The legacy of a career devoted to tequila excellence
Conceived in the historic town of Tequila—the cradle where pre-Hispanic peoples began an ancestral tradition by savoring the fermented nectar of agave, later revolutionized through colonial distillation to create the spirit known as “Tequila”—Villa y Zapata is born under the stewardship of Ing. Jorge Martínez Cano. Recognized as an Expert Master Tequilero, a distinction honoring his deep technical mastery over agave cultivation, the biochemistry of fermentation, and the secrets of distillation, he is also the founder of CITEMATEQ (International College of Tequila Technicians and Masters) to shape future generations of the craft. To be guided by his scientific and artisanal leadership is a profound privilege for the house..
For the Expert Master Tequilero, Villa y Zapata stands as the pinnacle of his lifetime’s work:
“It is the masterpiece of my career, the culmination of my knowledge, and the best tequila I have ever crafted.”
A living heritage that continues to flourish: his mastery, precision, and passion now transcend through his generations. At a remarkably young age and under his devoted mentorship, they are already recognized as master tequileros in their own right, securing the future and perpetuating a tradition dedicated to the highest art of tequila making.
Respect for the earth is carved by hand.
Each Villa y Zapata creation is crowned with a jewel: a singular stopper that serves as an authentic mineral tribute to its Mexican heritage—a land forged by volcanoes. Hand-sculpted from natural volcanic obsidian, we select only those rare stones that exhibit golden glints—exclusive to Mexican soil—or silver sheens born from the heart of the Tequila Volcano itself; an extraordinary material so scarce that few will ever have the privilege of beholding it in their lifetime. For every 3 to 5 tons of obsidian extracted from deep volcanic soil, only a single fragment reveals these distinctive flashes, unearthed from depths exceeding 9 feet to ensure absolute purity and density. This rigorous selection entails parting with 99.5% of the raw obsidian stone to reclaim the pristine 0.5% that meets our exacting standards.
A master craftsman then spends 6 to 12 hours hand-carving the stone, turning raw volcanic rock into an exquisite collector’s Mexican jewel.
It all begins in the designated Denomination of Origin Region, with the meticulous selection of agaves nurtured for over seven years, harvested only after confirming peak sugar concentration.
Once harvested by hand, a high-precision descogollamiento (coring) is performed, entirely removing the heart of the plant to prevent unwanted bitterness—ensuring an innate harmony of sweet notes, subtle astringency, and a delicate touch of spice.
The agave is slow-cooked in traditional masonry ovens, specially lined to maintain a uniform temperature over a 36-hour cycle:
This unhurried process converts inulin into fermentable sugars, releases and removes bitter compounds, and preserves the agave’s delicate aromas and structure intact — achieving a purity and depth impossible to replicate with accelerated industrial methods.
Once cooked, the agave passes through an exclusive milling system that blends traditional know-how with proprietary technology. This method gently opens the fiber without over-processing it, achieving a clean sugar extraction that respects the integrity of the plant matter and safeguards the delicacy of the final flavor.
Fermentation is the most delicate and vital stage of the process, driven entirely by living organisms. It takes place within meticulously supervised vats, harnessing native yeasts indigenous to our distillery to ensure an optimal and purely natural transformation. To preserve absolute excellence, the entire cycle is governed by exacting, rigorously defined standards.
Across centuries, distillation has embodied humanity’s quest to capture the living essence of aromas and transform them into a tangible spirit. In Villa y Zapata, this ancestral craft reaches its zenith: through a masterful distillation, the purest soul of the agave is drawn forth, yielding an expression of handcraft distinction and peerless character—where the science of distillation and the artistry of tequila become one.
The cuts are never dictated by rigid predetermined volumes, but rather guided by real-time technical and organoleptic precision. By collecting solely the heart of the distillate, harsh compounds are meticulously discarded, achieving an exquisitely refined tequila with a measured retention of heavier congeners that impart depth and character without ever overwhelming the palate.
The standardization and meticulous control of every step in the crafting of Tequila Villa y Zapata ensure superior, consistent quality across every batch, preserving a natural, well-made product as it was meant to be—additive-free.
A pure distillate that honestly expresses the spirit of Mexico, the technical mastery of its creator, and the most refined tequila culture.
Villa Y Zapata 100% agave tequila is aged in a fine selection of American and French white oak barrels, meticulously chosen for their aromatic profile and structure.
Aged for 1 year and 7 months, achieving sophisticated complexity and a depth profile.
Crafting an Añejo Cristalino tequila is a challenge we embrace with the commitment to produce our finest expression—carefully softening aromas and flavors while preserving the subtle organoleptic essence of aging. Crafted for palates that prefer this refined expression.
Each Villa y Zapata reliquary is the masterful result of a process that spans more than nine years of dedication and meticulous craftsmanship, from the cultivation of the agave to the bottling of 100% agave tequila. It is the unseen heartbeat of nearly sixty souls: the hands that planted and tended the agave under the Jalisco sun, the masters who guided its artisanal process and aging, and the artisans who adorned each reliquary and sculpted the crowning obsidian jewel—transforming this 100% agave tequila into the liquid art that now rests in your hands.
