Tequila
Tequila is one of the fastest-growing spirits in the U.S., with America consuming even more than they do in its homeland of Mexico. The biggest growth is in the premium and super-premium categories, as drinkers discover the pleasure of sipping rather than slamming good tequila. Tequila is in fact a type of mezcal, but one that has a specific “domain of origin” status and which must be made from a single species of agave, the blue agave. Tequila must be made in certain designated areas in Mexico, the biggest being the state of Jalisco, where the town of Tequila is located. Rack “tequila” must contain at least 51% blue agave sugars, and the remainder can be just about anything, including corn syrup. However, quality tequila will state on the bottle that it is made from 100% blue agave. Anything less than this (think Cuervo Gold) is called a mixto. Within Mexico, tequila can be bottled at anything from 62 to 110 proof, but within the U.S. it must be at least 80 proof. Blanco (silver or white) tequila is sold unaged, reposado tequila must be aged at least two months in white oak barrels, and añejo (aged) tequila are aged for twelve months minimum. Finally, extra añejo must be aged for at least three years. A new variety of tequila, generally called cristalino, is aged tequila that has been filtered to remove color, giving it the appearance of a blanco but the flavor of an añejo.
Top Tequila Posts:
Understanding the Different Styles of Tequila
A Visit to Casa Herradura
A Visit to the Don Julio Tequila Distillery
Celaya Tequila is the brainchild of brothers and former NFL Pro Bowlers Matt and Ryan Kalil who tell of their great great grandfather Jose Celaya who, the story goes, was famous in the 1800s for the tequila he distilled in Sonora, Mexico. Since the old recipe no longer exists and the Kalil siblings are not…
We previously covered one of Paquera‘s three mezcal expressions in 2019. Now we’re back with another look at its 100% Barril agave-based mezcal. A rather weedy, vegetal mezcal, Paquera’s 100% Barril expression features heavy notes of cooked greenery, turned earth, and underbrush — both on the nose and the palate. There’s a bold sweetness on…
Boldly staking its claim as “the spiciest infused tequila in the U.S.,” this is 100% agave blanco tequila blended with fresh (not dried) American habanero peppers that are clearly designed to burn you from the inside out. Results? Well, mission accomplished. The scorching experience is closer to sipping hot sauce — roasting every part of…
We’ve covered two of Convite‘s mezcals previously — I now count nine on the market — and today we’re back with a third expression, made from a blend of espadin and madrecuishe agave. There’s a tiny hint of color on this spirit, but it otherwise hits quite a few familiar mezcal notes. Intently beefy up…
Made by Master Distiller Stella Anguiano and fronted by pop star Rita Ora, Próspero Tequila first became available in 2019. Female distillers, particularly of tequila, are rare, but Stella Anguiano has paid her dues. She has been making tequila for over 30 years, including working at the Orendain family distillery for 20 years. Próspero tequila…
We’re back with our second full round (not including a brief peek at the joven in 2019) with Ilegal, which is a rarity in mezcal, producing three tequila-like expressions instead of merely a blanco — here called a joven — offering. No need to stand on ceremony; let’s dive in. Production details follow with each…
While inspired by Bruce Brown’s classic 1966 surf film The Endless Summer, I’m assured you don’t have to be a surfer to drink this beach-centric blanco, a 100% blanco offering crafted from a blend of Highlands and Lowlands agave by Master Tequilero Arturo Fuentes. Let’s give it a spin. Somewhat rustic on the nose, this…
Maestro Dobel is back again with another ultra-luxe tequila bottling in the Dobel 50 lineup, this one called Dobel 50 Silver Oak. The concept this time around takes a 100% agave extra anejo Lowlands tequila and finishes it in Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels. As far as production details go, that’s about all we…
Espolon has emerged as one of the reliable workhorses of the relatively low-cost tequila world, but that hasn’t prevented the company from moving into six-year-old anejos and, now, a cristalino expression. It’s made from Espolon’s anejo as a base, “with a touch of extra Añejo,” then filtered through charcoal to clarify it. Tougher and more…
Multi-brand beverage startup Romero Brands launched a new tequila last year called Telsón, made from 100% Highlands agave. Per the company, “Each 750-ml bottle features the geographic coordinates (20°40’18.4”N, 102°36’55.6″W) on the neck label that corresponds to the location of Hacienda Capellania, the farm in San José de Gracia, Jalisco, Mexico, where the first crop…