By Shelby Tuttle
In the rapidly growing world of premium spirits, one Arizona-based tequila brand is proving that true craftsmanship extends beyond the barrel — it starts with the soil. Scottsdale-based Tequila Corrido is embedding sustainability into every step of its journey.
Sustainable at the Source
For Tequila Corrido, sustainability is not an afterthought; it’s the foundation of the brand. The company works exclusively with reputable highland agave farms committed to responsible cultivation and soil preservation.
This dedication to the land includes essential farming practices like crop rotation, which restores necessary nutrients to the soil after the intense agave harvests. Perhaps the most innovative initiative involves the very material used to make the tequila: the fibrous solid waste (bagasse) left after the Blue Weber agave is processed. Instead of being discarded, this waste is repurposed as compost, feeding and sustaining the same farms where the agave originated.
Beyond the fields, Corrido is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact and supporting local commerce through partnerships with Fusion y Formas — a leading Mexican glass manufacturer — to produce their tequila bottles using recycled glass, in addition to sourcing dry goods like corks, labels, packing materials, and bottles locally in Jalisco, Mexico, where the tequila is made. This not only supports Jalisco’s local economy but significantly minimizes the carbon footprint of the supplies.
The Genesis of a Sustainable Spirit
The brand’s deep-seated commitment to environmental stewardship was solidified with the arrival of partner Tony Boyle. Boyle was brought into Tequila Corrido by co-owner Brian Raab to assist in re-launching the dormant brand after the passing of founder Brad Hoover. Boyle’s own experience working directly with the industry’s environmental challenges played a pivotal role in shaping Corrido’s sustainable path.
“I was working in Jalisco for an environmental biotech helping large distilleries deal with the liquid waste stream from the tequila manufacturing and distillation process,” says Boyle. “[Brian and I] had been friends for 10-plus years, and he knew I was working in Mexico with the industry.”
Craftsmanship Nurtured in the Desert
While the spirit is born in Jalisco, the brand proudly calls an airplane hangar in the Scottsdale Airpark home, and each of the brand’s owners live right here in the Valley.
This Arizona-based team oversees an award-winning, additive-free tequila defined by an artisanal aging process. The complexity of Tequila Corrido comes from a symphony of flavors, nurtured in a handpicked selection of barrels — from American and Hungarian oak to Missouri oak and Mexican merlot wine barrels. They don’t rush this process; letting time and the unique history of the barrels define the spirit’s character.
Tequila Corrido proves that focusing on environmental stewardship and conscious sourcing doesn’t detract from the final product; it enhances it, creating a truly exceptional spirit that you can feel good about enjoying.
