Casa Dragones facts for kids
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| Type | Ultra-Premium Tequila |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Tequila, Mexico |
| Introduced | 2009 in United States |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
| Variants | Casa Dragones Joven, Casa Dragones Blanco, Casa Dragones Barrel Blend, Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara |
Casa Dragones is a special brand of tequila made in small batches in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It was started in 2009 by Bertha González Nieves, who was the first woman to be certified as a 'Maestra Tequilera' (Tequila Master). She founded the company with Robert W. Pittman, who is known for his work with MTV and iHeartMedia.
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The Story of Casa Dragones
Casa Dragones is named after a brave group of cavalry soldiers called the Dragones. These soldiers came from San Miguel de Allende and were led by Ignacio Allende. They played an important role in starting the movement for Mexico's independence from Spain.
Even though Casa Dragones tequila is made in Jalisco, the company is based in San Miguel de Allende. The original stables of the Dragones cavalry, which are now called La Casa Dragones, can be found at Recreo, 16, in San Miguel de Allende.
When it first started, Casa Dragones made only one type of tequila called 'Tequila Casa Dragones Joven'. Five years later, in 2014, they introduced 'Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco'. Their next product, 'Tequila Casa Dragones Barrel Blend', was launched in June 2020. In 2022, Casa Dragones added its fourth type of tequila, Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara.
Types of Tequila from Casa Dragones
Casa Dragones makes four types of high-quality tequilas, all from 100% Blue Agave plants. These are:
- Casa Dragones Joven
- Casa Dragones Blanco
- Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend
- Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara
Casa Dragones Joven
This tequila was first released in 2009. It is a mix of new silver tequila and extra-aged tequila, both made from 100% Blue Agave. It is aged in new American Oak barrels to create a smooth and complex taste, perfect for sipping.
Casa Dragones Blanco
Launched in 2014, Casa Dragones Blanco is a 100% Blue Agave silver tequila. It is not aged, which means it offers the pure, natural taste of the agave plant.
Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend
This tequila is made from 100% Blue Agave and is aged in two different types of custom-made wooden barrels: new French Oak and new American Oak. Each type of wood adds its own special flavors. After aging, the tequilas from both barrels are carefully blended together.
Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara
This 100% Blue Agave reposado tequila is unique because it is the first tequila to be aged only in new Mizunara casks. Mizunara is a rare type of oak wood that originally comes from Japan.
Where the Agave Grows (Terroir)
Just like cognacs and champagne, tequila has a special "appellation of origin." This means tequila can only be made in certain areas of Mexico. These areas include specific towns in Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Guanajuato, or Tamaulipas.
Casa Dragones gets its agave plants from The Valley of Tequila in Jalisco. This area is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, which is a chain of active and inactive volcanoes across Mexico. The volcanic soil in this region helps the agave plants grow well.
How Tequila is Aged
The Casa Dragones Barrel Blend, which is an Añejo tequila, gets its special taste from being aged in two different kinds of wooden barrels. These are new French Oak and American Oak barrels. Each type of wood is chosen for the unique flavors and qualities it gives to the tequila. At the end of the aging process, the tequila from both types of barrels is mixed together to create the final blend.
Awards and Recognition
Casa Dragones has received many awards and been featured in various media.
Special Awards
- In 2017, CNN-travel called Casa Dragones Joven the best sipping tequila in the world.
- In 2013, Wine Enthusiast magazine gave Tequila Casa Dragones Joven a very high rating of 96/100. They said it was "extraordinarily smooth" and had a "pure peppery flavor that finishes cleanly."
- In 2010, Casa Dragones won the Grand Prix Stratégies du Luxe award for its product and packaging design. This was the first time a Mexican brand and a tequila had won this award.
In the Media
- Oprah Winfrey has said that Tequila Casa Dragones is her favorite tequila. She mentioned it in interviews and on her "Oprah's Favorite Things" holiday TV specials.
- Casa Dragones was shown in the Netflix show Chef's Table.
- In 2018, CEO Bertha González Nieves was featured on the Today Show. She shared the story of Casa Dragones and was called "Tequila's Rising Star."
- Casa Dragones tequila was featured on Ellen when celebrity chef Ayesha Curry made mango cocktails using it for Ellen and Jennifer Aniston.
Famous People and Casa Dragones
Many famous people have shown they like Casa Dragones tequila:
- Oprah Winfrey included Casa Dragones Blanco and Joven on her "Favorite Things" lists multiple times.
- In 2020, model Lily Aldridge mentioned drinking Casa Dragones Joven in a Vogue article about how she was staying calm at home.
- Casa Dragones Blanco was used as the main ingredient for Martha Stewart's favorite Pomegranate Margarita.
- Casa Dragones was served at the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party in 2018.
- Ryan Seacrest included Casa Dragones in his "multi-tasking must-haves" list in 2017.
- Many famous chefs, including Chef Scott Conant, Chef Eric Ripert, and Chef Bobby Flay, have praised Casa Dragones.
- Other celebrities like musician Dr. Dre, actor Jonah Hill, and director Martin Scorsese have also shown they enjoy Casa Dragones tequila.
Artistic Collaborations
Casa Dragones has worked with different artists and designers to create special limited-edition items.
- Casa Dragones worked with TANE, a luxury brand, to create special sets honoring Mexican Independence Day. These sets included silver and obsidian coasters, a silver tray, engraved tequila glasses, and a leather box.
- In 2016, artist Pedro Reyes collaborated with Casa Dragones. He used a traditional glass engraving technique called "Pepita" to etch his sculpture, "Epircuro," onto 400 bottles.
- For an art exhibition in Venice in 2015, artist Danh Vo transformed the Casa Dragones Joven bottle into a limited collection of 150 special edition bottles. More bottles were later included in another exhibition.
- In 2012, Casa Dragones announced a special edition collaboration with artist Gabriel Orozco to celebrate his art exhibition.
