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
Tequila! If you’re not envisioning Pee-Wee Herman right now, something’s wrong with you. Or maybe the problem is you’re just thirsty. Well, we can fix that for you, thanks to our guide to the 10 best tequilas (and mezcals) we tasted in 2024. So without further ado, grab some chips and salsa and dive in.…
You will notice the bottle first. Yes, that’s a tastefully nude mermaid in partially frosted glass, wearing a crown that also serves as a stopper. The tequila world is no stranger to out-there packaging — I’ve got a whole shelf of tequilas that are too tall to fit anywhere else — but this one is…
We’ve covered the gamut of Gran Centenario Tequila releases over the years — dating back to 2008 – and today we continue to fill out our coverage. That includes a fresh look at the distillery’s blanco/plata tequila (our third review of it), our first-ever review of Gran Centenario Reposado, and a special review of Gran…
Last year we encountered Cierto’s Private Collection tequilas and came away impressed. The price points are high, but from the blanco to the extra añejo, the tequilas showed a beautiful, bold character and complexity, and one of them made it onto our top tequila list for the year. This year, we are back with the…
Alto Canto is a certified organic, additive-free tequila that is distilled at a whopping 9,000 feet. I am familiar with the difference between Lowland and Highland tequila, which is determined by where the Blue Weber agave is sourced, but I was not aware that the altitude of the distillery could impact the flavor. The good…
In 2022, Maestro Dobel dropped a rare extra anejo tequila dubbed Dobel 50 1967, named in honor of its founder’s birth year. Now Dobel is back with not one follow-up but three, collectively dubbed the Anniversary Series — Dobel 50 1968, Dobel 50 1969, and Dobel 50 1970. While 1967 was finished in sherry casks, the…
We recently re-reviewed El Buho Mezcal Espadin to see how it had changed since we first tried it 12 years ago. Now we’re back with the rest of the line of mezcals El Buho, including one made with Jabali, which is a variety that rarely makes it to the U.S. These are more adventurous varieties…
It’s been 12 years since we first reviewed El Buho Mezcal made with Espadin agave, and today we swing around again to see how it compares today. “El buho” is Spanish for “the owl,” an animal which (their website explains) is “revered in Mexican culture as a spiritual link between the living and the dead,…
While El Tequileño recently dropped an ultra-luxe ($800) extra anejo offering, samples evaporated before we could get our hands on one. In lieu of that coverage, we bring you this look at the distillery’s Anejo Gran Reserva offering, which is made from Highlands age that is distilled and reportedly aged for a minimum of 18…
So this is the tequila with the wacky bottles. And the wild prices, too. Now look, I roll my eyes at stuff like this too. Those tall ceramic tequila bottles are gimmicks full of workmanlike product, and Obsidiana’s seem over the top. However… there’s some interesting production going on here, most notably in the aging, which…