Unveiling the Legacy of El Mayor Tequila with Grace Gonzalez

Cocktails Distilled

As El Mayor prepares to export its Tequila to Europe, we caught up with the brand's Master Distiller and Brand Ambassador, Grace Gonzalez, to find out more about its liquid.
Grace, a guardian of her family's fourth-generation distilling wisdom, distills the essence of crafting tequila that resonates with aficionados and newcomers alike (and gives insight into how you can pair it with everything from sushi to steak).
We traverse the landscape of agave fields, uncovering the meticulous care that goes into each bottle, and discuss how El Mayor's dedication to quality is capturing the hearts of an audience with an ever-refined palate.
As we talk, you'll become privy to the nuances of their signature tequilas, from the crisp notes of the Blanco to the aged elegance of the Extra Añejo, each telling its own story of heritage and flavor.

Chapters

1. Unveiling the Legacy of El Mayor Tequila with Grace Gonzalez (00:00:00)

2. Now, the last 10 years has seen the popularity of tequila go from strength to strength. Have you been surprised at the increasing demand? (00:01:26)

3. But as I mentioned in the intro, your family has been making tequila for 150 years. It's only now that it's really taking off. I mean, that must be in itself a bit surprising. (00:02:09)

4. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges that are facing the tequila industry or agave industry in general at the moment? (00:02:57)

5. Speaking of teaching, I suppose one of the main things that consumers find difficult to understand would be the difference in the expressions. Can you talk us through each of these? (00:04:50)

6. Cristalino and particularly the Añejo have been almost branded as sipping tequilas with the Blanco and Reposado more for making cocktails. Is that the way people should look at them? (00:07:58)

7. What would be one of your favourite cocktails to make? (00:10:43)

8. Is it hard to communicate that tequila can be used for more than just a Margarita? (00:11:37)

9. Talk to us a little bit more about food pairing. What goes well with a Repesado and/or a Anejo? (00:13:44)

10. What are the more unusual drinks that you've experienced bartenders make with your liquid? (00:15:52)

11. Now, the brand talks a lot about tradition, obviously, but also a little bit about technology. How did these two things work together? (00:18:10)

12. What is the factor that decides whether the tequila will stay as a Blanco or go on to be aged? (00:20:07)

13. Now, the brand usually does a limited edition special release each year. Can you tell us anything about what is planned for 2024? (00:22:20)

14. Is there going to be much difference in flavour? (00:23:12)

15. What do you want people to take away from their experience with the brand? (00:24:09)

16. Why should someone buy your bottle compared to other brands? (00:25:11)