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E.T. Honored by Tequila Regulatory Council

We are honored and humbled to announce that Experience Tequila has been awarded the Tequila Regulatory Council’s prestigious “TT” certification for excellence in tequila tourism. Experience Tequila is the first (and only) non-Mexican company to achieve this level of recognition. This milestone is the result of nearly 3 years of work by Experience Tequila in promoting the unique culture, history and distilled spirit of the Tequila valley, as well as our constant efforts to further our own understanding and knowledge through research and education.

Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT), the independent authority that oversees all tequila production, created the Double-T certification to promote tequila knowledge, regional culture, environmental sustainability, just economic development and quality customer service in the Tequila region.

Despite the challenge posed by our US location, we worked with the CRT in installments while in Mexico, and remotely while in the US to demonstrate our knowledge of tequila production and the Official Tequila Norms, regional culture and history and our commitment to the “best practices” of the Ruta de Tequila (Tequila Trail).

Our new TT-certification makes us official partners with other vendors on the Tequila Trail, and expands the services and activities we can provide our guests, including horseback riding, mountain biking, rappelling and mountaineering; all in the picturesque agave countryside, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Our preferred status also means we can pass on even greater savings to our guests. We are currently booking private groups as well as package tours for early 2011, including our basic “Welcome to Tequila” tour, a traditional Mexican St. Patrick’s Day tequila tour and a tour that includes the Highlands tequila region. ¡Salud!

Portland Tequila Tasting Club receives backing from Mexican Tequila Academy

Portland's newly-formed Tequila Tasting Club has received a charter from the prestigious Academia Mexicana de Tequila (AMT), and is now recognized as an official American branch of the Academy's tasting club program.


The Club will host an informal meet and greet on Tuesday August 4, 7:00pm, at Trébol restaurant in North Portland. Attendees will taste and discuss a couple of tequilas and have the opportunity to offer ideas for future Club events as well as pick the brains of longtime local tequila aficionados.

Club membership is currently free and open to anyone of legal drinking age. There is no fee to attend the event, and each attendee will pay their own bar tab. The food is excellent at Trébol, so you may want to come early for dinner.

Stay tuned here for exciting opportunities that our collaboration with the AMT will bring. Salud!

Tequila Fortaleza Dinner with Guillermo Sauza

Thursday July 8, 7:00pm at Cha Taqueria in Northwest Portland (305 NW 21st Ave).

Please join Experience Tequila for great food, exquisite tequila and the rare opportunity to meet a living legend of tequila.

Tequila Fortaleza (known as "Los Abuelos" in Mexico) is one of the most revered tequilas amongst aficionados. It is the most traditionally-made tequila money can buy, and only 4,000 cases a year are produced.

Fortaleza has been a featured distillery of Experience Tequila trips from the beginning, and we are excited to host owner and distiller Guillermo Erickson Sauza on his first official visit to Oregon. Guillermo's great-great grandfather, Don Cenobio, founded Tequila Sauza and brought Mexico's traditional liquor to the world. Today, Guillermo uses the old methods to produce an exceptionally flavorful, smooth and authentic tequila.

We will enjoy all three ages of Fortaleza (blanco, reposado and añejo) paired with 3 courses of Cha's delightful Northwest-inspired Mexican food.

This private event will sell out, and advance payment is required. The $70 fee includes gratuity. Don't miss this opportunity - reserve today! Call 503-841-1739 for more details.

Private tours of Tequila Country

Did you know we offer private tours? Groups of friends, family, couples or the staff of a single bar often join us for a specially-created exploration of Tequila Country.

Just the other day, Clayton had a great group of 4 friends celebrating a birthday. We were guests at La Cofradía and La Fortaleza. At the first, we were treated to an intimate private tasting of the Casa Noble line by tequila expert David Yan. We also tasted fresh roast agave and 57% alcohol tequila blanco right from the still- with the traditional cow's horn drinking vessel!

At La Fortaleza, an extremely traditional distillery where they produce only 4,000 cases a year, we had the rare opportunity to see the fábrica at work. In the picture, you can see workers painstakingly seperating the agave fiber from fresh "honey water " ground from the roast agave by the one-ton volcanic-stone grinding wheel. What can´t be photographed is the magic of a private tasting of this excellent tequila in the estate´s candlelit caves.

We have great relationships with many distilleries, and work with small groups to tailor a trip especially to their interests, needs and level of tequila knowledge. Whether novice or expert - we can create a great trip for you. Contact us for details.

Añejo Tasting Lineup

Last week's añejo tasting was incredible - both in turnout and quality. We had set a limit of 20 people for this intimate evening, and quickly sold out. This was definitely one of our best events, and there were several distinguished bartenders, spirits consultants and wine industry people in addition to our usual knowledgeable and curious band of aficionados.

As to the juice itself- wow! I have to limit myself to a rundown of the names, because I am frantically preparing for seven weeks of tequila tours that begin tomorrow. Tough life, I know!

From left to right we have: Los Abuelos añejo, Tonalá 4-year añejo (not all 4 years are in the same barrel! Hence, an añejo. Took me a bit to figure that one out.), Don Julio 1942 añejo, Gran Centenario añejo, Herradura Selección Suprema extra-añejo and El Tesoro Paradiso extra-añejo.

Extra special thanks to Hoke Harden of Elixir Vitae, Patrick P., April S., Ingrid and everyone at Cha Taquería for making this the memorbale event that it was.

Stay tuned here, as well as on Facebook and on Twitter for real-time updates from Tequila Country. We will resume our tastings in May. ¡Salud!

By Popular Demand: All-Añejo Tasting February 24

We've been hearing the same feedback at our last few tastings: more añejos! You asked for it, you got it!

Wednesday February 24, 8:00pm at Cha Taqueria in Northwest Portland (305 NW 21st Ave).

Añejos, considered by many to be the upper echelon of fine sipping tequilas, are aged in wood for over one year. This makes them complex, mellow spirits that stand up against world-class Scotches and brandies.

Añejo tequila is an ideal winter spirit, often featuring strong notes of vanilla, nuts and spices.

The tasting will be led by Experience Tequila owner Clayton Szczech, who spends several months each year doing research in Mexico's tequila country. Clayton will explain where each tequila is from, unique features of its production and be available to answer any questions you have about añejos, or tequila in general.

This flight of four tequilas will feature some ultra-premium and hard-to-find brands, and seating is limited. The cost is $40/person and advance payment is required. Light snacks will be provided by Cha Taquería.

Questions? Call 503-841-1739.