Don Felipe Camarena’s family has been distilling tequila since the early 1800’s. When the family’s original distillery was destroyed and abandoned during the Mexican Revolution, Don Felipe turned to growing and selling agave plants from the highland region to other tequila producers. In 1937, Don Felipe opened La Altena Distiller in the mountainous region of Jalisco, Mexico. His passion inspired his family to continue handcrafting Tapatio, which means people or family from Gaudalaraja, so it could be enjoyed by future generations. The spirit from La Altena is the only 100% blue agave tequila double distilled at 80 proof and bottled without any additional water. The methods of production are the same as they were a century ago, with a large stone wheel (known as tahona) turned in a pit to crush the cooked agave plants. The juice and agave fibers are then mixed in a barrel by foot before fermentation and distillation.
Technical notes
(80º) This classic Blanco was produced from 100% blue agave from the highlands. Using tahona in the production process increases contact of fiber with the juice which gives the tequila a stronger agave character. After distillation, the spirit rests for a few weeks in steel tanks before bottling.
Producer
Don Felipe Camarena’s family has been distilling tequila since the early 1800’s. When the family’s original distillery was destroyed and abandoned during the Mexican Revolution, Don Felipe turned to growing and selling agave plants from the highland region to other tequila producers. In 1937, Don Felipe opened La Altena Distiller in the mountainous region of Jalisco, Mexico. His passion inspired his family to continue handcrafting Tapatio, which means people or family from Gaudalaraja, so it could be enjoyed by future generations. Don Felipe passed the business to his son, Felipe J. Camarena Orozco, who in turn passed it on to his daughters, Lilianna and Gabriela, and to his son, Carlos, who today, as Master Distiller, maintains the standards of excellence set down by his grandfather, Don Felipe.
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