The Spirit of Tequila
(Hardback)
Publishing Details
The Spirit of Tequila
By (Author) Joel Salcido
Foreword by Paul Salopek
Introduction by Chantal Martineau
Trinity University Press,U.S.
Trinity University Press,U.S.
1st November 2017
United States
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
641.25
Winner of Finalist Texas Institute of Letters - Best Book Design.
Physical Properties
Hardback
128
Width 203mm, Height 254mm
Description
Agave dates back to the Aztec civilization as an important crop in Mexico. Since the 1600s, the people of western Mexico have cultivated blue agave from the red volcanic soil that blankets the region, to make what we know as tequila. The Spirit of Tequila celebrates the tradition, culture, and myth of this iconic drink. Joel Salcido traveled across the state of Jalisco capturing images of distilleries and artisanal tequileras, including blue agave fields at sunset, the agave's pineapple-like centers (pias), elegantly shadowed barrel rooms (aejos), and, of course, the agave farmers themselves.
Nearly ninety photographs, taken with a medium format camerasome in full-color, some in duotonereveal not only the tequila making process but also the region's traditions of culture and religion. Haunting and beautiful, a church spire is juxtaposed with a firework celebration in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe. A Mexican charro rides through the streets of Arandas. Near Atotonilco, a horse pulls a traditional plow through the fields to irrigate. Exploring the rooms and techniques hidden in the distilleries of legendary tequilas Herradura, Sauza, Jose Cuervo, Don Julio, and others, The Spirit of Tequila celebrates a craft that is rooted deep in the culture of Mexico.
Reviews
Poetic... a beautiful book. Texas Standard - Texas Public Radio Ideal as a coffee-table book, this stunning hardcover makes for a great gift, along with a bottle of tequila. Liquor.com
Author Bio
Joel Salcido grew up with one foot in Mexico and the other in the United States, straddling two languages and two cultures. His images appear in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the El Paso Museum of Art, the Harry Ransom Humanities Center at UT Austin, and the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. Additional acquisitions have been made by the Federal Reserve Bank, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. The image Atotonilco El Alto, from this book, was recently inducted into Mexicos National Art Heritage Series. Salcido lives in Austin, Texas.
