Chinaco Tequila

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CHINACO
TEQUILA


La Gonzaleña distillery was founded in 1977 by Guillermo Gonzalez, grandson of Manuel Gonzalez, a Chinaco General who was President of the Mexican Republic between 1880-1884.

In 1965, Guillermo had been agriculture minister of Tamaulipas, his home state of Mexico, when a hurricane destroyed almost all of the local crops. He struck a deal with a large tequila producer from Jalisco (at that time the only region where tequila was permitted to be made) to sell the local Tamaulipas farmers’ blue agave which had survived the storm.

In 1970s, however, when the agaves were ready for harvest, the Jalisco producer backed out of the deal after trying to get the price lowered. Rather than be held to ransom on price, Guillermo Gonzalez built his own distillery (called La Gonzaleña), persuaded the government to expand the permitted tequila production area to include the Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, Michoacan and Nayarit regions, and began producing his own 100% agave tequila using the local agaves.

   

Guillermo’s tequila was called Chinaco, after the local heroes of the Mexican War of Reform in the 1850s. Introduced to the USA in 1983, Chinaco tequila was an immediate success, instantly becoming one of the most highly sought-after tequilas amongst connoisseurs. La Gonzaleña was closed in the late 1980s and stocks were quickly exhausted, but the distillery re-opened in 1990s under the control of Guillermo’s four sons, one of whom, German Gonzalez, is the current master distiller.

Chinaco tequila has always lived up to its lofty reputation, and is now available in four expressions – the Blanco, Reposado (aged for 11 months), Anejo (aged for around three to four years) and Negra (An extra Anejo aged for over five years).

“The Chinaco house style is characterized by heavy, earthy agave aromas and flavors with solid fruit and floral hints. The tequilas are dry, not sweet, with a rich, full-bodied texture. The Añejo has a velvety, oily character. The oak aging regimen contributes nice caramel and vanilla accents, but doesn’t overpower the bold agave. These bold, full-flavored tequilas are not designed for the timid.” - Wine Patrol