🥃 Sauza
Sauza is a historic tequila brand from the town of Tequila, Jalisco, founded in 1873 by Don Cenobio Sauza: Silver, Gold and 100% agave Hornitos. Owned by Suntory.
Sauza is a historic Mexican tequila brand from the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. It was founded by Don Cenobio Sauza in 1873 and is now owned by Suntory Global Spirits. Under this name the company produces both mass-market mixto versions and 100% agave tequila under the Hornitos brand.
History. According to Beam Suntory, in 1873 Don Cenobio Sauza founded the company La Perseverancia in the town of Tequila. In 1903 the business passed to his son Eladio, and then to his grandson Francisco, who in 1950 created the Hornitos brand ('little ovens'), named after the move from open fires to ovens for baking the agave. The current owner, according to available information, is Suntory Global Spirits (Beam Suntory).
How it is made. Tequila is a Mexican designation of origin: the raw material is blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber, the azul variety), and the ABV is 35–55%. The NOM-006-SCFI-2012 standard defines the categories blanco, joven, reposado, añejo and extra añejo, depending on maturation. The 'Tequila' category allows up to 49% other sugars, while '100% de agave' allows only agave. According to reviews, Sauza Silver and Gold belong to the mixed category, and Hornitos to 100% agave.
Range. Apart from Silver and Gold, there is Hornitos in different ages: Plata, Reposado and Añejo.
Why this matters to you. Check the label for '100% de agave', which changes the composition considerably, and check the maturation class too. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1873, Don Cenobio Sauza (Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | NOM-006-SCFI-2012; designation of origin 'Tequila'; a GI in the EU under Regulation 2019/787 |
| EU category | geographical indication 'Tequila' (Regulation 2019/787, Annex III) |
| Raw material | blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber, azul variety) |
| Distillation method | twice |
| Minimum maturation | reposado — at least 2 months in oak; añejo — more than 1 year |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 35–55% ABV under the standard |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Sauza → kind of → 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Suntory Global Spirits, 🥃 Paisaje Agavero, 🥃 Tequila (town)
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Blue agave
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Mexicans
- Part of
- 🌵 Tequila, 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Tequila 100% agave (100% de agave), 🥃 Patrón, 🥃 Patrón, 🥃 Casamigos, 🥃 Casamigos, 🥃 Herradura
Frequently asked questions
What proof is tequila on a US label?
The Mexican standard allows 35-55% ABV, which on a US label reads as 70 to 110 proof.
How do I spot a 100% agave tequila on a shop shelf?
Look for the words 100% de agave on the label. Hornitos is 100% agave, while Silver and Gold belong to the mixed category, which allows up to 49% other sugars.
Which tequila class suits a margarita, and does the label say?
Tequila is mixed in cocktails such as a margarita, and the label states the class and whether it is mixto or 100% agave; a different class changes the taste.
Who owns Sauza now?
According to available information, Suntory Global Spirits, also known as Beam Suntory.
What does Hornitos mean?
Little ovens: the name recalls the move from open fires to ovens for baking agave. Francisco Sauza created the brand in 1950.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🥃 Tequila 100% agave (100% de agave) — Tequila made only from sugars of blue agave from the area of origin, unlike the “Tequila” category, where other sugars may make up to 49%. Look for “100% de agave” on the label.
Similar
🥃 Don Julio · 🥃 Olmeca · 🥃 Herradura · 🥃 Patrón · 🥃 Casamigos · 🥃 1800 Tequila
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- NOM-006-SCFI-2012 Bebidas alcohólicas-Tequila-Especificaciones (DOF 13.12.2012): класи, міцність, відносини агави
- Difford's Guide: Tequila Sauza S.A. de C.V. (NOM 1102)
- Beam Suntory Founders: Sauza (Don Cenobio, 1873, Tequila, Jalisco, La Perseverancia)
- Sauza Tequila: офіційний сайт марки
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)