Guadalajara, Mexico—Alto Canto, an artisanal, small-batch, ultra-premium, certified organic, 100% Mexican collection of tequilas developed by Founder Daday Suarez and Master Distiller Juan Reyes, is pleased to announce the launch of its brand today in New York City.
Located at 9,000 feet above sea level in the Sierra del Tigre mountains of Jalisco outside Guadalajara, Alto Canto was built from scratch, by hand, with traditional methods, to create a distillery where the terroir creates an exceptional spirit. Using only certified organic agave and mountain spring water and produced in the ancestral way following processes handed down through the generations, Alto Canto has created the purest tequilas in the marketplace.
"My original plan was to buy tequila and market it to the U.S. market as a legacy project for my family," shares Founder and General Manager Daday Suárez. "Once I began my diligence, I realized that I wanted to build something from the ground up that celebrates the best of Mexico and its unique terroir. Juan had the same vision, and together, we spent five years building the distillery that would make tequila in the purest way possible."
Mr. Suarez continued, "Alto Canto means 'high song,' and at 9,000 feet surrounded by nature, most days, the songs of nature are all you hear."
The Process
Alto Canto is distilled at the highest altitude of any tequila produced in Mexico from organic agaves cooked for 72 hours in traditional brick ovens. The cooked agaves are macerated by tahona (a volcanic rock wheel), which helps prevent the stressing of the agave fibers, and then transferred to wooden tanks to begin a natural fermentation.
Wild malolactic fermentation is like magic. Over 80 hours, endemic yeasts spurred by the high-altitude environment create a unique flavor profile. The fermented product is then transferred to copper stills. At this high altitude, the barometric pressure forces the alcohol to evaporate at a lower temperature, which makes for a smoother tequila.
Alto Canto ages its tequilas in new oak American barrels inside a building made from local adobe bricks, which breathe the terroir and facilitate a slow and steady extraction of flavors and aromas.
Alto Canto calls this process Tequila de Altura, A unique and innovative concept that reinvents the tequila tradition in its purest form. High altitude and lower pressures result in better quality. The endemic yeasts, the distillation process and the aging on top of the mountain, create unrivaled spirits.
Alto Canto Expressions & Tasting Notes
Alto Canto has created three expressions for launch.
- Blanco 750ml / 40% Alc Vol
Blanco Tequila is left to settle for 25 days in a white oak container, softening and stabilizing the spirit's temperature. A transparent spirit, the Blanco offers notes of lime, pepper, vanilla, and butter. Recommended for sipping.
- Reposado 750ml / 40% Alc Vol
Aged in new American oak barrels, inside the adobe structure, the Reposado at sight is a pale tan color, tasting of cooked agave and presenting aromas of wood, dried fruits, nuts, caramel, and vanilla. Recommended for sipping.
- High Proof 750ml / 48% Alc Vol
Bottled straight from the still, this exquisite, clear, and silverish spirit shows off its notes and aromas of pepper,cooked agave, citrus and local minerals. Recommended for cocktails and mixed drinks.
Alto Canto Sustainability Initiatives
Complementing its artisanal production, Alto Canto Tequila fosters biodiversity in the region with the planting of cherry and apple trees renowned for their beneficial yeast profiles. Waste reduction is central to Alto Canto's sustainability initiatives, with a focus on recyclable packaging and efficient resource utilization. Furthermore, the brand empowers the local community through fair wages, community development initiatives, and investments in education and infrastructure, fostering a positive impact that extends far beyond the distillery gates.
Whether enjoyed neat or in a crafted cocktail, Alto Canto Tequila promises an unforgettable drinking experience that embodies the essence of nature and craftsmanship.
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ABOUT ALTO CANTO
Alto Canto Tequila is crafted in the Sierra del Tigre mountains in Guadalajara, in the Jalisco highlands, 9,000 feet above sea level. A unique collection of tequilas that rediscovers tradition through purity and a true product of the mountain's terroir, the tequila is made only with water, organic agave, and mother nature.
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