Tales of the Cocktail mini-series continues when Chrissy interviews Mike Winters, founder and CEO, and Iliana Partida, Master Distiller, of Quintaliza Tequila, the world’s first and only coffee aged tequila! Two things the Boozy Blondes love – coffee and tequila! But keep in mind, this isn’t a liqueur, nor a coffee-infused, flavored tequila. There is no infusing, mixing or blending of any kind!
To get the coffee aged Reposado tequila, the Quintaliza team seasons barrels that previously held organic cold brew coffee from Chiapas, Mexico. It’s initially aged two months in an American whiskey cask prior to finishing for three months in the coffee seasoned cask.
“We began with a simple, but bold dream to bring great tequila and great coffee together. The idea was not only to create something very new and different in the tequila category, but also to do it in a way that tastes great naturally without the use of any additives,” says Mike Winters, founder and CEO of Quintaliza Tequila. “Bartenders in particular are driving the call for additive-free tequila but struggle to find enough examples to fill a bar menu.”
Yes, another thing the blondes love – additive-free booze! Quintaliza is certified organic and additive-free! The rich flavor and character comes from the agave and the tequila’s proprietary aging process.
During the interview Mike and Iliana discuss how they got started in the industry. While Mike is fairly new to the industry, Iliana grew up in it; she’s a 4th generation master distiller! But both know this is their home and are dedicated to changing the tequila game and bringing this high quality, responsible innovation to market!
This “responsible innovation” is two-fold. Being certified organic and additive-free means the Quintaliza team isn’t throwing just anything into their product; they honor their ingredients, staying true to agave’s sweet, natural taste. Also they place a heavy priority on sustainability. Quintaliza only uses organically grown agave, and the company has been planting agaves since day one, demonstrating respect for the land from which it’s harvested. In addition, the coffee grounds from Quintaliza’s coffee-aged barrels are repurposed as fertilizer to increase the pH level of the soil in the agave fields.
Usually when you think of tequila, “responsible” isn’t the word that comes to mind. As Chrissy mentions during the interview, tequila is at the forefront of many memes, typically insinuating a rough night – the opposite of being responsible. That’s why Quintaliza is so great – it’s changing the tequila game for the better, and who isn’t intrigued by a “responsible” tequila?
Be sure to follow Quintaliza on Instagram, and check its website to find where you can purchase a bottle! And once you get a bottle, try out some fabulous cocktails illustrated in the glamour shots below! ! (Photo credit The J Projects by Jaci Peña)
Let us know which you’ve concocted! By the way, the most popular selling cocktail using Quintaliza is the Espresso Martini. This should be no surprise considering the tequila is coffee aged! You can find the recipe here.
Pictured left to right: Aloe Goodbye | Casual Friday | Wildflower Margarita
Cheers!…to responsible tequila drinking!
Boozy Blondes 
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