In April 2007, with a large group of tequila fanatics, I was able to tour the factory of Industrializadora de Agave San Isidro in Tepatitlan, Jalisco. There was a pretty large group of important people associated with the factory waiting to meet us including Felipe Soto Mares of El Duende who has close ties to this company. Most visible in this group was a Señor Gonzalo Spindola. Apparently the Spindolas are in charge of the bottling operation at this factory and a very impressive operation it is. As noted elsewhere in this site, this factory does produce a lot of tequila for other companies under many different brands. However at the time of our visit El Agave Artesanal was being bottled. At the end of our tour I was able to talk briefly with Sr. Spindola's son of the same name, Gonzalo. This younger Gonzalo spoke very good English and was extremely gracious with kind comments about PocoTequila.com. In fact, I learned that the Spindola family also runs a company in Tonala, Jalisco called "Innovación en Tequila" (Innteq) where they design and produce tequila bottles. Their portfolio of clients includes many other brands in addition to El Agave Artesanal. Gonzalo was also kind enough to provide product shots of the El Agave line and I'm very happy to have a line of communication with him.

After touring the factory we were whisked off to a local restaurant and treated to a wonderful lunch. Each person in this tour group was also given a special bottle of the 18 month Añejo with our name engraved on it. What a tremendous gesture and the hospitality extended to us on this day was quite humbling. It was not lost on the grateful participants of the group.

Though we were able to taste the tequila represented in the El Agave family on this trip I really can't provide any reliable tasting notes. The truth is on a trip of this magnitude with so many factories to see, people to meet, and especially tequila to taste it all gets a little fuzzy. I can say my total experience with this factory and Tequila El Agave was a very positive one and I will always have good things to say about it. I could have attempted to give the feel of this facility with some of my amateur pictures but on the El Agave web site there is a great little video under the "Production" heading. Check it out at: http://www.elagaveartesanal.com/english/video.html. In Tequila El Agave there exists an impressive level of pride, passion and dedication from all involved. Don Jorge Mendoza, who's family owns Industrializadora de Agave San Isidro, Juan Carlos Gomez, the owner and President of Tequila El Agave Artesanal and of course Gonzalo y Gonzalo Spindola. My experience here was wonderful and the tequilas from El Agave Artesanal are of the highest quality. I would recommend it to all.

El Agave Artesanal is now available in some U.S. markets. At this time it can at least be found in the San Diego area. Speaking of the San Diego area, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the "El Agave Tequileria". This restaurant and tequila bar is, not surprisingly owned by J.C. Gómez of El Agave Artesanal tequila. In fact Juan Carlos founded his own Importing company, Ultra Premium Spirits Imports, exclusively to import El Agave Artesanal. The restaurant is phenomenal in it's decor and all encompassing tequila selection. Every wall is covered with bottles from floor to ceiling. I've had the pleasure of dining here a couple of times and the food is excellent, though for the budget conscious, it can be on the expensive side. However it's the atmosphere that is extraordinarily palatable and a must see for any tequila aficionado. El Agave Tequileria is located in "Old Town" and just look for the same El Agave logo that adorns the bottles of El Agave Artesanal.