Coracho achieves prestigious recognition at the International Spirits Challenge 2024.

We are proud to announce that Coracho’s complete line of premium spirits (all 6 SKUs) has been awarded multiple medals at the highly esteemed International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2024. This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and the unparalleled quality of our products.

The ISC is recognized as the premier global competition that celebrates exceptional spirits from around the world. It is renowned for its rigorous and independent judging process, ensuring that only the finest products receive the honor of an ISC medal. Coracho is a premium tequila brand rooted in artisanal Mexican culture. Our boundless curiosity leads us to weave unconventional connections between people, cultures, flavors, and styles. Committed to the 'Avant Garde' lifestyle, we favor bold and experimental over conventional. From Mexico to the world, we enrich life by bringing you a taste of the extraordinary.

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Tequila Coracho Cristalino

We are thrilled to share that our spirits have received the following accolades:

• Gold Medal for the Cristalino

• Silver Medals for the Añejo and Extra Añejo

• Bronze Medals for the Blanco, Blanco Rosa, and Reposado(1)

Winning an ISC award is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and dedication that goes into every bottle we produce.

The ISC's blind tasting process, conducted by a panel of over 75 respected industry professionals, ensures that each product is judged fairly and accurately. We are honored that our spirits have been recognized in such a distinguished setting.

In addition to our success at the ISC, we are also proud to highlight that earlier this year, we were awarded four Business Spirits Awards medals – three gold and one silver – further solidifying our position in the industry.

This achievement is a significant milestone for our brand, and we are grateful for the continued support. We look forward to celebrating this success with you!

The Tequila & Mezcal Masters 2024 results

Economic pressures have slightly taken the heat out of the Tequila and mezcal market. But while customers may be tightening their belts, for the ones that are buying the bottles, there are amazing expressions to be had.

At the start of 2023, Tequila looked like an unstoppable force in the US. It had already nudged American whiskey sales by value, and was tipped to topple vodka from the top spot by the end of the year (IWSR Drinks Market Analysis). But updated IWSR insights shared towards the end of 2023 painted a different picture.

After several years of double-digit growth, volume growth of premium-plus Tequila in the US slowed to 4% during the first six months of 2023 compared with the same period the year before. In contrast, the standard, value-and-below segments started growing at a similar pace to their premium-plus counterparts after previously having declined. A cocktail of economic factors have contributed to this change, including increased living expenditures, as consumers grapple with rising costs worldwide.

IWSR also noted, however, that as Tequila has matured as a category, the quality of its offerings at all price points has improved, “justifying trade down”, said Marten Lodewijks, consulting director – US, IWSR.

The spirit of connection

When co-owners Daniel Carrasco Bri- huega and Gabriellë Marks crossed paths in Mexico, early discussions about their shared passion for Tequila created the spark for what has become a unique and dynamic brand, ‘CORACHO’.

After living on the White Isle for many years Gabriellë dreamt of combining the spirit of Ibiza with a unique brand of Tequila. Mexi- can law dictates that Tequila must be produced within limited municipalities of Mexico and so Gabriellë travelled to the home of Tequila production to find a way of combining Tequi- la with the essence of Ibiza. It was in Guada- lajara that Gabriellë was introduced to Daniel who shared her interest in Tequila production and their shared vision flourished into the cre- ation of ‘CASA CORACHO’. For the first time Mexico and Ibiza would connect to create the unique artisan Tequila, CORACHO and other agave products.

Embarking on the production of a Tequila is a serious business as the regulations (‘NOM’) are very strictly controlled by the Mexico gov- ernment, not just for the production but for all processes relating to the supply of the agave, bottling, marketing and business practices. Te- quila producers must be committed and pas- sionate about their brands and products be- cause the end-to-end process takes years.

Tequila is highly protected by Mexico as the spirit features in the country’s history as far back as the Aztecs when ‘pulque’ (a primi- tive version of Tequila) was used as a ceremo- nial drink. When the Spanish invaded Mexico in 1519 they did not appreciate the taste of the early liquor and so distilled it creating ‘Vino de Mezcal’. It was not until 1902 that Tequi- la was awarded its official definition, distinct from other agave products such as Mezcal. Whilst Mezcal can be produced from several types of agave, Tequila is unique as it must be produced from just one variety of weber blue agave to meet the rigid Tequila classification.

CORACHO is founded upon the ethos of ‘connection’. The name itself is derived from the ancestral territories of the Coras and the Huicholes located near the valley of Jalisco and the sea of Nayarit, the largest blue agave producing region of Mexico. The two cultures are united by a common language, Corachol, which inspired the co-founders to use as the basis of CORACHO’s brand name. CORA- CHO is unique as whilst its production comes from a singular variety of agave, the plants are grown in two distinct regions with varying cli- mates and soil conditions, thus achieving an enhanced flavour distinct from other brands.

All CORACHO Tequila has a 100% blue weber agave classification. The agave’s yeast transforms the natural sugar into alcohol over a period of 72 hours. Following the double dis- tillation in copper barrels, the Tequila reaches its optimum alcohol content and thereafter is aged in oak barrels. The type of barrel and peri- od of ageing subsequently determines the clas- sification of the Tequila.

CASA CORACHO currently has five Tequi- la varieties in production. Most will be famil- iar with the classifications Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. The more unusual Rosa is barrelled for 6 days in Merlot oak barrels giving it an attractive pink appearance and softer tasting notes, which pairs perfectly with seafood. The more refined Cristalino, originating from the Añejo category, requires a process of filtration using organic coconut shell which acts as a carbon filter to extract the usual yellow tones of Añejo, resulting in a crystal clear softer Añe- jo taste.

On an economic and social level, Daniel and Gabriellë take the responsibility of the brand very seriously. In line with its ethos of connection they have brought the local pro- ducers and workforces together. CASA CORA- CHO contributes to the development of the towns of Tonalá where their bottles are pro- duced using 100% recycled local glass. 

It also helps support the town of Amatitán by em- ploying single women who are often living in disadvantaged conditions and who are keen to enter the labour market.

Sustainability as well as quality is at the forefront of their sourcing and production. Unlike many other brands the agave plant is allowed to reach the age of 7 years during its cultivation, encouraging improved quality and depth of flavour. The land is farmed using tra- ditional methods which ensure it is protected and regenerated using crop rotation methods. Daniel explains “It is important to respect the earth’s natural rhythm and the growth of the plant. We incorporate artisan and handcraft- ed production methods wherever possible as we are confident this brings its rewards in the quality and taste of the final product.”

Ibiza is integral to the brand’s creation and CASA CORACHO will soon be producing oth- er agave-based products such as Agave Sirop, incorporating Ibiza’s natural produce such as carob, hibiscus and verbena. Gabriellë told us “The connection between Mexico and Ibiza is at the heart of what we create. Daniel and I had a shared vision from the outset, to create an exciting range of products which combine the creative, natural and economic resources of Mexico and Ibiza.”

At recent tastings in Ibiza the CORACHO tequila range has been extremely well received, not just by members of the public but also by one of the most highly regarded connoisseurs Gabriela Cañedo Sandoval, considered one of the best Tequila tasters in the world. It has also been recognised by the National Cham- ber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT). It won’t be too long until we see CORACHO on the top shelves of the finest restaurants and cocktail bars in Ibiza and beyond.