Build Your Texas Bar: The Agave Spirits

Part Five of our Build Your Texas Bar series presents the Texas-based agave spirits, which is our general term for liquor distilled from the blue agave plant. In essence, this covers three categories of products: tequila, mezcal, and products that would otherwise meet the definition of "tequila," but for their origin. 

This is the most unusual installment in this series because, with one exception, all of the products identified below are primarily products of Mexico, not Texas. The word "tequila" is a trade term that legally refers to agave spirits produced in the Jalisco region of Mexico, so it's not possible to have a true "Texas" tequila. It is possible, however, to have an agave spirit that's just as good as tequila, even if it doesn't originate in Mexico. That's the case with the very high quality El Perico products from Railean Distillery in San Leon, Texas. 

It's also possible to have a tequila that finishes its production in Texas, as illustrated by several of the brands listed here. Texas-based brands like Republic Tequila (with our favorite Texas-shaped bottles) and Dulce Vida are getting creative with their aging techniques, adding remarkable distinction to their offerings. Dulce Vida's Lone Star Edition, for example, is tequila aged in Garrison Brothers Distillery Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels. 

There's only one Texas-based mezcal brand that we know of, and that's Wahaka Mezcal based in Austin. Their smoky mezcal products taste as good as their beautifully artistic labels look. 

As always, entries that include "Distillery Notes by Texas Spirits Geek" result from our collaboration with Texas spirits expert Andy Creel (aka, the Texas Spirits Geek) to share detailed information he's collected from his personal visits to distilleries across Texas. Clicking on the Distillery Notes entry will take you directly to the Texas Spirits Geek website, where you can read more about the featured brand.

If you're a producer of a Texas-based tequila or mezcal, and we have not included your brand below, or, if you’re a producer and have additions or corrections to this guide, please send us a note to hello@fourstjames.com.

Not Shown: El Perrito Tequila, San Antonio via Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico

This inventory was last updated December 5, 2014. Texas-based agave spirit brands not photographed and/or represented as of publication are: 

- El Perrito Tequila, San Antonio via Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico
- Puro Verde Tequila, College Station via Jalisco, Mexico

To read other entries in the Build Your Texas Bar eight-part series, follow the links below: 

The Vodkas
The Rums
The Gins
The Whiskeys
The Specialty Spirits
The Mixers
The Moonshines

Railean El Perico Silver

Website: www.railean.com
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Wahaka Mezcal Joven Espadin

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Dulce Vida Organic Reposado

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Republic Reposado Tequila

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Z Tequila Reposado

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Tequila 512 Blanco

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AMBHAR Plata

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SOAH Source of All Happiness Reposado 

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Dos Lunas Tequila Reposado 

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