Austin, widely celebrated for its creative class, is home to many inventive start-ups. While technology companies come to mind, Austin has been developing a more spirited kind of business lately—it’s now home base to several liquor companies, including Tito’s Vodka, Dripping Springs Texas Vodka, Treaty Oak Rum, and most recently, Dulce Vida™, a handcrafted tequila made from organic agave.

Dulce Vida has released its first batch of Blanco, Reposado and Añejo tequilas for a limited distribution in Austin with plans to expand to San Antonio later this year, followed by other major Texas cities and national markets throughout 2010.

“This has been a labor of ‘agave love’ for the past two years; we are excited to introduce Dulce Vida to our hometown of Austin,” said Charlie Paulette, CEO, Dulce Vida Spirits, Inc.  “The spirit industry here continues to grow and gain steam.”

While the company is based in Austin, Dulce Vida Tequila sources its organic agave from the Pacific Coast Highland region of Tepic, Nayarit. The soil and geography are very different from the better-known lowland tequila areas, and this particular region—surrounded by both ocean and mountains—yields more flavorful and larger agave plants.

Dulce Vida’s tequilas are 100 proof, meaning that—unlike most tequilas—they have not been diluted with water. They are triple distilled and made with 100 percent, single estate, organic blue agave.  Dulce Vida’s Reposado and Añejo are aged in single-barrel oak Kentucky Whisky barrels (the Reposado for 12 months and the Añejo for 24 months).

Finding and Buying Dulce Vida
Distributed through Glazer’s, Dulce Vida Tequila is currently available in Austin at the following retail locations: Spec’s, Twin Liquors, Liquor Cabinet, Chris’ Liquor, Davenport Wine & Spirits and The Austin Wine Merchant.  Austin bars and restaurants now serving Dulce Vida include Péché, Kenichi, The Hilton Austin, Guero’s Taco Bar, Maria Maria, Malverde, Ranch 616, J. Black’s, The Ranch, Matt’s El Rancho, Baby Acapulco’s, Lanai Rooftop Lounge, The Phoenix, Beso Cantina, Tres Amigos (365), Cheers Shot Bar and Imperia.

Suggested Retail Price for a 750 ml bottle is $45.00 for Dulce Vida’s Blanco, $50.00 for the Añejo and $55.00 for Reposado.

For more information about Dulce Vida’s products, including drink recipes, please visit www.dulcevidaspirits.com.