Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/164544
gave THE TEQUILA AND MEZCAL CATEGORIES ARE ON FIRE. MEET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN by Robert Plotkin B ehind most brands of artisanal tequila and mezcal there stands one individual who represents the heart and soul of the spirit. The person's name may not be on the bottle. His or her likeness may not be on the label, but rest assured, someone has poured blood, sweat and tears into the brand. And in most cases that person has invested his or her life savings to ensure the brand succeeds. "It takes a tremendous amount of time, expertise and passion to bring a superior tequila to market," says Germán González Gorrochotegui, former Master Distiller at Chinaco and owner of critically acclaimed Tequila Uno. "There are a thousand critical decisions that need to be made during the production process, all of which will affect the finished product. Every detail, regardless of how small, will eventually become apparent in the tequila. I'll say this, when you get it all right, it's tremendously fulfilling." september 2013 / the tasting panel / 121 TP0913_104-156.indd 121 8/22/13 10:31 PM