Goza Reposado Tequila Review [Transcript]

We hope you’ll enjoy this replay of our Sipping Off the Cuff with Goza Tequila Reposado along with the new full transcript in English.

[Tweet “Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Reposado [Transcript] “]

ALEX: You are watching Sipping Off the Cuff on Tequila Aficionado dot com. I’m Alex Perez.

 

MIKE: I’m Mike Morales here in San Antonio. Alex Perez is at the Area 51.

ALEX: (undeterminable comment)

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Reposado [Transcript] https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5LqMIKE: What’s that?

ALEX: Are you a cowboy?

MIKE: I’m a cow…? No.

ALEX: Antonio.

MIKE: I’m am not a cowboy, and I am not a spur!

ALEX: Oh!

(laughing)

ALEX: You’re probably watching us on Youtube, so please subscribe.

MIKE: Yes.

ALEX: WE are tasting, drumroll…..Goza!

MIKE: Goza, not to be confused with Gozer, that was a character in Ghost Busters. (laughing) Alex –

ALEX: NOM 14.

MIKE: We really enjoyed the blanco.

ALEX: Yes.

MIKE: …and as we may – if you haven’t seen our blanco, the blanco tasting-

ALEX: Vodka!

MIKE: These guys are, they’re 3 owners led by a Mr. Gluck, and they are based out of Atlanta.

ALEX: Ooh! Bubbles.

MIKE: So they’re taking Hot-lanta by storm, apparently. Which is, if anybody’s been watching the market, the Southern, the Southeastern market is really very cocktail-driven. They’re getting into tequilas, they’re getting into mezcals… and Goza is, these guys are just on top of it. Look at the logo, check that out. The Day of the Dead with the wings on it, and the cocktail, and… You know, they’re very much into that. And that’s where they’re driven as far as their social media. So you can find them on Facebook, you can find them on Instagram, I believe they’re also on Twitter. And tonight, Alex, we’re doing the reposado.

ALEX: Yeah, we’re doing the reposado. I actually poured. It had some bubbles. I actually had to look at the bottle a second time, because it is so light.

MIKE: I was gunna say!

ALEX: I thought I had poured the blanco again.

MIKE: Yeah. It’s very pale straw color.

ALEX: It’s almost the same color. It just has like a tinge of… I dunno if you can see it, but there’s like no color in there.

MIKE: I mean hardly any. I had to hold it up to- my light’s over to my right, your left, and I had to… and they say this is aged for 6 months, right?

ALEX: Aged for 6 months in white oak barrels.

MIKE: In white oak barrels, and what did they say? This is where the, where blanco meets añejo.

ALEX: Where blanco meets añejo.

MIKE: (laughing) that’s what their…

ALEX: blanco meets añejo.

MIKE: That’s what their brochure says, yeah.

ALEX: So I’m wondering if they’re filtering this too.. but it only says they’re doing it for the blanco.

MIKE: Yeah, so the blanco is filtered, double-distilled, triple-filtered, is that what they said?

ALEX: Yeah.

MIKE: Ohh, ohh! Wow. Ohh, ohh, oh, oh!

ALEX: Yeah, it’s got a neat nose. See the….

MIKE: Look at – (laughing) You’re using one of their table tents, right? Is that what you’re doing?

ALEX: Right.

MIKE: Yeah, so they do have the really cool table tents.

ALEX: (laughing)

MIKE: Chances are you guys have seen them at one of, you know, at a club somewhere in Atlanta, or somewhere in Georgia. Don’t be afraid to give us your opinion on Goza down here. Fill it out. Tell us what you think if you’ve had it before. I love this nose, Alex. For only 6 months it’s very little color. But the nose on it, is even – it’s even giving me, it’s like it’s one more layer on top of the blanco.

ALEX:  Right, it’s actually. That’s a good way to describe it. And, the nose? I am getting a little bit, just hints of caramel.

MIKE:  You’re just getting a little bit… It’s almost like it’s just been kissed by the barrel.

ALEX: It’s just a little, just a little, yeah. Just a little, little kisses of caramel, little kisses of honey, little kisses of vanilla. And the, in the palate it’s actually very nice. It’s actually very delicate. Very little heat…

MIKE:  Mmm! There’s no heat from the blanco anymore.

ALEX:  Oh.

MIKE: There’s just a pepper.

ALEX: Just a slight little pepper.

MIKE: Way on the back end. Maybe a little bit – it’s spicier now, now that it’s been in the barrel, than it was unaged in the blanco. Wow! This is really good, Alex.

ALEX:  It’s actually, yeah. And it’s different. It’s not… It’s not a typical reposado.

MIKE: No…

ALEX: It’s almost like they’ve really taken the time to really smooth out the edges…

MIKE: Yeah, and that’s exactly –

ALEX: A nice little intro. Yeah, it’s like – it’s a great intro into the aged category.

MIKE: I think they’re funny – even though the descriptors in there, in the brochure is really funny, I think they actually got it right; that really is an introduction into the aged, or the añejo category, if you’re not familiar with it.

ALEX:  It’s a very elegant reposado.

MIKE:  Yeah, it belies its marketing. It really is a worthy sipper, as was the blanco in my opinion. But the blanco I think would lend itself probably better to the cocktails. And like I say, right now in the Southeast, cocktail cultures very, very hot. There’s a lot of these secret hotbeds of tequila and mezcal, ya know, going on in Georgia, going on in North Carolina South Carolina… Florida has always been kind of iffy because of the Latin Hispanic influence… but they’re starting to really come around, Alex. And I’m impressed, man! These guys at Goza, they jumped on that band wagon at the right time. Wow…

ALEX:  Wow, please – go grab some Goza.

MIKE: Yeah!

ALEX: I think, another Brand of Promise, Mike.

MIKE: I think you’re right. I think we… you know, we’ve nominated it for packaging, of course all the bottles are generally the same, except for the color code. That’s how you find out what the blanco is, what the repo is, and the añejo. But um… I’m impressed, man. This is very, very good stuff. Again, from NOM 1479 for anybody who’s had Nuestro Orgullo tequila. But, go out and get you some! And, while you’re at it, if you’ve had it, give us the comments down below, okay? And subscribe to our Youtube channel. We are now affiliated with Disney, and Makers Studios of the Disney Company, so we’re a part of the Disney family. And we want to make you part of our family as well. So, subscribe… give us your thoughts, we just gave you ours. Brand of Promise nominee for 2016, on the reposado, that’s Goza. I’m Mike Morales here in San Antonio.

ALEX:  And I’m Alex Perez. You’re watching Sipping off the Cuff on TequilaAficionado.com, and as always, sip wisely.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Goza Blanco Tequila Review [Transcript]

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA ALEX: You are watching Sipping Off the Cuff on TequilaAficionado.com. Also, probably Youtube, on our Youtube Channel. I’m Alex Perez.

 

MIKE: I’m Mike Morales, here in beautiful San Antonio, where the surf meets the turf. *laughing*

 

ALEX: Nice.

 

MIKE: And Alex, you just returned from Habana, is that it? Or…? *laughing*

 

ALEX: Uh… soon, soon.

 

MIKE:  Flor de la suerte. We’re not going to do any rum tonight, thank goodness, but we are doing Goza Tequila.

 

ALEX: Goza Tequila.

 

MIKE: Vamos a gozar esta noche. We are going to have a good time.

 

ALEX: (laughing)

 

MIKE: Look at the – look at the – look at this packaging, Alex.

 

ALEX: It’s a good-looking bottle, yeah.

 

MIKE: Yeah. They, they’re very – if you look at the Day of the Dead symbol there, you know. It’s got some wings on it. Beautiful coloring too, the blanco has blue you’ll see the repo and the anejo later on, we’re going to be doing those. These – this particular company, Alex, this brand is based in Georgia.

 

ALEX: Georgia?

 

MIKE: In Atlanta. Which – don’t laugh! The South, the South-East is becoming a quiet little hot bed for tequila.

 

ALEX: Really?

 

MIKE. We’re talking about Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, of course, and all points in between. So, these are – the owner is Mr. Gluck, I – did we say Jacob Gluck, I think? Is the gentleman who’s the CEO. Look at the POS on this too, isn’t that cool?

 

ALEX: Good looking stuff.

 

MIKE: Yeah, very nicely done, Jacob Gluck.

 

ALEX: Alright the cocktails, got some cocktails on there.

 

MIKE: Yeah, you got some cocktails. They spared no expense for some very, very nice point of sale material. And we’re going to be doing the blanco this evening. This is the distillery, just so we can get that information out. We – Alex, you and I have had tequila from 1479 before.

 

ALEX: That’s right.

 

MIKE: And you might remember this was early on in our SOTC we did Nuestro Orgullo Tequila.

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

 

ALEX: I remember that.

 

MIKE: And this is from the same distillery. We loved it! We love the blanco, I think at some point they may have had a problem with the reposado and the anejo, Nuestro Orgullo, but this is a brand-new recipe with Goza.

 

ALEX: Awesome.

 

MIKE: These guys, they’re 3 young guys who went out and just, you know, took the bull by the horns. You can find them online.

 

ALEX: Yep, they got a –

 

MIKE: Facebook, they’re also on Twitter and Instagram. Follow them on Instagram! There’s beautiful photography that they’re doing, and some really neat stuff.

 

ALEX: They got a nice-looking website too.

 

MIKE: Yeah, the website’s – everything that they’ve done has been first class, it really has. And they’re stuff is not boring to read. Off camera, Alex was reading: ‘Well, what do you know, somebody’s reading a brochure about tequila’. That’s how it starts.

 

ALEX: *laughing*

 

MIKE: So, these guys obviously have a sense of humor, right? And they have some nice table tents, too. If you’re ever in a restaurant down below. As a matter of fact, if you’re watching this, and you’re watching in the Southeast, and you’ve had Goza, don’t be afraid – subscribe to our YouTube channel down below and give us your comments. Tell us how you like this tequila, what you like about it, what you don’t like – if you’ve met the owners themselves. We’re going to tell you what we think right now.

 

ALEX: Yeah, or where you found it! We’d love to know where you found it; was your experience in a restaurant, bar.

 

MIKE: Was it a flight…

 

ALEX: Very cool.

 

MIKE: …was it part of a cocktail, you know.

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

 

*smelling*

 

*MIKE: Wow.

 

ALEX: They got a good-looking cocktail on their website I’d like to try.

 

MIKE: Which one?

 

ALEX: It’s their Mayan Mule.

 

MIKE: The Mayan Mule?

 

ALEX: So, we’ve got Ginger beer, we’re obviously with some lime juice – with some juice of lime – or lime, some fresh squeezed lime.

 

MIKE: That’s easy for you to say! *laughing*

 

ALEX: Some tequila and a couple dashes of mangos, true or bitter. So…hey! Very nice!

 

MIKE: Mule! The Mule, sounds like it’ll have a kick to it.

 

ALEX: Yeah, it’s got a – obviously it’s clear.

 

MIKE: I really like the – when I, when we had Nuestro Orgullo from that same distillery, I really enjoyed the blanco, it was a real kick-butt blanco. And this one is almost as pristine. Nice legs too, Alex.

 

ALEX: Yeah, it really is.

 

MIKE: Nice legs on this one.

 

ALEX: It is chiny.

 

ALEX: And this one, as soon as I poured it, coming out of the bottle into the glass, you can get a real nice bouquet.

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

ALEX: The roasted agave, I get a lot of roasted agave on the nose.

 

MIKE: Yeah.

 

ALEX: And some hot pepper too… Or white pepper, I should say.

*smelling*

 

ALEX: So, it’s got a pleasant nose. You can tell there’s some good alcohol content in there too.

MIKE: Yeah, there is. It already, it already, it’s aggressive on the nose, and you know, I – it’s an aggressive nose so be aware of that.

 

*tasting*

 

 

ALEX: Mmm.

 

*growling noises*

 

ALEX: That’s nice, Mike.

 

MIKE: (spits) Excuse me. We do use spit buckets here, boys and girls. We do several of these a night, and to do this properly, you don’t want to drink anything. Not all the ones that we do all night long, so, spitting is allowed.

 

ALEX: It’s got a really nice mouth feel.

 

MIKE: It’s got a heavy structure, really, it really – the little bit that I tasted, it’s got… I want to say, like a caramelized agave? Maybe?

 

ALEX: I think you’re probably – it’s like a little hint of vanilla in there.

 

MIKE: That’s, maybe that’s what it is.

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

 

ALEX: Right on the sides of my tongue.

 

**growling**

 

MIKE: Alex, it’s got a big strong finish, too.

 

ALEX: Yeah, which is unusual, because it’s not an aged tequila.

 

MIKE: No, no.

 

ALEX: It’s very pleasant.

 

MIKE: It’s double distilled. As they say in the back: a little goes a long way! They’ve been doing a lot of their own promo videos on Instagram lately. They’re rather funny. They interviewed 9 women. They gave them, they gave them bottles of Goza and the gals would tell us, they would tell them what tequila means to them, or what it makes them do.

 

ALEX: Ohh!

 

MIKE: And it doesn’t make them, you know, it doesn’t make your clothes fall off or anything like that. They’re actually very, very funny. So, you might want to check them out on their Instagram, and also probably on their Youtube channel as well.

 

*smelling & tasting*

 

MIKE: I like this, Alex. This is really a nice – you know, the fact that they have so many cocktails listed, and – you know, that seems to be if you look at the graphics, it seems to be where they were headed to begin with.

Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

 

ALEX: Right.

 

Mike: They were really cocktail-conscious. And really, in the South, from what I’ve seen from all indications, the cocktail culture is really leading the way in that area, and these guys just jumped on it, you know. Jacob and his partners jumped on that idea. They had the Goza Gimlet, the Blank Stare, wow. The Old-Fashioned-ish, Goza Nuts, and the Skinny Dip. These guys, I’m telling you, these guys have it right; they’re having fun. If you look at their, again, if you look at their Instagram or their Facebook, they do a lot of things. They’re having a lot of fun with their brand, and obviously Alex, that seems to break down a lot of barriers, you know, where that’s concerned. But really, it’s a first class look.

 

ALEX: Yep.

 

MIKE:  I want to nominate it just on looks alone, Alex. Just on the, on packaging for a Brands of Promise, I think they’re just gorgeous bottles. They’re frosted, they’re, you know – If you look at some of the pictures, they look great with a bottle glorifier on the bottom.

 

ALEX:  Oh yeah, that would look neat.

 

MIKE: Yeah, so…

 

ALEX: Let’s try it!

 

MIKE: Yeah – Let’s do it!

 

ALEX: *laughing* You knew I was going to do that.

 

MIKE: I know. Go! Do the music. You got to do the music! *laughing*

 

ALEX: I got the music. There you go!

 

MIKE: Check it out! ¡Mira!

 

ALEX: IPhone glorifier!

 

MIKE: IPhone glorifier!

 

ALEX: It’s a go! No trouble with you.

 

MIKE: This is a, it’s got really medium to long finish. But I – I’m enjoying it, Alex. I think that blanco on its own, because of the flavor profile, and it will lend itself – Yeah, they send us a lot of the extra stuff.

 

ALEX: It’s a, it’s a nice sipper, too Mike.

 

MIKE: Check it out, mira!

 

ALEX: I’d like – I’d like to nominate it as a Brand of Promise.

 

MIKE: The Goza shot glass. I agree with you, I think it is very worthy of a Brand of Promise. It’s a very, very strong contender.

 

ALEX: Actually, it’s evolving a little bit in the glass, too.

 

MIKE: I get all kinds of things in here. I was getting like I say, a caramelized agave, almost like a burnt agave a little bit.

 

ALEX: Like you said, on the palate you’re getting a little touch of vanilla, some fruit also. I can’t…

 

MIKE: Yeah.

 

ALEX: I can’t pinpoint it but…

 

MIKE: But then you’re right about the white pepper. Then that’s on the back end.

 

ALEX: Right.

 

MIKE: So, you’re getting that on the back end. It’s a, you know what, it’s a full bodied blanco, man.Sipping Off the Cuff | Goza Tequila Blanco with Transcript https://wp.me/p3u1xi-5GA

 

ALEX: Yeah.

 

MIKE: This is a full body blanco. Obviously, it will shine on any cocktail, but like you said Alex, I think it’s a very worthy sipper, so… Brand of Promise I think, Brand of Promise Nominee. I want to nominate it also for packaging. Because I think it really really lends itself to the club scene.

 

ALEX: My bottle lights up.

 

MIKE: Your bottle – yeah, well, some of us don’t have iPhones. *laughing*

 

ALEX: *laughing* Good stuff.

 

MIKE: Anyhow, I’m Mike Morales here in San Antonio.

 

ALEX: I’m Alex Perez, you’ve been watching Sipping Off the Cuff on Tequila Aficionado.com. You’re probably watching us on Youtube. Subscribe to us, let us know what you think about Goza Tequila. We’d love to hear about it. And as always, sip wisely.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Tequila Aficionado Media Announces the 2015 Brands Of Promise Award Winners!

Honors Bestowed During LIVE Blab Webcast

For Immediate Release!

PLATINUMFINAL2015March 14, 2016, San Antonio, TXTequila Aficionado Media’s Third Annual 2015 Brands Of Promise© Awards were broadcast LIVE on Blab in Tequila, Mezcal and other assorted agave-related categories. See the full list of medal recipients here.

[Tweet “@TequilaAficion Announces #2015BOP Medal Winners!”]

Among the brilliant stand outs of 2015, Ambhar Tequila took the Judges’ Best-of-Show accolade scoring highly in several categories. Recent upstarts GOZA and Papa Bueno also made significant showings.  In a surprise return to the Brands Of Promise© Reposado class, Del Bravo Spirits unanimously took the Platinum award with Route 66 tequila.

[Tweet “Congrats to @AmbharTequila for winning Best-Of-Show #BOP2015”]

Legacy brands Orendáin, Milagro, Tequila 1921, Centinela and Herradura were well represented in both the High-End and Value segments, while Dulce Vida and Suerte convincingly cornered the Extra Añejo tequila market.

In what proved to be the toughest bracket for the judges to date, Malinalli Tequila swept the Platinum trophy in the hard fought Blanco division, with Ambhar, El Mayor, and Mamalón tequilas close on its heels.

The surging Mezcal classification was dominated by the popular Gracias A Dios brand, while Montelobos and Amarás collected Golds in each of their groups.

[Tweet “Congrats to @graciasadiosmz and @Montelobos in the #2015BOP mezcal categories!”]

Gold Medal Winner Lisa Elovich, brand owner of Organic Tequila One With Life, was ecstatic, saying, “Thank you so much! It is such an honor to get this award. I know this will help us with marketing and distribution.” She graciously added, “Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners! So happy to be part of it!”

In an equally gracious statement made over their Instagram account, medal recipient Papa Bueno Tequila wrote, “We are honored to have been among this impressive group of nominees! We love tequila and congratulate all the winners and thank Tequila Aficionado for the time, humor and love they bring! Definitely Bueno!”

About the Brands Of Promise Awards

All brands were judged by Founder, Alex Perez and CEO, M.A. “Mike” Morales, as well as by other Tequila Aficionado staff, on how they performed during Tequila Aficionado’s wildly popular Sipping Off The Cuff™ video series seen regularly on TequilaAficionado.com and viewable on its YouTube channel.

[Tweet “The Brands Of Promise™ Awards help brands by leveling the playing field with NO FEES”]

Unlike other spirits contests, The Brands Of Promise™ Awards does not require participating agave spirit brands to pay an entry fee.  It also does not charge winners additional hefty licensing tariffs for the rights to use the medal award graphics on their labels, neck tags, shelf talkers, brochures, point-of-sales materials and websites.

For a full list of Brands Of Promise© winners, click here.

 

 

To enter your tequila, mezcal, sotol, raicilla, bacanora or other agave spirit or related product in the coveted Brands Of Promise™ Awards, click here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Goza Anejo Tequila Review

In this episode of Tequila Aficionado’s Sipping off the Cuff, Mike Morales and Alex Perez taste and discuss Goza Tequila Anejo.

 

 

Goza, Atlanta’s only tequila producer, makes headway

Courtesy of Atlanta Magazine

goza, tequila, tequila aficionado, sipping off the cuff, tequila tastingWhen Jacob Gluck decided to build a tequila brand, he was living in Washington D.C and working in finance, but he knew Atlanta was where he’d launch the company. “It’s home,” Gluck said in a phone interview. “If I can’t be successful here, I won’t be successful anywhere.”

Goza, which means “enjoy” in Spanish, launched mid-April with three premium varieties: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. The local brand aims to compete with the likes of Don Julio, Patron, and Casamigo, with tequila that’s clean, flavorful, and just slightly warming.

It took a couple of years to get Goza to market. Through a mutual friend, Gluck learned of a tequila producer who was looking for a U.S. partner. Of the 110 tequila producers in Mexico, Gluck said, one in every ten bottles is going to have the same liquid (that’s over 1,000 brands). “Our supplier doesn’t sell to anyone else in the U.S.,” he says.

Gluck wants his premium tequila to be a more affordable option, with a market focus on young professionals. He calls it “tech-quila” when discussing his link to the startup world—Goza shares office space at DeskHub in Buckhead, and he hopes to sponsor a hack-a-thon.

It’s a sophisticated beverage made with great attention to detail, Gluck said. You can enjoy Goza on the rocks or mixed in a cocktail. “But if people feel like they can’t order it as a shot,” he laughed, “you’re screwed.”

The tequila market is pretty vast. What does Goza bring that’s new?

Goza takes the intimidation out of tequila. Most bottles out there, they’re square, masculine—there’s an intimidation factor. Plus, we all have a bad tequila story—you know, that “I can’t even stand the smell” thing. It’s important that the tequila taste good, but we start with what people see. People say it looks like a vodka bottle, and that’s fine with me.

Can you talk about how your distilling process impacts the flavor?

Our tequila is made from agave grown and distilled in Arandas, Mexico, which is one of the country’s two major tequila-producing regions. It’s in the state of Jalisco and Goza agave is in the highlands. Tequila from that area has more of a fruity and herbal taste and smell. It’s also 100% agave tequila—some tequilas, like Jose Cuervo, are made from 51% agave. That’s a big reason why it tastes so bad.

Does Goza manage the whole process?

We control the entire process, the land our agave is grown on the distilling, aging, bottling—it’s a total vertical integration. The agave is grown for nine years before harvest. They run certain tests to ensure that it’s harvested at the right time. Every bottle is pressure-washed on the inside with tequila itself. Everything’s done by hand.

Describe the varieties you offer.

We have Blanco (silver), which is floral, fruity, with hints of vanilla. Reposado (aged for six months in white oak barrels) is more oaky—some say smoky. And the Añejo (aged for one year in white oak barrels) has even more depth. It’s more complex with notes of brown spice and honey. By far, we sell mostly Blanco. Enthusiasts and connoisseurs will enjoy the aged styles, too. [General pricing for Goza: Blanco, $34.99; Reposado, $39.99; Añejo, $44.99]

You’re currently in Georgia and Tennessee, any expansion plans?

We’re trying to grow organically, grassroots style. Next market will probably be South Carolina or Florida, just because of geography, maybe within a year. But we are primarily in Georgia, and of our Georgia sales, 80% is in greater Atlanta.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Goza Reposado Tequila Review

In this episode of Tequila Aficionado’s Sipping off the Cuff, Mike Morales and Alex Perez taste and discuss Goza Tequila Reposado

 

Goza, Atlanta’s only tequila producer, makes headway

Courtesy of Atlanta Magazine

goza, tequila, tequila aficionado, sipping off the cuff, tequila tastingWhen Jacob Gluck decided to build a tequila brand, he was living in Washington D.C and working in finance, but he knew Atlanta was where he’d launch the company. “It’s home,” Gluck said in a phone interview. “If I can’t be successful here, I won’t be successful anywhere.”

Goza, which means “enjoy” in Spanish, launched mid-April with three premium varieties: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. The local brand aims to compete with the likes of Don Julio, Patron, and Casamigo, with tequila that’s clean, flavorful, and just slightly warming.

It took a couple of years to get Goza to market. Through a mutual friend, Gluck learned of a tequila producer who was looking for a U.S. partner. Of the 110 tequila producers in Mexico, Gluck said, one in every ten bottles is going to have the same liquid (that’s over 1,000 brands). “Our supplier doesn’t sell to anyone else in the U.S.,” he says.

Gluck wants his premium tequila to be a more affordable option, with a market focus on young professionals. He calls it “tech-quila” when discussing his link to the startup world—Goza shares office space at DeskHub in Buckhead, and he hopes to sponsor a hack-a-thon.

It’s a sophisticated beverage made with great attention to detail, Gluck said. You can enjoy Goza on the rocks or mixed in a cocktail. “But if people feel like they can’t order it as a shot,” he laughed, “you’re screwed.”

The tequila market is pretty vast. What does Goza bring that’s new?

Goza takes the intimidation out of tequila. Most bottles out there, they’re square, masculine—there’s an intimidation factor. Plus, we all have a bad tequila story—you know, that “I can’t even stand the smell” thing. It’s important that the tequila taste good, but we start with what people see. People say it looks like a vodka bottle, and that’s fine with me.

Can you talk about how your distilling process impacts the flavor?

Our tequila is made from agave grown and distilled in Arandas, Mexico, which is one of the country’s two major tequila-producing regions. It’s in the state of Jalisco and Goza agave is in the highlands. Tequila from that area has more of a fruity and herbal taste and smell. It’s also 100% agave tequila—some tequilas, like Jose Cuervo, are made from 51% agave. That’s a big reason why it tastes so bad.

Does Goza manage the whole process?

We control the entire process, the land our agave is grown on the distilling, aging, bottling—it’s a total vertical integration. The agave is grown for nine years before harvest. They run certain tests to ensure that it’s harvested at the right time. Every bottle is pressure-washed on the inside with tequila itself. Everything’s done by hand.

Describe the varieties you offer.

We have Blanco (silver), which is floral, fruity, with hints of vanilla. Reposado (aged for six months in white oak barrels) is more oaky—some say smoky. And the Añejo (aged for one year in white oak barrels) has even more depth. It’s more complex with notes of brown spice and honey. By far, we sell mostly Blanco. Enthusiasts and connoisseurs will enjoy the aged styles, too. [General pricing for Goza: Blanco, $34.99; Reposado, $39.99; Añejo, $44.99]

You’re currently in Georgia and Tennessee, any expansion plans?

We’re trying to grow organically, grassroots style. Next market will probably be South Carolina or Florida, just because of geography, maybe within a year. But we are primarily in Georgia, and of our Georgia sales, 80% is in greater Atlanta.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!

Goza Blanco Tequila Review

In this episode of Tequila Aficionado’s Sipping off the Cuff, Mike Morales and Alex Perez taste and discuss Goza Tequila Blanco.

Goza, Atlanta’s only tequila producer, makes headway

Courtesy of Atlanta Magazine

Goza-group-on-white-400x400When Jacob Gluck decided to build a tequila brand, he was living in Washington D.C and working in finance, but he knew Atlanta was where he’d launch the company. “It’s home,” Gluck said in a phone interview. “If I can’t be successful here, I won’t be successful anywhere.”

Goza, which means “enjoy” in Spanish, launched mid-April with three premium varieties: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. The local brand aims to compete with the likes of Don Julio, Patron, and Casamigo, with tequila that’s clean, flavorful, and just slightly warming.

It took a couple of years to get Goza to market. Through a mutual friend, Gluck learned of a tequila producer who was looking for a U.S. partner. Of the 110 tequila producers in Mexico, Gluck said, one in every ten bottles is going to have the same liquid (that’s over 1,000 brands). “Our supplier doesn’t sell to anyone else in the U.S.,” he says.

Gluck wants his premium tequila to be a more affordable option, with a market focus on young professionals. He calls it “tech-quila” when discussing his link to the startup world—Goza shares office space at DeskHub in Buckhead, and he hopes to sponsor a hack-a-thon.

It’s a sophisticated beverage made with great attention to detail, Gluck said. You can enjoy Goza on the rocks or mixed in a cocktail. “But if people feel like they can’t order it as a shot,” he laughed, “you’re screwed.”

The tequila market is pretty vast. What does Goza bring that’s new?

Goza takes the intimidation out of tequila. Most bottles out there, they’re square, masculine—there’s an intimidation factor. Plus, we all have a bad tequila story—you know, that “I can’t even stand the smell” thing. It’s important that the tequila taste good, but we start with what people see. People say it looks like a vodka bottle, and that’s fine with me.

Can you talk about how your distilling process impacts the flavor?

Our tequila is made from agave grown and distilled in Arandas, Mexico, which is one of the country’s two major tequila-producing regions. It’s in the state of Jalisco and Goza agave is in the highlands. Tequila from that area has more of a fruity and herbal taste and smell. It’s also 100% agave tequila—some tequilas, like Jose Cuervo, are made from 51% agave. That’s a big reason why it tastes so bad.

Does Goza manage the whole process?

We control the entire process, the land our agave is grown on the distilling, aging, bottling—it’s a total vertical integration. The agave is grown for nine years before harvest. They run certain tests to ensure that it’s harvested at the right time. Every bottle is pressure-washed on the inside with tequila itself. Everything’s done by hand.

Describe the varieties you offer.

We have Blanco (silver), which is floral, fruity, with hints of vanilla. Reposado (aged for six months in white oak barrels) is more oaky—some say smoky. And the Añejo (aged for one year in white oak barrels) has even more depth. It’s more complex with notes of brown spice and honey. By far, we sell mostly Blanco. Enthusiasts and connoisseurs will enjoy the aged styles, too. [General pricing for Goza: Blanco, $34.99; Reposado, $39.99; Añejo, $44.99]

You’re currently in Georgia and Tennessee, any expansion plans?

We’re trying to grow organically, grassroots style. Next market will probably be South Carolina or Florida, just because of geography, maybe within a year. But we are primarily in Georgia, and of our Georgia sales, 80% is in greater Atlanta.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Learn all about tequila from field to glass and then get paid to share your love of agave spirits with others! Buy Them Both Now!