not related to the genus Aloe ). The name "century plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower. The number of years before flowering occurs depends on the vigor of the individual plant, the richness of the soil, and the climate; during these years,

1290-495: The municipality of Tequila. The municipality of Tequila is located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Guadalajara and 32 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of the town of Tequila, Jalisco . The train service is so named because it features tequila tastings and transports its passengers through blue agave fields to the distillery "La Perseverancia" in Tequila. The service began operating in 1997. The service

1333-417: The natives, to this day, are extremely fond; its leaves further supplied an impenetrable thatch for the more humble dwellings; thread, of which coarse stuffs were made, and strong cords, were drawn from its tough and twisted fibers; pins and needles were made from the thorns at the extremity of its leaves; and the root, when properly cooked, was converted into a palatable and nutritious food. The agave, in short,

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1376-696: The original rosette dies. However, throughout the lifetime of many Agave species, rhizomatous suckers develop above the roots at the base of the rosette. These suckers go on to form new plants after the original rosette desiccates and dies. Not all agaves produce suckers throughout their lifetimes; some species rarely or never produce suckers, while others may only develop suckers after final maturation with inflorescence. Some varieties can live for 60 years before flowering. Agaves can be confused with cacti , aloes , or stonecrops , but although these plants all share similar morphological adaptations to arid environments (e.g. succulence ), each group belongs to

1419-506: The plant appear as though it is stemless. Agave rosettes are mostly monocarpic , though some species are polycarpic . During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" (" quiote " in Mexico), which can grow to be 12 metres (40 feet) high, grows apically from the center of the rosette and bears a large number of short, tubular flowers and sometimes vegetatively produced bulbils (a form of asexual reproduction). After pollination / fertilization and subsequent fruit development, in monocarpic species,

1462-458: The plant is storing in its fleshy leaves the nourishment required for the effort of flowering. A. americana , century plant, was introduced into southern Europe about the middle of the 16th century and is now naturalized as well as widely cultivated as an ornamental, as it is in the Americas. In the variegated forms, the leaf has a white or yellow marginal or central stripe. As the leaves unfold from

1505-562: The plant's water and are crucial to its continued existence. The coated leaf surface prevents evaporation. The leaves also have sharp, spiked edges. The spikes discourage predators from eating the plant or using it as a source of water and are so tough that ancient peoples used them for sewing needles. The sap is acidic. Some agaves bloom at a height up to 9 m (30 ft) so that they are far out of reach to animals that might attack them. Smaller species, such as Agave lechuguilla , have smaller bloom stalks. The genus name Agave come from

1548-469: The production of tequila . It is native to the Caribbean as well as many regions of Mexico like Colima, Nayarit, Jalisco and more. In 2001, the Mexican government and European Union agreed upon the classification of tequila and its categories. All 100% blue agave tequila must be made from the A. tequilana 'Weber's Blue' agave plant, to rigorous specifications and only in the state of Jalisco. Blue agave

1591-790: The relatively young evolutionary age of the group (major diversification events of the group most likely occurred 8–10 million years ago ), ease of hybridization between species (and even genera), incomplete lineage sorting , and long generation times. Within a species, morphological variations can be considerable, especially in cultivation; a number of named species may actually just be variants of original wild-type species that horticulturalists bred to appear unique in cultivation. Some commonly grown species include Agave americana , A. angustifolia , A. attenuata , A. murpheyi , A. palmeri , A. parryi , A. parviflora , A. tequilana , A. victoriae-reginae , and A. vilmoriniana . One of

1634-664: The roasted hearts of A. shawii and A. deserti were historically among the most important foods for the Cahuilla , Kumeyaay , Kiliwa , and Paipai peoples, leaving ubiquitous archeological evidence in the form of agave-roasting pits throughout the region. The Navajo similarly found many uses for the agave plant. A beverage is squeezed from the baked fibers, and the heads can be baked or boiled, pounded into flat sheets, sun dried, and stored for future use. The baked, dried heads are also boiled and made into an edible paste, eaten whole, or made into soup. The leaves are eaten boiled, and

1677-438: The summer, before the blossom, weigh several pounds each. Roasted, they are sweet and can be chewed to extract the sap or aguamiel , like sugarcane . When dried out, the stalks can be used to make didgeridoos . The leaves may be collected in winter and spring, when the plants are rich in sap, for eating. The leaves of several species also yield fiber, for instance, A. sisalana , the sisal hemp, and A. decipiens ,

1720-564: The tequila after it. In the 1920s the Cristero War broke out, with both Aurelio and his sister María de Jesus as sympathizers. At one point, government troops surrounded the hacienda, but the siblings were able to escape. However, Aurelio never returned to the hacienda again. The hacienda passed into the hand of Aurelio's cousin David Rosales, who kept the tequila 100% agave despite the trend towards blending to cut costs. In 1928, he registered

1763-483: The young, tender flowering stalks and shoots are roasted and eaten as well. The fibers are used to make rope, the leaves are used to line baking pits, and the sharp-pointed leaf tips are used to make basketry awls. During the development of the inflorescence, sap rushes to the base of the young flower stalk. Agave syrup (commonly called agave nectar), a sweetener derived from the sap, is used as an alternative to sugar in cooking, and can be added to breakfast cereals as

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1806-614: Was meat, drink, clothing, and writing materials for the Aztec! Surely, never did Nature enclose in so compact a form so many of the elements of human comfort and civilization! The four major edible parts of the agave are the flowers, the leaves, the stalks or basal rosettes, and the sap (in Spanish: aguamiel , meaning "honey water"). The sap of some species can also be used as soap. Each agave plant produces several pounds of edible flowers during its final season. The stalks, which are ready during

1849-557: Was named "best distillery of 2007" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine . Since 2007, the brand has slowly become more internationally recognized. When Brown-Forman bought it, the brand was sold in fifty-three countries. Today, it is sold in 136 countries through the Brown-Forman network in Europe, South America, North America, and Asia. Its market share in the United States and other countries has been growing as well. Although owned by Brown-Forman,

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