Dos Lunas Tequila

Dos Lunas Tequila is a premium tequila brand associated with Dos Lunas Spirits, LLC, a company headquartered in El Paso, Texas. Its tequilas are produced in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, using 100% Weber blue agave grown near Zapotlanejo in the tequila-producing region. The brand presents itself as a quality-focused alternative to harsher, lower-end tequila experiences, with an emphasis on smooth sipping, extended maturation, distinctive packaging, and hands-on production. The concept originated with founder Richard C. Poe II on New Year's Eve in 2005. While at a bar in Telluride, Colorado, Poe observed customers reacting negatively after tasting tequila. This experience led him to pursue a more refined tequila that consumers could enjoy drinking rather than merely mixing. In 2006, he traveled to Guadalajara, secured a master distiller, and began developing the Dos Lunas range. The first products, Dos Lunas Silver and Dos Lunas Reposado, were introduced in 2006. The Silver expression is described as triple distilled, cold filtered, and rested for six days in new white oak barrels. The Reposado is double distilled and matured for nine months using a combination of Tennessee bourbon casks and new American white oak barrels. Dos Lunas later added Añejo in 2008, aging it for 18 months in the same broad cask style, and a limited Extra Añejo Grand Reserve made from tequila aged for 10 years in Spanish sherry casks. Production claims emphasize natural inputs and the avoidance of certain additives. The brand states that it uses natural fertilizer and naturally derived yeast, without added enzymes, synthetic antibacterial agents, or glycerine during cultivation, production, or bottling. It also identifies its tequila as kosher-certified. Unlike many spirits brands that rely on separate contract bottlers, Dos Lunas is described as filling bottles by hand at the same distillery where the tequila is made. Bottles are reportedly washed in tequila before filling. Packaging is a major part of the brand's identity. The Silver, Reposado, and Añejo bottles use frosted glass with a transparent central section displaying an image associated with each expression: an agave plant for Silver, tequila barrels for Reposado, and an agave harvester for Añejo. The designs received two silver medals at the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Grand Reserve uses a Baccarat crystal decanter, described as the first Baccarat crystal decanter made for tequila, with production limited to 1,000 individually numbered bottles. Dos Lunas gained recognition through spirits competitions during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Its expressions received medals from competitions and judging organizations including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Beverage Testing Institute's International Review of Spirits, Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Agave Spirits Challenge, Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition, Beverly Hills International Spirits Award, International Spirits Challenge, and World Spirits Competition. The Reposado was reported as ranked first in the world by both the Beverage Testing Institute and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009 and 2010. Publicly available reference material does not establish the brand's current ownership, distribution footprint, operating status, or current product availability.

Dos Lunas Tequila was conceived after an experience Richard C. Poe II had on New Year's Eve in 2005 at a bar in Telluride, Colorado. Poe reportedly watched several people order tequila and visibly react badly when they tasted it. He interpreted the incident as evidence of an opportunity for a tequila intended to be more approachable and enjoyable when consumed on its own. In 2006, Poe traveled to Guadalajara, Jalisco, where he arranged production with a master distiller and established the Dos Lunas range. The brand's tequila is made from 100% Weber blue agave grown near Zapotlanejo, in the recognized tequila-producing area of Jalisco. Dos Lunas describes its process as using natural fertilizer and naturally derived yeast, while excluding added enzymes, synthetic antibacterial agents, and glycerine. It also states that the tequila is kosher-certified. The initial portfolio consisted of Silver and Reposado, both introduced in 2006. Silver is cold filtered, triple distilled, and rested for six days in new white oak barrels. Reposado is double distilled and matured for nine months in a combination of Tennessee bourbon casks and new American white oak barrels. The two cask components are blended before bottling to produce a consistent flavor profile. Añejo followed in 2008. It uses a related cask program but is aged for 18 months before blending and bottling. The brand also developed the Extra Añejo Grand Reserve, a limited release made from tequila aged for 10 years in Spanish sherry casks. Only 1,000 bottles were produced, and each was individually numbered. This expression was presented in a Baccarat crystal decanter. Dos Lunas differentiated itself through both production and presentation. The brand is described as one of the relatively few tequila producers that does not use an off-site bottler; bottles are filled by hand at the distillery where the tequila is produced. The bottles are also washed in tequila. Silver, Reposado, and Añejo use frosted glass with small clear windows showing imagery connected to each expression: an agave plant, barrels, and an agave harvester respectively. These designs won two silver medals at the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the brand accumulated medals across a number of spirits competitions. Silver received recognition from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Beverage Testing Institute, Agave Spirits Challenge, Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition, Beverly Hills International Spirits Award, International Spirits Challenge, and World Spirits Competition. Reposado earned multiple gold and silver awards, including Double Gold at San Francisco in 2010, while Añejo received medals from several of the same organizations. Reference material reports that Reposado was ranked first in the world by both the Beverage Testing Institute and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009 and 2010. The available material does not provide reliable information about later ownership, current leadership, present distribution, or whether all historical expressions remain commercially available.

• 2010

  Reposado receives Double Gold

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  Dos Lunas Reposado received a Double Gold award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• 2008

  Añejo introduced

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  Dos Lunas added an 18-month Añejo aged in Tennessee whiskey and new American white oak casks.

• 2007

  Packaging receives design medals

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  The frosted-glass packaging for the core range received two silver design medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• 2006

  Production begins

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  Poe visited Guadalajara, secured a master distiller, and began producing Dos Lunas tequila.

• 2006

  Silver and Reposado introduced

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  The brand launched its Silver and Reposado expressions.

• 2005

  Brand concept emerges

  [1]Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Richard C. Poe II conceived the idea for a more approachable premium tequila after observing negative reactions to tequila at a Telluride bar.

Premium, craft-oriented tequila positioned around smooth sipping, extended maturation, additive-conscious production, distinctive presentation, and competition recognition.

• Tequila · 2006

  Dos Lunas Silver

  Introduced in 2006, Dos Lunas Silver is made from 100% Weber blue agave. It is described as cold filtered and triple distilled, then rested for six days in new white oak barrels. The expression uses the brand's frosted-glass bottle with a clear central panel showing an agave plant. Silver received medals in multiple spirits competitions, including gold recognition at the Beverage Testing Institute and San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• Tequila · 2006

  Dos Lunas Reposado

  Introduced in 2006, Dos Lunas Reposado is double distilled and rested for nine months in Tennessee bourbon casks and new American white oak barrels. The components are blended before bottling to support a consistent, mellow profile. Its bottle features a transparent center showing tequila barrels. Reposado received repeated gold-level recognition and a Double Gold award at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and was reported as a category leader in 2009 and 2010.

• Tequila · 2008

  Dos Lunas Añejo

  Introduced in 2008, Dos Lunas Añejo follows the brand's combined-cask approach, using Tennessee whiskey casks and new American white oak casks. It is aged for 18 months, twice the stated maturation period of the Reposado, before the components are blended and bottled. The frosted bottle includes a clear panel depicting an agave harvester. Añejo received medals from several international spirits competitions.

• Tequila

  Dos Lunas Extra Añejo Grand Reserve

  The Extra Añejo Grand Reserve is a limited special edition made from tequila aged for 10 years in Spanish sherry casks. Production was limited to 1,000 individually numbered bottles. It was packaged in a Baccarat crystal decanter, giving the release a luxury and collectible positioning distinct from the core Silver, Reposado, and Añejo range.

• 2008

  Extend the range with an aged AñejoProduct launch

  Background

  After introducing Silver and Reposado, Dos Lunas expanded its portfolio toward more mature sipping tequila.

  Action taken

  The brand introduced Añejo aged for 18 months in Tennessee whiskey and new American white oak casks.

  Aftermath

  Añejo broadened the range beyond younger expressions and subsequently received recognition at several spirits competitions.

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt a hands-on production and bottling modelStrategy

  Background

  Dos Lunas sought to differentiate its premium tequila through control over production and presentation.

  Action taken

  The brand used tequila made from blue agave in Jalisco and filled bottles by hand at the same distillery rather than relying on an off-site bottler.

  Aftermath

  The approach became part of the brand's craft-oriented positioning, alongside its natural-process claims and distinctive packaging.

  Source

• Release the Extra Añejo Grand ReserveProduct launch

  Background

  Dos Lunas developed a luxury limited edition for the upper end of its portfolio.

  Action taken

  The brand produced 1,000 individually numbered bottles of tequila aged for 10 years in Spanish sherry casks and presented them in Baccarat crystal decanters.

  Aftermath

  The release reinforced Dos Lunas's collectible and premium positioning, although the available reference does not specify its launch date or commercial performance.

  Source

1. 1Dos Lunas Tequilaen.wikipedia.org