Dos Lunas Tequila

Dos Lunas is a line of premium tequilas produced in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, under the direction of Dos Lunas Spirits, LLC, headquartered in El Paso, Texas. The brand boasts not only the first-ever triple-distilled silver tequila, but also the oldest commercially available tequila in their 10-year-old Extra Añejo. Though the company is only 5 years old, it bought an existing distillery that apparently already had product in barrel to be able to produce the 10-year-old Extra Añejo.

History

On New Year's Eve 2005, Dos Lunas’ co-founder, Richard C. Poe II, found himself sitting in the bar at the new Sheridan in Telluride, Colorado. After witnessing several patrons order tequila and visibly cringe after tasting it, he had the idea to create a brand that appealed to the ever-growing market of men and women who were interested in tequila, but didn't appreciate the taste. In 2006 he traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, where he found an existing distillery and retained a master distiller to begin the development of the Dos Lunas brand.

Packaging

The bottles used for the Silver, Reposado, and Añejo are made of frosted glass with a small, clear pane in the center which looks onto, respectively, an agave plant, tequila barrels, and an agave harvester. The bottles won two silver medals for design at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2007. The Grand Reserve tequila is bottled in the first Baccarat crystal decanter ever made for tequila. The bottles are individually numbered, and only 1,000 have been produced.

Production

Dos Lunas Tequilas are produced using a traditional process which dates back to the 16th century. It is made only from 100% Weber blue agave which is grown near Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, in the tequila region of Mexico. The plants are up to eight years old before they are harvested, and are chosen based on several factors to ensure that only the best quality agave goes into the tequila. All-natural fertilizer, and naturally derived yeast are utilized, while no added enzymes, synthetic anti-bacterial agents, or glycerine are used at any point during the growth, production, or bottling processes. It is also Certified Kosher.

Finally, Dos Lunas Tequila is one of only a handful of brands to avoid the use of off-site bottlers, and instead fill each bottle by hand in the same distillery where the tequila is produced. The bottles are also washed in tequila.

Silver

Dos Lunas Silver is the base range of tequila offered by Dos Lunas, and was introduced in 2006. The silver is cold-filtered, triple distilled and aged for six days in new white oak barrels, which are normally used to age whiskey, for six days before bottling.

Reposado

Dos Lunas Reposado is the mid-range of the tequilas offered by Dos Lunas, and debuted in 2006. Literally meaning “rested”, the reposado is distilled and aged for nine months in bourbon casks which are purchased directly from Tennessee, as well as in new American White Oak barrels. At the end of the nine months, the tequilas from both casks are blended to create a liquor with a distinct character and flavor.

Añejo

Having debuted in January 2008, Dos Lunas Añejo is the high-end of the three standards in the Dos Lunas line of tequilas. Like the reposado, it is aged in both Tennessee whiskey casks and new American White Oak casks, but remains to age for twice as long, being mixed and bottled only after 18 months of aging.

Extra Añejo

Dos Lunas’ Extra Añejo is a special edition tequila that was made in limited quantity under the name Dos Lunas Grand Reserve. Only 1,000 bottles were produced out of tequila that had been aged 10 years in Spanish sherry casks. It is the oldest commercially available tequila ever produced.

Awards

Ranked in the Top 10% of Tequilas in each category according to the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI).

Silver

• 2007: Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2008: Bronze Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Bronze Medal at the Agave Spirits Challenge in Cancun, Mexico
• 2009: Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits

Total:

• 5 Awards
• 1 Gold
• 2 Silver
• 2 Bronze

Reposado

• Ranked #1 in the world by both the beverage Testing Institute (BTI) and the San Francisco world Spirits Competition two years in a row (2009, 2010)
• 2006: Gold Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits
• 2007: Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2008: Bronze Medal at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Gold Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits, Silver Medal at the Agave Spirits Challenge in Cancun, Mexico
• 2009: Silver Medal at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Gold Medal at Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits
• 2010: Double Gold Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Total:

• 8 Awards
• 1 Double Gold
• 3 Gold
• 3 Silver
• 1 Bronze

Añejo

• 2008: Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Silver Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits, Gold Medal at the Agave Spirits Challenge in Cancun, Mexico
• 2009: Silver medal at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Gold Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits

Total:

• 5 Awards
• 2 Gold
• 3 Silver

Pop Culture

• In the 2nd Season of True Blood, a bottle of Dos Lunas is seen behind the bar at Fangtasia.
• Recording artists Radio La Chusma wrote a song entitled, “Dos Lunas Coast to Coast”, which references the brand.

External links

• Official website