Tequilera Milagro, S.A. de C.V.

In 1997, Mexico was suffering from a massive agave shortage caused by erwinia caratavora, a bacteria that was souring the traditionally citrusy fruit of the agave plant. While officials estimated that more than 20 percent of the countrys agave crop was infected with the bacteria, the actual percentage was believed to be much higher. That same year, Daniel Schneeweiss and Moises Guindi natives of Mexico City decided to launch Milagro Tequila.As a result of the tequila shortage, the price of agave soared from seven cents per kilo, to over $1.40 per kilo. "That almost put us out of business," says Schneeweiss, reflecting on the launch of his company over 15 years ago. "We were fortunate to find Juan de La Torre,"he continues, whose estate in the Highlands region of Mexico was so isolated that it remained unaffected by the bacteria. He had "enough agave for us to produce tequila for three years," says Schneeweiss. "With that agave, he bought equity in the company, and we are still partners today. All the agave that we use is estate-grown by Juan."Milagro Tequila is made from 100 percent blue agave, which are matured for eight to twelve years before being harvested by expert jimadors. Once the agave are harvested, the hearts of the agave, or pias, are removed using a small knife. The pias are then transported to the distillery and roasted in small, clay ovens for 36 hours. The clay ovens contribute a slightly smoky flavor to the agave, and, compared to the stainless steel autoclaves used by most larger tequila distillers, create a more robust and sweeter tequila.After the pias have been roasted, they are crushed and fermented before being distilled three times twice through a copper-pot still and then a third time through a column still. While most tequilas are distilled only twice, the third distillation ensures an agave-forward flavor profile.Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Reposado Tequila is matured for ten months in French white oak barrels. It has a honey, amber color, along with an aroma of vanilla and oak. The notes of fresh pepper and creamy vanilla open up to hints of cinnamon, bold citrus and baking spices, and lead to a dry finish. Milagro Select Reposado earned a score of 91 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2012 and earned the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009. In addition, it received a score of 96-100 points from Wine Enthusiast.Once tequila has been distilled and matured for the requisite period of time, the tequila is bottled in a hand-blown glass decanter (the exquisite decanter has the negative-space of an agave plant growing inside the bottle)."We started Milagro with no employees," says Schneeweiss, "only Moy and me. Our focus was never on the money; it was about the quality of the product. Our vision has always been about the agave, and Milagro is agave in its maximum expression."Try an expressive tequila today!