So when one of the largest, most iconic tequila producers in the world offered to fly me down to Jalisco, Mexico to stay at the Hacienda Patrón and have a firsthand look at their distillery, I jumped at the chance. I was specifically intrigued to see how this juggernaut of a brand balanced the latest in technology with their responsibility toward our collective future.

The two largest waste sources in distilling tequila are the fibers of the agave plant that remain after pressing, and the water used during distillation. At the distillery, an area half the size of a football field is designated for turning used agave fibers into rich compost available for free to local farmers, to rotate their fields with and add nutrients to the soil. Patrón also uses reverse osmosis to turn more than 70 percent of waste liquid from the distilling process into usable water, with the remaining 30 percent aiding in the composting process. I was fascinated by the intersection of the latest in modern technology used to filter the water, and the use of composting, a practice as old as agriculture itself.

I returned home impressed and curious to see how our local distillers on the Central Coast think globally and act locally. Luckily, they are just as passionate as their larger counterparts about ensuring our future looks bright as they create the delicious spirits we love.

Aaron Berg, president and distiller, said Calwise Spirits Co. utilizes natural cooling in their process to save energy. “Our distillery warehouse doesn’t have an energy-sucking air conditioning system. Instead we installed vents with an energy-efficient fan that we run at night to take advantage of Paso Robles’ cool nights. In the morning we close the vents and keep the cold air in, and then repeat the process at the end of the day.”

Monica Villicana, owner of  Re:Find Handcrafted Spirits, provided her thoughts on sustainability in our industry. “Re:Find was literally born from the desire for a more sustainable business. Our name tells the story of who we are. Keeping our roots of sustainability, Re:Find’s Cucumber Flavored Vodka was inspired when our distiller Alex Villicana saw that cucumbers were not being sold at local farmers’ markets. He went up to a farmer from Arroyo Grande and said, ‘We will buy the cucumber you are unable to sell after the market each week.’ Tada, a new flavor was born.”

Magic indeed. Globetrotting aside, my biggest takeaway from this adventure has been a deeper understanding and appreciation for the common thread that connects everyone in this industry, a goal of a future that uses both tradition and technology to consistently improve our approach to what we love to do.