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Brown-Forman Corporation has announced plans to expand its Casa Herradura tequila distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The investment – approximately $200 million – will enable the company to meet the increasing global demand for its tequilas, with construction slated to begin in July this year. Casa Herradura has been harvesting, producing and estate bottling tequilas from the small town of Amatitán in Jalisco, since 1870, making it one of the most historic tequila producers in Mexico. Brown-Forman acquired Casa Herradura in 2007. Lawson Whiting, president and CEO of Brown-Forman Corporation, said: “The world’s growing taste for premium tequila is driving double-digit net sales growth of our Herradura and el Jimador brands. We believe strong consumer interest in tequila will continue and we’re expanding our production capacity to meet this demand. This strategic investment will improve our production efficiencies and increase our competitiveness.” The first phase of the investment will build on the company’s commitment to sustainability, as it expands its water recycling and treatment plant. This will be followed by the expansion of capacity for distilling, bottling, maturation and processing. Elisa Gutierrez, VP and GM, Casa Herradura, commented: “This multi-phase project includes adding to our distillery operations, bottling, maturation and processing areas. This expansion is particularly exciting as it will also advance our existing waste-to-energy efforts with a new water recycling and treatment plant.” Casa Herradura is one of Brown-Forman's zero-waste-to-landfill sites. The tequila producer says that less than 1% of the solid waste generated goes to landfill, creating a more sustainable process and product.