Scotland’s pioneering coffee tequila brand, Jalisgow, is poised for a remarkable on-trade introduction. It has already achieved a series of listings with numerous Glasgow bars, such as The Finnieston, Lebowskis, Kong, Wunderbar, The West Side Tavern, Gandolfi, Max’s Bar, and The Locale.
This new brand was brought to life by three enterprising Scottish friends. Adam Alzadjally, the founder of Pineapple Espresso coffee; Kieran Woods, co-owner of Wee Knob Butter; and Stewart Weir, who contributes decades of hospitality expertise to the venture. They were motivated to fill the void left when Cafe Patron exited the market.
The trio first conceived the idea three years ago and have since been dedicated to bringing the initial batch to the market. Their objective was to meet consumers’ desire for a refined tequila where the base spirit could harmonize with the robust coffee flavor.
To source the spirit, they enlisted the assistance of experts at The Hacienda, Casa Reyes D’Barjas, in Mexico. This is the second oldest tequila distillery globally and utilizes only 100% blue webber agave provided by local producers and farmers.
Co-founder Alzadjally stated, “Fundamentally, we are just three close friends who identified a market opening after Cafe Patron disappeared from bars and venues. We have remained committed to the production and development process and have now crafted something we deem rather unique, combining two of our beloved elements – coffee and tequila. My background in the coffee trade has made me acutely aware of the significance of ensuring the blend complements such a bold flavor.” He added, “We rigorously tested the tequila, ranging from 28% to 36% in alcohol content, and ultimately settled on 30%. This enabled us to achieve a delightful smooth tequila taste without sacrificing the rich Colombian coffee flavor. We suggest consuming it chilled.”
Co-founder Weir elaborated, “When we first visited Jalisco, the distillery had doors imported from the Clyde’s shipbuilding industry, which are now used as commercial oven doors in Mexico for cooking our agave! We regarded this as a sign from the cosmos that this was the ideal location for our tequila production. The brand name was carefully considered and is a fusion of Jalisco and Glasgow, resulting in Jalisgow. It is inspired by the Jalisco region in Mexico, which accounts for over 98% of tequila production worldwide. We have given it a Glaswegian touch to emphasize its local roots – a Mexican spirit with a Scottish essence. We are currently focused on making the tequila accessible for people to relish, and we are extremely pleased with the response from many Glasgow bars and venues that have already stocked Jalisgow.”
The liquid is reputed to offer “a delicious coffee flavor that counterbalances the tequila with a smooth, rich coffee infusion,” making it suitable for both shots and mixology applications, especially as an ingredient in white russians and the highly popular espresso martini.
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