Juan Coronado, co-founder of Altos Planos, is a man driven by a passion for excellence, tradition, and culture. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Coronado’s journey has taken him through New York and Mexico, where he now considers himself “more Mexican than mole,” having traveled extensively across the country and embraced its rich cultural and gastronomic heritage.
Coronado began his career in the beverage industry with champagne, but it was his quest for adventure and cultural connection that led him to Mexico. During one of his trips, he fell deeply in love with the land and its people, who he now considers family. It was in Mexico that the idea for his most ambitious project began to take shape: a tequila that would honor both the tradition and modernity of Mexican culture.
His tequila project, Altos Planos, was born from this search for authenticity. Under the guidance of master tequila maker Ana María Romero Mena, Juan created a line of tequilas that blend traditional methods with a contemporary approach. Their first success was a reposado that sold out in just nine days, catapulting the brand into high demand among collectors.
With a deep devotion to Mexican flavors and a thorough research methodology, Juan and his team have elevated their tequila to new heights. They explore innovative barrels and focus on details such as blending French, American, and acacia oaks to achieve the perfect flavor profile.
The journey has not been without its challenges. Juan describes the decision to produce tequila as akin to driving a car with no brakes: “You know the crash is coming,” he recalls. Despite the hurdles, each step has been a lesson and a rewarding experience. Today, his company continues to grow, with new projects on the horizon, including the “Selección de la Maestra,” a tequila made 100% from agave seeds. Juan promises to keep surprising the world with the quality and authenticity of his products.
“Today, we’re not going to learn anything; today, we’re going to enjoy ourselves,” says Coronado about his tequila tastings. For him, tequila is not just a drink but an experience that connects people to centuries of history, culture, and passion.
Mijenta is an award-winning, additive-free, sustainable tequila created using fully mature Blue Weber agave from the highlands of Jalisco, a region renowned for its rich red clay soil and unique microclimate. Designed by renowned Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero, Mijenta achieves its distinctive flavor profile through a meticulously slow process and traditional methods, ranging from the selection of agaves from the best plots, to rich fermentation of slow cooked agaves to delicate distillation in pot stills. Mijenta currently offers three expressions: Blanco, Reposado, which is aged approximately six months in three different types of barrels, and Añejo Gran Reserva, which matures for 18-months in four types of hand-selected casks.
