Don Julio
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Type | Premium tequila |
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Manufacturer | Diageo |
Country of origin | Mexico |
Introduced | 1942 |
Proof (US) | 80 |
Variants | Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, 1942, Real, 70 |
Company type | Jalisco, Mexico (1942) |
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Key people | Don Julio Gonzalez Estrada, founder |
Products | Tequila |
Website | www |
Don Julio is a brand of
History
Don Julio Tequila is named after its founder, Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada, who began distilling tequila in 1942 at age 17.[3] Acknowledging the benefits of vertical integration, Gonzalez-Frausto established his own distillery, La Primavera, and spent the next 40 years improving his craft. He experimented with controlling various aspects of the tequila-making process, "from the cultivation of the agave to the bottling of the final product." He named his distillery La Primavera (the Springtime) where he produced his first brand Tres Magueyes. He is said to have "spent nearly forty years perfecting the craft."[4] Don Julio's first tequilas were shared with friends only, but as word on the quality of his tequila spread, he officially founded a company to put him in business.[4] In 1983, Marco Cedano returned to Don Julio to work as an engineer, where he served as Master Distiller and Distillery Manager of Tequila.[5] In 1985 Don Julio González-Frausto celebrated his 60th Birthday, his sons commemorated the date by creating a Tequila in his name, Don Julio. Following the sheer popularity of the tequila in Guadalajara and neighboring cities they decided to launch the tequila.
In 1999 the now defunct, The
In November 2014, Diageo agreed to a deal to take full control of the Don Julio brand. In exchange, Jose Cuervo will receive the Old Bushmills Distillery and pay Diageo $408 million.[9]
Founder
Don Julio Gonzalez-Frausto Estrada was born on 7 January 1925 in Atotonilco, Jalisco, where today's main facility is located. Don Julio learned the meaning of responsibility at an early age by working at his uncle José's tequila distillery. At the age of 23 he married Dorothea Garcia with whom he had 9 children. In 1942 he started a tequila distillery which would later be known as "La Primavera." By 1951, with the brand Tres Magueyes, he was on a path that would later become Tequila Don Julio in its different variants: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, 70, 1942 and Real. Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada died on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 from natural causes.[10][non-primary source needed]
Process
The agave for Don Julio's Tequila is grown in the highland area of Atotonilco on the family estate. Tequila's major aging process over time takes place in conjunction with the development of agave plants, given that they take seven years to reach maturity. Every agave plant is harvested by hand. The agave plant is cut from its roots and then the spearlike leaves are sheered off. The core that is left is called a piña, which is the raw material used for the making of tequila. The piñas are transported on a truck to Don Julio's Distillery where they are cut into equal sized pieces so that they bake evenly. The piñas are loaded into brick ovens where they are slowly baked over the course of several days. Then the baked piñas are crushed and doused with water, which releases the sweet agave syrup called agave juice. Then yeast is added to the agave water and is left to ferment. After the fermentation process is complete it results in a sweet, slight alcoholic agave beer which is then put into stills where it is distilled to become tequila. At last it is put into stainless steel tanks before bottling, or ex-bourbon casks for aging.[11]
Varieties
- Don Julio Blanco
- Don Julio Reposado[12]
- Don Julio Añejo
- Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
- Don Julio 1942 Añejo
- Don Julio Real Extra Añejo
Several of these offerings have performed well at international
References
- ^ Nielsen e ISCAM, February 2017
- ^ Don Julio Tequila: Made in the Same Way Since 1942 . Archived 11 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- Mural. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
- ^ a b Don Julio the founder Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-0812693515.
- ^ SeekingAlpha.com
- ^ "Distributed in the U.S. by the Diageo company". Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Diageo distributor". Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ McLoughlin, Gavin (4 November 2014). "Diageo sells off Bushmills to drinks giant Jose Cuervo". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ Lapcewich, Maggie (21 March 2012). "Don Julio González Estrada, Tequila Pioneer Dies at the Age of 87" (Press release). Diageo Global. Retrieved 20 February 2014 – via Business Wire.
- ^ Kleinman, Geoff (13 March 2013). "How Tequila is Made: Behind the Scenes of Don Julio Tequila". Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ Don Julio Tequila: Made in the same way since 1942 . Archived 11 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ "Proof66.com Ratings Summary for Don Julio Real". Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.