A new tequila brand with its name rooted in Fort Worth has been introduced by three DFW-based entrepreneurs.
La Pulga Tequila, distilled and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico, is an artisanal, additive-free 100% agave tequila that takes its name from the La Pulga outdoor market on the Northside of Fort Worth.
It’s one of the oldest open-air flea markets in the nation, the company said.
The brand was founded by Sarah Castillo, a well-known Fort Worth restaurateur (Taco Heads, Tinies Mexican Cuisine, Sidesaddle Saloon); Andrew De La Torre, a club owner and the operator of Pequeño Mexico; and Stephen Slaughter, a local entrepreneur and real estate developer.
Sharing ‘a rich cultural heritage and connection’
“Mexico and Texas share a rich cultural heritage and connection, and our goal is to preserve and celebrate those strong community ties through the lens of traditional spirits,” said Castillo, who was born and raised in Fort Worth. “La Pulga Tequila is crafted in Mexico, but the idea and the genesis of this brand is firmly rooted right here in Texas, where we’re proud to call home.”
The company said that Ale Ochoa has joined the La Pulga team as the head of spirits. Ochoa formerly was a Whiskey Scientist and Master Blender at Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. in Fort Worth.
La Pulga Tequila said its product is distilled using only the highest-quality 100% Weber Blue Agave and crafted with traditional methods in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.
Highlighting the tequila and its growing popularity
The brand launches with La Pulga Tequila Blanco, an unaged 80-proof silver tequila that is characterized by its floral aroma and taste notes of cooked agave, grapefruit, anise, and honey; and La Pulga Tequila Reposado (80 proof) that is aged for seven months in ex-bourbon barrels to impart flavors of agave, burnt sugar, licorice, honey, and black pepper, the company said.
Both tequilas went through a verification process to be designated “Confirmed Additive-Free” by the industry experts at Tequila Matchmaker, ensuring that no ingredients were added to the tequila to alter or enhance its taste, smell or color, La Pulga said.
The tequilas are available through Republic National Distributing Co. at bars and restaurants throughout Texas, and at fine spirits retailers.
It also can be bought online via the La Pulga website.
The bottle labels feature “alebrijes”—Mexican folk art images that depict “El Bronco” on La Pulga Blanco, and “El Toro” on the Reposado.
Texas is the second-largest state in the nation behind California for tequila sales, with volume that outpaces the total tequila consumption in every international market outside Mexico and the U.S., according to the global drink’s analytics company IWSR Tequila.
Consumption of tequila in Texas, led by high-quality ultra-premium brands such as La Pulga, grew by more than 22% in 2021, the company said.
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