Introducing SALAZAR AGAVE SPIRITS
When we first created Gate 11 Distillery at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo, we knew that we were going to make our cocktail bar a centerpiece for the business. In our first three years, Gate 11 Distillery had produced award-winning gin, vodka, rum, absinthe and whiskey but it became clear that something was missing. We had nothing for the tequila lovers.
Sure, we could buy barrels of imported tequila and blend our product like many others but with our dedication to craft distilling, we knew that there would be no alternative for us but to make it in-house. While we had heard anecdotally that a lot of US distillers were trying their hand at making an agave spirit, there were very few that actually were selling them. We suspected that making a viable tequila alternative in Chattanooga would be a challenge and we were soon proven correct.
We wanted to use the most authentic raw material available and soon found it in Capilla de Guadalupe, a small town in los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico. A farmer cooperative there provided us with a beautiful agave nectar with the look and consistency of maple syrup.
After 10 months of fermentation trials in our home laboratory and several more months of experimentation with distillation approaches, we were finally ready to make a commercial batch. We launched our first agave Blanco on Cinco de Mayo 2022. It received a Bronze Medal in the 2022 American Craft Spirits Competition.
Since that initial step, we have continued to refine our fermentation and distillation strategies to make our agave spirits truly exceptional. We built out a full lineup of agave spirits that included a Reposado and an Anejo version. Finally, we have created a new brand name for these fine spirits to live within - Salazar Agave Spirits!
Our Salazar Agave Blanco received a Silver Medal this year from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It was the only US-made agave Blanco to receive any medal. A Silver medal in this competition puts it on par with many familiar commercial tequila brands.
Salazar Agave Spirits embody the terroir of traditional tequilas with the smooth flavorful balance that is characteristic of all Gate 11 spirits. Whether unaged or barrel aged, these astonishing spirits demonstrate the potential for unifying traditional ingredients with high distillery craft.
