@3RTequila
Last Wednesday we were invited to the exclusive private launch for 3R Tequila, at the very hip and popular brunch spot Freeman’s down Freeman’s Alley in LES. Held in the Blue Room upstairs were taken into an intimate and dimly lit room where it added to the intimacy of the launch. Shoulder to shoulder with other influencers and those in the industry, we were able to meet the Founder Marco Gallegos and learn more about the brand while enjoying bites courtesy of Freeman’s along side 3R Tequila, which was smoother than alot of other Tequilas I’ve had. We even got the chance to try some of the 3R Mezcal, which is still in the making, so it was a nice surprising and smokey treat!
The Story
When you first look at the bottle, you might think damn, those are some awesome graphics, but you might also wonder were the idea of it came from. Low and behold, there is actually a story behind it which dates back to when Marco’s rebellious grandfather, Rafael Roman Rodarte (3R) stole his grandmother, Jesusita, the daughter of Don Pancho Regis, by horse in 1949 to start up their own ranch where the cattle were branded with 3R. Today, 3R Tequila carries the name of Rafael’s grandson, Founder Marco Gallegos.
The Tequila
Just as much thought has gone into the making of 3R Tequila, which is a Blanco Tequila. The best of the best agave plants are hand picked in Mexico by the Jima, the expert in determining the agave’s maturity and ripeness, resulting in a smooth lowland Tequila. The agave exists in the lowlands of Amatitan, Jalisco, right in the heart of ‘Tequila Valley’. This is what makes a great Tequila Blanco, which is pretty much the gold standard for tequila, for a great Blanco, makes way for a great Reposado or Anejo.
Keeping with tradition, the way the 3R Tequila agave is cooked also sticks to the old fashioned way, where the agave is slow steamed for up to 72 hours in traditional clay ovens. It is then shredded, and the maximum amount of juice is extracted from each piña of the agave. Each batch is then fermented between 72-96 hours with natural yeast increasing the yield of agave sugars. Finally, the distillation phase, just in two steps, is more than enough to produce a great tasting tequila, like 3R!
Keep a lookout for 3R Tequila this summer to give it a taste for yourself!
If you prefer your tequila in a great cocktail, here are some recipes which were developed in coordination with Marco and Brooklyn-based, Josh Bloom, Co-Founder of Purely Syrup, a new line of certified organic simple syrups.
Additional recipes and background on each recipe can be found here.
The Charro Negro
2 oz. 3R Tequila Blanco
Cola (Top off)
Lime Wedge
The Matador
1 1/2 oz. 3R Blanco
2 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1/2 oz. Agave Syrup
Purely Diabla
2 oz. 3R Tequila Blanco
1 oz. Habanero Purely Syrup
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
