Exploring Life & Business with Cole Mueller of Octavio Tequila

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Mueller. 

Hi Cole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The dream of creating a family-owned tequila, Octavio, began when a father and son from Solana Beach, CA travelled to a small fishing town called Los Barriles on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico. The town is a place with prime weather and a perfect combination of having family-owned infrastructure while still being remote and still. Los Barriles offers a small-town atmosphere with a large sense of community with beautiful strolls down the pristine beaches, fantastic fishing, and ATV riding. While relaxing at an isolated palapa bar on the beach, restricted to only those that arrive on ATVs, bikes, or foot, the idea of Octavio arose. Sitting at that tiny palapa bar, sipping tequila, and conversing with a local elderly gentleman tending the bar in the little Spanish they both knew the thought of creating a tequila company, which seemed intangible then, began to spur. The gentle, pure, giving nature of that bartender is what they remembered most. The bartender’s name, you might ask? Octavio. 

Both father and Son went down to Jalisco Mexico and toured many distilleries. We settled on one distillery called Leyros (NOM 1489) and spent many months formulating different recipes and sending samples back to the states for our friends and family to try. When our friends started to pick our tequila over many other popular brands in blind tastes test, we knew we were on to something special! 

We multiple distill our tequila in an advanced column process, reducing harsh alcohol notes while removing many natural impurities. An ultra-modern filtration system is used to achieve brilliant, platinum hues in our tequilas, which we believe enhances the experience of taste. From the headwaters of the Volcano of Tequila, is the water used for Octavio. The tequila is exceptionally pure, natural spring water, enriched with the perfect balance of minerals to produce our signature-tasting tequilas. As it travels from atop the Volcano into the 70-meter-deep natural aquifers (underground wells), the water gathers essential minerals from the volcano’s rich soil. Finally, our water is put through a proprietary process to yield the right balance of minerals to harmonize perfectly with our tequila. We add a signature taste to our tequila by using a rich Brazilian yeast, we naturally ferment for no longer than 36 hours. 

The combination of soil, climate, and altitude produces the ideal agave plants to create the signature taste of Octavio. (semi-arid, semi-humid soil) Our agave fields are located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Tequila, Jalisco. Thousands of years ago a giant volcanic eruption occurred on these lands, creating soil with rich nutrients like silica and potassium. These minerals are vital for the growth of the Agave. Our soil also contains a large amount of obsidian lava rock, which creates a naturally aerated soil that makes it exceptional for the roots of the Agave plants to easily penetrate. 

We use steam and water for a clean, pure liquid extraction. This highly efficient process of diffusion uses less water, less energy, and produces less waste and is recognized by the Tequila Regulatory Council as part of the most sustainable method of tequila production. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, some of the struggles we have has is that tequila is a super-saturated market now and there are new brands coming out all the time. What has helped us is our theme of family-owned, and local. Especially being native to San Diego we have been able to sell our brand on that to get into accounts. We mainly sell in San Diego but are also moving into Las Vegas next year in 2023 and we also sell to all US states in the lower 48, free shipping on two or more bottles. Right now, we have our two products, the Cristalino Reposado and the Gold Reposado. We are coming out with a well a silver tequila and Anejo next year as well so we will have four SKUs. We also want to make an Octavio ready-to-drink cocktail known as an RTD. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a family-owned, local tequila company based out of Solana Beach, CA. We specialize in extra smooth and aged tequilas and are price points are lower than our competitors. Customers love our lifestyle branding and sense of premium, but also everyday use. Our brand has quality that is better than popular brands out there, but we are offered at a cheaper price. 

“When was the last time you did something for the first time”? 

Pricing:

• Cristalino Repo: $39.99
• Gold Reposado: $42.99
• Free shipping on two or more bottles if you order on Barbank.com (they are a local online liquor store in Cardiff)

Contact Info:

• Website: octaviotequila.com and casaoctaviosd.com
• Instagram: @octaviotequila @casaoctaviosd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/octaviotequila/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-octavio-san-diego

Image Credits
@workbymate
matesociety.com