TeQuila

Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is a type of mezcal.

Production:

The production of tequila is heavily regulated by the Mexican government. Only tequila produced in the officially designated region, primarily Jalisco, and made using blue agave may be labelled as tequila. The regulations also cover other aspects of production, including the percentages of agave sugars required in the fermentation and the distillation process.

The agave plants are harvested after several years of growth. The hearts of the agave, known as piñas, are cooked, often in brick ovens or autoclaves, to break down the complex sugars. These cooked piñas are then crushed to extract the juice, which is fermented. The fermented juice is then distilled, typically twice, to increase the alcohol content and refine the flavor.

Types of Tequila:

• Blanco (Silver/White): Unaged or aged for less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels. Offers a pure agave flavor.

• Reposado (Rested): Aged for a period between two months and less than a year in oak barrels. Develops a subtle oak flavor.

• Añejo (Aged): Aged for a period between one year and less than three years in oak barrels. Presents a more pronounced oak flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.

• Extra Añejo (Extra Aged/Ultra Aged): Aged for a period of three years or more in oak barrels. Exhibits a complex flavor profile with pronounced oak influence.

• Joven (Gold/Oro): A blend of Blanco tequila with Reposado and/or Añejo tequila, or Blanco tequila that has been colored with caramel or other additives. Sometimes also refers to unaged tequila that has been softened with additives.

100% Agave vs. Tequila Mixto:

• 100% Agave: Made exclusively from the blue agave plant.

• Tequila Mixto: Contains at least 51% agave sugars, with the remaining sugars coming from other sources such as corn syrup or cane sugar. This is generally considered to be of lower quality than 100% agave tequila. The label must state if it is not 100% agave.